Otto Wessling (23 September 1913 – 19 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with up to 83 aerial victories achieved in an unknown number of combat missions. This figure includes 55 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further claims over the Western Allies, including 15 four-engined bombers. Born in Bad Harzburg, Wessling grew up in the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He received a vocational education and then joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1937. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in March 1940. Flying with this wing, Wessling claimed his first aerial victory on 30 June 1941 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft. In June 1941, his unit was transferred east and fought in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. On 4 September 1942, Wessling was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 62 aerial victories claimed. He then served as a fighter pilot instructor with Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost and became an officer. Transferred back to JG 3 in June 1943, his unit fought in the Mediterranean theater. There, Wessling was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel (10th squadron) of JG 3 on 16 July. A week later, he was severely wounded requiring a lengthy period of convelesance. He returned to JG 3 in February 1944 and was given command of 11. Staffel which was then fighting in Defense of the Reich. On 19 April 1944, he was shot down by US fighters near Kassel and crash landed his damaged aircraft at Eschwege when he was killed by strafing US fighters. On 20 July 1944, Wessling was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Early life and career Wessling, the son of a laborer in a quarry, was born on 23 September 1913 in Bad Harzburg in the Duchy of Brunswick of the German Empire. Following graduation from school, he received a vocational education as a merchant. Trained as a pilot with the German Air Sports Association (), he joined the Luftwaffe in 1937, serving in the military reserve. World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Wessling was posted to the 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader