Hans-Joachim Heyer (20 April 1922 – 9 November 1942) 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. Hans-Joachim Heyer was shot down near Leningrad, Russia on 9 November 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 25 November 1942. During his career he was credited with 53 aerial victories, all of them on the Eastern Front. Awards Flugzeugführerabzeichen Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 July 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (7 July 1941) 1st Class (30 November 1941) Wound Badge (1939) in Black (10 September 1942) German Cross in Gold on 4 August 1942 as Leutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 November 1942 as Leutnant and Flugzeugführer (pilot) in the III./Jagdgeschwader 54 References Citations Bibliography External links Aces of the Luftwaffe TracesOfWar.com 1922 births 1942 deaths People from Nordhausen (district) Luftwaffe pilots German World War II flying aces Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Aviators killed by being shot down Military personnel from Thuringia