Franz Beyer (pilot)

Franz Beyer
Born22 April 1918
Berlin-Grunewald
Died11 February 1944(1944-02-11) (aged 25)
south of Liège, Belgium
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
Plot L-row 11-grave 263
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1938–1944
RankMajor (major)
UnitJG 3
Battles / wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz Beyer (22 April 1918 – 11 February 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Beyer was killed on 11 February near Venlo, the Netherlands after dog-fighting with British Spitfires. During his career he was credited with 83 aerial victories, 6 on the Western Front and 77 on the Eastern Front. On 1 June 1943, Beyer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3.