Hans-Heinz Augenstein

Hans-Heinz Augenstein (11 July 1921 – 7 December 1944) was a German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II. Operating as a night fighter pilot, he was credited with 46 victories, of which 45 were four-engine bombers.
Leutnant Augenstein first served with 3./NJG 1 during mid 1942. He claimed his first victory on the night of 31 July-1 August, a Vickers Wellington downed near Ahlhorn. In late 1942, Augenstein transferred to 7 staffel. He claimed four victories on 27–28 May. In March 1944 Augenstein was made Staffelkapitän of 12./NJG 1 and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944.
During 1944 Augenstein claimed 42 victories. On the night of 7 December 1944, Augenstein’s Bf 110 G-4 was shot down near Münster-Handorf by a Mosquito night fighter of the Fighter Interception Unit, flown by RAF ace F/L ER Hedgecoe DFC. Augenstein and his Bordfunker Gunther Steins were killed but his Bordschütze Uzz. Kurt Schmidt baled out unhurt. Augenstein was credited with 46 victories, all recorded at night and including 45 four-engine bombers.

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 January 1944)
• German Cross in Gold on 16 January 1944 as Leutnant in the 7./NJG 1
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelführer of the 7./NJG 1

• Obermaier 1989, p. 82.
• Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 19.
• Fellgiebel 2000, p. 118.
• Scherzer 2007, p. 196.