Bio of Hauptmann Hans-Karl Mayer (1911-1940)

Hans-Karl Mayer (8 March 1911 – 17 October 1940) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace pilot and recipient of the Ritterkreuz des EIsernen Kreuzes during World War II.

Mayer served with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War with 1. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88, claiming eight victories. On his return from Spain Oberleutnant Mayer was posted to 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing), becoming Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in October 1939. He claimed his first victory of World War II on 5 November 1939 downing a French Potez 63. Mayer claimed eight more victories during the Battle of France, including five aircraft shot down on 14 May 1940, making him an "ace-in-a-day".

During the Battle of Britain he then shot down two Hurricanes over the Isle of Wight on 12 August 1940. On 25 August, Mayer shot down a Hurricane for his 15th victory, possibly that of Flight Lieutenant Alfred Bayne of No. 17 Squadron, who bailed out. The next day Mayer shot down two Spitfires. One of his victim was ace Sergeant Cyril Babbage of No. 602 Squadron, who bailed out. Hauptmann Mayer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 3 September 1940.

One of the tallest pilots in the Luftwaffe at that time, Mayer was a highly effective and well-respected Staffelkapitän and, later, Gruppenkommandeur. Unteroffizier Werner Karl, who served with him in 1. Staffel recalled, ‘To me, Hauptmann Mayer was the most remarkable personality; he was exemplary in every respect. He was so tall, he used to cram himself into his cockpit and when on missions used twice as much oxygen than the rest of us’.

Mayer was made Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) I. Gruppe of JG 53 on 1 September 1940, he replaced Hauptmann Albert Blumensaat who was transferred. Command of 1. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Hans Ohly. He recorded his 30th victory on 15 September. On 17 October 1940, Mayer took off in Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 4138—factory number) on a test flight and never returned, his body washing up on the English coast 10 days later. He was possibly a victim of Flight Officer Desmond McMullen or Sergeant John Burgess, both from No. 222 Squadron RAF. He is buried at Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent.

According to Obermaier, Mayer was credited with 39 aerial victories, eight in the Spanish Civil War and 31 on the Western Front of World War II. Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 28 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War and 22 over the Western Allies.

Awards
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 September 1940 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 53

Source :
"Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik'As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940" by Chris Goss & Chris Davey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Karl_Mayer
http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2013/06/luftwaffe-war-graves-in-england.html