Hans-Karl Mayer
Hans-Karl Mayer (8 March 1911 – 17 October 1940) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Career. Mayer served with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War with 1. "Staffel" of "Jagdgruppe" 88, claiming eight victories. On his return from Spain "Oberleutnant" Mayer was posted to 1. "Staffel" of "Jagdgeschwader" 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), becoming "Staffelkapitän" (squadron leader) in October 1939. He claimed his first victory of World War II on 5 November 1939 downing a French Potez 63. Mayer  claimed eight more victories during the Battle of France, including five aircraft shot down on 14 May 1940, making him an "ace-in-a-day". During the Battle of Britain he then shot down two Hurricanes over the Isle of Wight on 12 August 1940. On 25 August, Mayer shot down a Hurricane for his 15th victory, possibly that of Flight Lieutenant Alfred Bayne of No. 17 Squadron, who bailed out. The next day Mayer shot down two Spitfires. One of his victim was ace Sergeant Cyril Babbage of No. 602 Squadron, who bailed out. "Hauptmann" Mayer was awarded the  Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () on 3 September. Mayer was made "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) I. "Gruppe" of JG 53 on 1 September 1940, he replaced "Hauptmann" Albert Blumensaat who was transferred. Command of 1. "Staffel" was passed on to "Oberleutnant" Hans Ohly. He recorded his 30th victory on 15 September. On 17 October 1940, Mayer took off in Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 ("Werknummer" 4138—factory number) on a test flight and never returned, his body washing up on the English coast 10 days later. He was possibly a victim of Flight Officer Desmond McMullen or Sergeant John Burgess , both from No. 222 Squadron RAF. He is buried at Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent. Summary of career. Aerial victory claims. According to Obermaier, Mayer was credited with 39 aerial victories, eight in the Spanish Civil War and 31 on the Western Front of World War II. Matthews and Foreman, authors of "Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims", researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 28 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War and 22 over the Western Allies.