Search Tips  •   Bio & Memorabilia  •   Check Spelling Names in Database  •   Luftwaffe Awards  •   Axis Pages  •   Sources

Data derived from many sources. Perfection is our goal: Corrections and Additions are encouraged and requested. Please Email us

35,000+ Entries in Database (as of October 2025): largest in the world
The only authorised publication of the Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: anything else has been stolen and infringes my copyright.
Please email us any photos you have. We will acknowledge you in the database unless requested otherwise.
This is a non-political research resource. The authors of this material do not condone hatred in any form,
neither do they support oppressive and despotic regimes or political systems. See our Statement
In some cases you can see a pilot's extended record of victories in date order from our Luftwaffe Victories database
To see a list of German WW2 Aces consult German WW2 Aces Database
Click an image to expand. Click Luftwaffe Awards for explanations. Scroll to the right to see all the data.

Major enhancements and additions are being made to the Archive by Christian König and Dave Drury.

See a sample search

There is a rogue group of copyright infringers who have stolen a much earlier version of my data - from at least 10 years ago - and have the affrontery to publish that, along with using my name, on their poorly researched website. They claim this is the 'original' Kracker Archive, a ridiculous claim since my Archive has been in a state of continuous development for over 30 years and nobody - NOBODY - has the original. They have no right to use my name or my data and readers who come across this nonsense should do nothing to encourage theft of this nature. I am outraged by this blatant theft and misrepresentation of my lifetime's work. The ONLY person I have ever authorized to publish my data and use my name is Kelvin Youngs, who earned my trust and respect many years ago and is authorized by me to publish my work on whichever website he organizes, currently this being its present home at the highly respected Aircrew Remembered.

 

---

Our hosting service restricts database searches to a minimum of 4 characters, therefore searching on 3 or less will produce no results even if the name IS in our database. If you know the target's first name, put his full name in the first Search box in the form 'familyname, firstname' thus: Rau, Gunther.

If you only know his family name (for example Alt) then add 'x' to the name and search on that: thus search on Altx

If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This
Searching for a 3-character name requires special treatment

AND(Optional)

Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Restrict to Column

Restrict to Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Exact Match Contains Word

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “Leesmann AND Karl-Heinz”

#	Pilot (↑)	Rank	Born	Place	Score (↑)	Units	Aircraft	Awards	*************Notes*************	Photo	Links	AuthorComments
1	Leesmann, Karl Heinz	Maj	5/3/1915	Osnabrück	37	Kdr III./JG 234 (38, later JG 26), Kdr I./JG 2 (08/40), Kdr I./JG 52 (06/41), Kdr III./JG 1 (04/43 Reich Def)	Bf 110C, Bf 109E-4 Werk # 5065 (BoB), Bf 109F-2 Werk# 8155 "<<" w JG-52, Bf 109F-2 Werk # 9181 (dam 11/6/41), Bf 109G-6 Werk # 20073 "White <5 + I" (lost 7/25/43) in III/JG-1	RK (23/07/41) Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(24/06/42) EP (05/10/40) EK 1 & 2 Wound Badge (06/11/41 CK) Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold	Channel pilot. His first victory, a Spitfire 5 km E of Margate on 24 August, 1940. His 2nd, a Spitfire at Dover on 26 August, 1940. Nos.3, 4 & 5, two Hurricanes and a Spitfire in the London-Bromley areas on 31 August, 1940. His 6th, a Spitfire at Sittingbourne on 1 September, 1940. His 7th, a Spitfire over England on 5 September, 1940. His 8th, a Spitfire at Maidstone on 7 September, 1940. Nos.9 & 10, both Hurricanes over the Thames Estuary on 15 September, 1940. Barbarossa pilot. His 15th, a Hurricane at Ostende on 15 February, 1941. Shot down with wounds 6 November, 1941 by Soviet ground fire while returning from a mission. A bullet splintered his right forearm, but he managed to land. He did not return to the Eastern Front. Shot down in his G-6 (KilledInAction (KIA)) 25 July 1943 over the North Sea after attacking American bombers of the 384BG while he was Kdr III/JG-1. His body washed ashore 16 August, 1943. His 37th victory was a B-17 during this same engagement. 15 victories in the West, 5 four engine bombers. Buried at Recklinghausen. Another source indicates he may still be MIA. Leesmann as new Kommandeur lll./JG3 in front of his Me109 Courtesy Christian König

Results 1 to 1 of 1.