Barten Franz

Franz Barten (26 January 1912 – 4 August 1944) was a World War II fighter ace from Germany. He was born on 26 January 1912 at Saarbrücken. Barten was credited with having shot down a total of 55 Allied aircraft.

Barten was posted to Jagdgeschwader 77 on 1 July 1939. He served in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France and Battle of Britain. Barten achieved his first victory on 14 September 1940 after shooting down a Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane. On 21 November, 2./JG 77 was redesignated Jagdgeschwader 51. By the end of 1940, he had shot down three aircraft. Barten accompanied JG 51 to the Eastern Front and achieved his tenth victory on 12 July 1941 and twentieth victory on 10 September. By the end of 1941, he had 25 victories to his credit. His 30th victory came on 18 March 1942. On 10 November 1942, Barten was injured forcing him to be absent from combat duty. After recovery, he returned to IV./JG 51 and achieved his 44th victory on 4 August. 

This was his last victory on the Eastern Front. On 1 June 1943, Barten was transferred as Staffelkapitän to 7./Jagdgeschwader 53 based in the Mediterranean theatre. He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 53 on 15 July 1943 and achieved his 50th victory on 3 September, when he shot down a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator near Della Pecara. On 4 August 1944, Barten was shot down in a Messerschmitt Bf 109 in aerial combat with P-47 Thunderbolt belonging to the United States Army Air Forces near Rheinsehlen. He bailed out of his aircraft, but was shot while hanging in his parachute. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Hauptmann.

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe awarded on 20 October 1941
• German Cross in Gold awarded on 22 May 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 11./Jagdgeschwader 51
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross awarded posthumously on 29 October 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschader 53