Hans "Assi" Hahn
Major
 
Hans Assi Hahn
 
    Hans “Assi” Hahn was born on 14 April 1914 at Gotha in Thüringen. A gifted athlete, Hahn was selected to participate in the Summer Olympic Games in Berlin to compete in the Pentathlon. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw due to illness. Hahn enlisted in the army on 1 April 1934 as an officer candidate in the Infanterie-Regiment 14. He received promotion to the rank of Unteroffizier on 1 December. He attended the Kriegsschule at München from January to October 1935. On 1 October, Hahn was promoted to the rank of Oberfähnrich. In November, Hahn transferred from the infantry to the Luftwaffe. He underwent pilot training at Celle. On 1 April 1936, Hahn was promoted to the rank of Leutnant. Following pilot training, he was posted to 4./JG 134, based at Werl near Dortmund, on 15 April. On 1 November 1937, Hahn was transferred to a new Jagdfliegerschule at Werneuchen as a flight instructor and Staffelführer of 1. Staffel. He received promotion to the rank of Oberleutnant on 1 February 1939 and was transferred to the Stabstaffel of I./JG 3, based at Meseburg. Oberleutnant Hahn transferred to JG 2 on 11 October 1939. He was assigned to newly formed II./JG 2, based at Zerbst, which was formed using the nucleus of personnel from I./JG 3 and I./JG 2. On 15 December, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 2. Moving West, Hahn claimed his first two victories on 14 May 1940, during the Battle of France, over RAF Hurricane fighters in his first engagement with enemy aircraft. However, only one of his claims was confirmed. Hahn would claim a total of five confirmed victories during the Battle of France. Hahn was particularly successful during the Battle of Britain. He claimed three RAF Spitfire fighters shot down on 31 August 1940, to record his eighth through 10th victories. After claiming his 20th victory on 20 September 1940, Hahn was awarded the Ritterkreuz. On 29 October 1940, Hahn was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2. By the end of 1940, his victory total had reached 22. Hauptmann Hahn was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 32) on 14 August 1941 for 41 victories. He recorded his 50th victory on 13 October 1941 and his 60th on 4 May 1942. Hahn shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter on 16 September 1942 to record his 66th, and last, victory over the Western front. Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 54 “Grünherz”, based on the Eastern front, on 1 November 1942. In the space of three months, he claimed a further 42 victories. He shot down five Russian aircraft on 30 December (75-79). On 1 January, Hahn was promoted to the rank of Major. His best day occurred on 14 January 1943, when he downed seven Russian La-5 fighters (80-86). He recorded his 100th victory on 27 January 1943.
 
Hauptmann Hans Assi Hahn, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2 in his Fw 109A-3
 Hauptmann Hans "Assi" Hahn, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2 in his Fw 109A-3 W.Nr. 223  "<<". May 1942, Beaumont le Roger, France.
 
    Leading III./JG54 on 21 February 1943, Hahn encountered Russian fighters near Staraya Russa. In the ensuing combat, he shot down a Russian La-5 fighter for his 108th, and last, victory. In the course of the combat, his aircraft received hits in the left wing. Disengaging from further combat, Hahn headed west but his engine soon began overheating and he had to land his Bf 109 G-2/R6 (W.Nr. 13 949) “Black <<” in enemy-held territory. Soviet sources claim Hahn was shot down by Russian ace Starshiiy Leytenant Pavel Grazhdanikov (13 victories, killed in action 5 April 1943) of 169 IAP, VVS. Hahn was captured and subsequently made a prisoner of war. Hahn was held captive and was not released by the Soviet Union until 1950. Hahn gained employment at the International Corporation of Bayer Leverkeusen, fulfilling a position dealing in trade with France and England. He later became a director of the Wano Schwarzpulver Company, which manufactured gunpowder, at Kunigunde near Goslar. He retired from this company in 1977 and lived in southern France with his family. Hahn died on 18 December 1982 at München from cancer.
    “Assi” Hahn was credited with 108 victories in 560 missions. He recorded 66 victories over the Western Front, of them 53  were Spitfires. Of the 42 victories he recorded over the Eastern front at least seven were Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
14.5.1940
09:55
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 Gembloux / Hurricane of 607 Sqn RAF
2
19.5.1940
12:18
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 Tournai / Possibly Hurricane of 87 Sqn RAF
3
19.5.1940
-
 Morane 406  4./JG 2 Tournai
4
3.6.1940
14:50
 Hawk 75 4./JG 2 ENE Paris
5
6.6.1940
20:35
 Hawk 75 4./JG 2 Roye
6
11.8.1940
11:45
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Portland
7
25.8.1940
18:30~
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Dorchester
8
31.8.1940
09:00
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Dover
9
31.8.1940
09:05
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Dover
10
31.8.1940
17:05
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Dover
11
4.9.1940
10:15
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Ashford
12
4.9.1940
14:25
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Margate
13
6.9.1940
10:00
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Ashford
14
6.9.1940
10:05
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Ashford
15
7.9.1940
18:25
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 London
16
8.9.1940
-
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 Tablehurst
17
11.9.1940
16:15
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 Tournai
18
15.9.1940
15:35
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 London
19
20.9.1940
12:15
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 London
20
23.9.1940
10:30
 Spitfire 4./JG 2 Rochester
21
15.10.1940
13:35
 Hurricane 4./JG 2 Isle of Wight
22
6.11.1940
15:50
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 2 E Southampton
23
24.6.1941
21:00
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Gravelines-Ramsgate
24
25.6.1941
16:31
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 NE Boulogne
25
26.6.1941
11:35
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Gravelines-Dunkirk
26
2.7.1941
-
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 2 Hazebrouck
27
7.7.1941
15:36
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 2 7km W Le Touquet
28
7.7.1941
15:37
 Hurricane Stab III./JG 2 7-10km W Le Touquet
29
8.7.1941
15:52
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Marques
30
10.7.1941
12:08
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 St Omer
31
10.7.1941
12:12
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 St Omer
32
21.7.1941
08:50
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Gravelines
33
21.7.1941
20:45
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Watten
34
22.7.1941
13:45
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Calais
35
22.7.1941
13:53
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Calais
36
23.7.1941
20:20
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Marzingarbe
37
23.7.1941
20:23
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Marzingarbe
38
5.8.1941
18:44
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 St Omer-Calais
39
7.8.1941
18:17
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Calais
40
12.8.1941
12:45
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Gravelines
41
12.8.1941
12:50
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Gris Nez
42
12.8.1941
18:51
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Ramsgate
43
20.9.1941
16:30
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 10km off Somme Estuary
44
20.9.1941
16:42
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
45
20.9.1941
16:43
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
46
27.9.1941
15:35
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
47
2.10.1941
15:05
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Pas-de-Calais
48
2.10.1941
18:05
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Pas-de-Calais / Spitfire of Biggin Hill Wing, RAF
49
2.10.1941
18:52
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Pas-de-Calais / Spitfire of Biggin Hill Wing, RAF
50
13.10.1941
14:30
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Boulogne
51
12.2.1942
14:55
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
52
17.4.1942
16:08
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
53
20.4.1942
17:07
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
54
22.4.1942
14:32
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
55
25.4.1942
16:24
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
56
25.4.1942
16:29
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
57
30.4.1942
17:27
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
58
4.5.1942
10:41
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
59
4.5.1942
10:46
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
60
4.5.1942
15:55
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
61
6.5.1942
12:22
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
62
6.5.1942
12:24
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2  
63
6.6.1942
17:25
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Cherbourg-Cap Lévy
64
6.6.1942
17:25
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Cherbourg-Cap Lévy
65
6.6.1942
17:27
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 Cherbourg-Cap Lévy
66
16.9.1942
13:15
 Spitfire Stab III./JG 2 05 Ost S/11/5/1
67
4.12.1942
10:45
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
68
4.12.1942
10:47
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
69
4.12.1942
13:53
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
70
4.12.1942
14:00
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
71
12.12.1942
13:56
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
72
12.12.1942
13:58
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
73
29.12.1942
11:30
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
74
29.12.1942
11:50
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
75
30.12.1942
08:50
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
76
30.12.1942
08:53
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
77
30.12.1942
08:55
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
78
30.12.1942
08:57
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
79
30.12.1942
11:45
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
80
14.1.1943
10:36
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
81
14.1.1943
10:37
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
82
14.1.1943
10:38
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
83
14.1.1943
10:42
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
84
14.1.1943
12:10
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
85
14.1.1943
12:11
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
86
14.1.1943
12:12
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
87
23.1.1943
13:20
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
88
23.1.1943
13:22
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
89
23.1.1943
13:25
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
90
24.1.1943
09:35
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
91
24.1.1943
09:40
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
92
24.1.1943
09:42
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
93
24.1.1943
13:55
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
94
25.1.1943
09:45
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
95
25.1.1943
09:47
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
96
25.1.1943
09:48
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
97
26.1.1943
10:58
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
98
26.1.1943
14:00
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
99
26.1.1943
14:03
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
100
27.1.1943
10:43
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
101
8.2.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
102
9.2.1943
13:10
 P-40 Stab II./JG 54  
103
9.2.1943
13:11
 P-40 Stab II./JG 54  
104
11.2.1943
09:52
 P-40 Stab II./JG 54  
105
11.2.1943
09:58
 P-40 Stab II./JG 54  
106
11.2.1943
10:08
 LaGG-3 Stab II./JG 54  
107
11.2.1943
11:30
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
108
21.2.1943
09:11
 La-5 Stab II./JG 54  
 
Victories : 108
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (16 July 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (24 September 1940)
                Eichenlaub (14 August 1941)
Units : JG 2, JG 54
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