20 Facts About Hans Dortenmann

Hans Dortenmann was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

Hans Dortenmann is credited with 39 aerial victories achieved in 150 combat missions.

Hans Dortenmann joined the military service of the Wehrmacht, at first in the infantry, before transferring to the Luftwaffe where he was trained as a fighter pilot.

Hans Dortenmann committed suicide on 1 April 1973 in Heidelberg.

Hans Dortenmann was born 11 December 1921 at Weingarten in the Free People's State of Wurttemberg.

Hans Dortenmann attended the National Political Institutes of Education in Rottweil together with Erich Hartmann.

Hans Dortenmann graduated with his Abitur in 1939 and volunteered for military service as an officer candidate of the reserves with the Heer.

Hans Dortenmann initially served with Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 390 based in Heilbronn.

In late February 1940, Hans Dortenmann was transferred to Infanterie-Regiment 390, a regiment of the 215th Infantry Division.

In January 1943, Hans Dortenmann was selected for fighter pilot training and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 103, a Luftwaffe fighter pilot training unit.

Hans Dortenmann was hospitalized in Toulouse, and following his convalescence, was sent on home leave for four weeks.

In November 1943, Hans Dortenmann was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 where he was assigned to 3.

Hans Dortenmann claimed his first aerial victory on 6 February 1944 over a Lavochkin La-5 fighter.

Hans Dortenmann was presented with the Iron Cross 1st Class by the Gruppenkommandeur, Hauptmann Horst Ademeit, and was sent on home leave to marry his bride-to-be Ingeborg.

Hans Dortenmann's Staffel was scheduled to form part of a third wave ordered to conduct low-level fighter patrols over the front.

Hans Dortenmann, scheduled to lead the third wave, listened over the radio to the carnage.

Hans Dortenmann's commander advised him to keep a low profile.

Staffel while its former commander, Leutnant Hans Dortenmann Prager, received command of 9.

Hans Dortenmann shot down one of the Yak-3 fighters, this was his last aerial victory claim.

Unable to cope with the decline, Hans Dortenmann committed suicide on 1 April 1973 in Heidelberg.