Hans Roehrig was born on 4 November 1919 at Hindenburg
in Oberschlesien. Roehrig was posted to 3./Erprobungsgruppe 210 on 23 September
1940. He flew many fighter-bomber missions over England and, according
to one source, recorded five aerial victories during this time. On 1 May
1941, Roehrig was transferred to 3./JG 53. He accompanied the unit to Russia
but suffered a take-off accident on 4 July 1941. He recorded his first
victory with JG 53 on 25 July, when he shot down a Russian DB-3 twin-engine
bomber. By the time I./JG 53 left Russia in late 1941, Roehrig had added
a further two victories to his tally. Roehrig relocated with 3./JG 53 to
the Mediterranean theatre at the end of 1941. From bases in Sicily, he
flew missions over Malta. He was unable to add further to his victory total
in this theatre at this time. In May 1942, I./JG 53 relocated back to the
Eastern front. On 30 June 1942, Roehrig suffered minor injuries from glass
splinters when his aircraft was hit in the cockpit area during aerial combat.
He was able to bring his aircraft safely back to his airfield at Kolpna.
Roehrig was shot down again in aerial combat with Russian fighters on 6
August. He baled out of his stricken Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 13 480) “Yellow
8” and was then shot at by Russian fighters while descending on his parachute.
Fortunately, he landed unhurt and returned to his unit. Roehrig recorded
his 10th victory on 20 August. In September, Roehrig was particularly successful
recording 39 victories during the month, including his 20th on 4 September,
three victories, including two Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft,
on 8 September (21-23), three Il-2 Sturmoviks shot down on 9 September
(24-26), three Russian fighters shot down on 12 September (31-33), three
on 18 September (38-40), four Russian Yak-1 fighters shot down on 19 September
(41-44), five Russian fighters shot down on 20 September (45-49), his 50th
victory shot down on 22 September and three Yak-1 fighters shot down on
23 September (51-53). By the time I./JG 53 left Russia at the end of September
1942, Roehrig had increased his victory total to 56. I./JG 53 were again
relocated to the Mediterranean theatre in late September 1942. Leutnant
Roehrig was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 2 October. He was then sent on a
spell of leave in late September and early October. During October, the
unit operated over Malta flying freie Jagd and bomber escort missions over
the island. Roehrig added two further victories to his total, when he shot
down two RAF Spitfire fighters: one on 12 October, the other on 14 October.
In November 1942, Roehrig was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 53.
He successfully led the unit during the campaigns in Tunisia and Sicily.
He recorded his 60th victory on 28 January 1943. Roehrig shot down his
first four-engine bomber, a USAAF B-17 over the Straits of Messina, on
25 June for his 68th victory. He recorded his 74th and 75th, and last,
victories on 11 July 1943, when he shot down two USAAF P-38 twin-engine
fighters over Sicily. On 13 July 1943, Roehrig led 9./JG 53 on a mission,
escorting Ju 52 three-engine transport aircraft to drop paratroops on the
Catania plains, when the formation was intercepted by RAF Spitfire fighters.
Roehrig failed to return from the mission in Bf 109 G-4 (W.Nr. 15 063)
“Yellow 5” and it must be assumed he was shot down and killed in this combat.
Roehrig was posthumously promoted to the rank of Hauptmann.
Hans Roehrig was credited with 75 victories. However,
if he did, in fact, gain five victories flying with 3./Erpr.Gr. 210, then
his final victory total could be 80. He recorded 56 victories over the
Eastern
front, including 12 Il-2 Sturmoviks. Of
his 19 victories recorded over the Western front,
one was a four-engine bomber and six P-38`s.
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Location / Comments |
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25.7.1941
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DB-3 | 3./JG 53 | - |
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3.8.1941
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I-16 | 3./JG 53 | - |
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3.8.1941
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | - |
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5.6.1942
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I-61 | 3./JG 53 | - |
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31.7.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 3915 |
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31.7.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 3919 |
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5.8.1942
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MiG-1 | 3./JG 53 | 38 161 |
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6.8.1942
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MiG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 39 891 |
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10.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | E Stalingrad |
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20.8.1942
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I-180 | 3./JG 53 | 49 592 |
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20.8.1942
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I-180 | 3./JG 53 | 49 532 |
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21.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 410 |
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22.8.1942
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P-2 | 3./JG 53 | 59 130 |
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23.8.1942
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MiG-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 270 |
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24.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 270 |
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28.8.1942
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P-40 | 3./JG 53 | 49 430 |
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29.8.1942
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MiG-1 | 3./JG 53 | 39 460 |
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2.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 49 180 |
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4.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 77 540 |
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4.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 77 560 |
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8.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 59 330 |
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8.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 40 350 |
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8.9.1942
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U-2 | 3./JG 53 | 30 630 |
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9.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 40 550 |
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9.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 40 550 |
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9.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 49 430 |
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10.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 280 |
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10.9.1942
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I-180 | 3./JG 53 | 49 450 |
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11.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 410 |
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11.9.1942
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P-2 | 3./JG 53 | 49 270 |
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12.9.1942
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La-5 | 3./JG 53 | 49 410 |
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12.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 290 |
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12.9.1942
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La-5 | 3./JG 53 | 49 410 |
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13.9.1942
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P-40 | 3./JG 53 | 49 164 |
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13.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 410 |
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14.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 271 |
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14.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 274 |
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18.9.1942
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Il-2 | 3./JG 53 | 40 870 |
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18.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 130 |
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18.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 40 530 |
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19.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 132 |
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19.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 132 |
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19.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 122 |
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19.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 432 |
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20.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 130 |
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20.9.1942
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P-40 | 3./JG 53 | 49 430 |
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20.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 3./JG 53 | 49 290 |
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20.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 450 |
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20.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 430 |
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22.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 220 |
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23.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 40 780 |
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23.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 40 750 |
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23.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 40 750 |
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24.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 40 790 |
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25.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 263 |
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25.9.1942
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Yak-1 | 3./JG 53 | 49 264 |
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12.10.1942
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Spitfire | 3./JG 53 | Malta |
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14.10.1942
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Spitfire | 3./JG 53 | Malta |
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24.1.1943
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Spitfire | 9./JG 53 | 50km S Agrigento |
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28.1.1943
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Spitfire | 9./JG 53 | 50km S Corro |
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18.5.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | 20km NW Trapani |
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19.5.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | SSE Insel Autioco |
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19.5.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | 15 km SE Caglar |
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22.5.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | 5km SE Maréttimo |
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5.6.1943
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B-25 | 9./JG 53 | 60km SSW Porto Polo |
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7.6.1943
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P-40 | 9./JG 53 | 2km E Cap Bône |
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13.6.1943
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P-39 | 9./JG 53 | 30km NNE Pantellaria |
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25.6.1943
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B-17 | 9./JG 53 | Messina Straits |
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4.7.1943
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B-25 | 9./JG 53 | - |
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5.7.1943
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Spitfire | 9./JG 53 | - |
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6.7.1943
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Spitfire | 9./JG 53 | 5km E Cap Passero |
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9.7.1943
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Boston | 9./JG 53 | 4km S Gela |
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10.7.1943
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Spitfire | 9./JG 53 | 5km NE Syracuse |
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11.7.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | 15km S Pachino |
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11.7.1943
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P-38 | 9./JG 53 | 10km SW Catania |
Victories : 75
Awards : Ehrenpokal (26 October 1942)
Ritterkreuz (2 October 1942)
Units : Erpr.Gr. 210, JG 53