Heinz-Edgar Berres (10 January 1920 – 25 July 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Berres was shot down on 25 July 1943 over Sicily. Berres claimed 52 victories in 354 missions. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross and promoted to Hauptmann. World War II Berres was posted to 3.(J)./Lehrgeschwader 2—3rd Squadron (fighter) of Demonstration Wing 2, in the summer, 1941. Berres was posted to the Soviet Union in the latter stage of Operation Barbarossa. At 13:57 on 29 November, he claimed his first victory when he shot down a Tupolev SB. That day, I.(J)/LG 2 flew combat air patrol in the vicinity south of Rostov. On 1 December 1941, I.(J)/LG 2 began relocation to Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine while the II. Gruppe was sent to Germany for replenishment. On 29 December 1941, Berres claimed his second victory, a Polikarpov I-15 claimed at 10:20 in a mission to the port city Taganrog. On 28 February 1942 Berres shot down another I-15 and a Polikarpov R-5 reconnaissance aircraft on 9 March 1942. On 24 and 27 March he claimed a single I-16 to surpass the 5-victory mark and become a flying ace with six victories. The unit was re-designated 3./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—1 Squadron of Fighter Wing 77) on 6 January 1942 and in March 1942 he was transferred to 1./JG 77. Berres was transferred to Romania to defend its airspace from enemy incursions. On 12 June 1942, 13 Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the "Halverson project" (HALPRO) attacked Ploiești. Berres' staffel was scrambled to intercept. Berres claimed one B-24D shot down. Malta operations 1. Staffel moved to Sicily in June 1942. The fighter group was to engaged in fighter patrols and escort duties over Malta as Axis forces laid siege to the island. On 8 July 1942 Berres claimed his first—and 8th overall—over Malta. On this day he shot down Supermarine Spitfire BR108 of No. 603 Squadron RAF flown by Flight Lieutenant L.V Sanders. On 18 July 1942 Berres claimed a Spitfire for his 10th victory while escorting Junkers Ju 88 bombers. JG 77 claimed two and I./Jagdgeschwader 53 claimed one. The other claimant was Siegfried Freytag who claimed his 60th victory. No. 126 Squadron RAF lost Flight Lieutenant Charles