Herbert Bachnick
Encyclopedia
Herbert Bachnick was a World War II Flying ace
in the Luftwaffe
(German Air Force) credited with 80 victories, all but one over the Eastern front
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
, and was posted to 9 staffel Jagdgeschwader 52
in December 1942 serving on the Eastern front. He gained his first three victories on 5 July 1943 and by had claimed 14 victories. By late September his victory total was 31, and by the end of had 47 victories credited. On 7 January 1944 he claimed five Il-2 Sturmovik aircraft shot down . He claimed 27 victories in March.
In April 1944, Uzz. Bachnick was transferred to 2./JGr Ost as an instructor. He was promoted to Leutnant in May. Bachnick was wounded in combat with USAAF bombers and fighters on 7 July force landing his Bf 109 G-6 near Moran
. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 27 July for 79 victories.
Bachnick returned to 9./JG 52 following three months as an instructor. On 7 August 1944 he engaged a USAAF formation and shot down a P-51. However, his Bf 109 G-6 “Yellow 4” was damaged in the encounter. Bachnick attempted a forced landing but crashed and was killed near Myslowitz.
Herbert Bachnick was credited with 80 victories, with 79 victories over the Eastern front, including 41 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
in the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
(German Air Force) credited with 80 victories, all but one over the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Bachnick was born on 9 February 1920 in MannheimMannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, and was posted to 9 staffel Jagdgeschwader 52
Jagdgeschwader 52
Jagdgeschwader 52 of the Luftwaffe, was the most successful fighter-wing of all time, with a claimed total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft during World War II. It was the unit of the top three scoring Fighter aces of all time, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall...
in December 1942 serving on the Eastern front. He gained his first three victories on 5 July 1943 and by had claimed 14 victories. By late September his victory total was 31, and by the end of had 47 victories credited. On 7 January 1944 he claimed five Il-2 Sturmovik aircraft shot down . He claimed 27 victories in March.
In April 1944, Uzz. Bachnick was transferred to 2./JGr Ost as an instructor. He was promoted to Leutnant in May. Bachnick was wounded in combat with USAAF bombers and fighters on 7 July force landing his Bf 109 G-6 near Moran
Moran
Moran is a modern Irish surname and derived from membership of a medieval dynastic sept. The name means a descendent of Mórán, translated as Big One. Morans were a respected sept of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty in the western counties of Mayo and Sligo...
. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 27 July for 79 victories.
Bachnick returned to 9./JG 52 following three months as an instructor. On 7 August 1944 he engaged a USAAF formation and shot down a P-51. However, his Bf 109 G-6 “Yellow 4” was damaged in the encounter. Bachnick attempted a forced landing but crashed and was killed near Myslowitz.
Herbert Bachnick was credited with 80 victories, with 79 victories over the Eastern front, including 41 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Awards
- Pilots Badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
for Fighter Pilots in Gold (31 July 1943) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (6 August 1943)
- 1st Class (7 September 1943)
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(13 December 1943) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 5 February 1944 as FeldwebelFeldwebelFeldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
in the 9./JG 52 - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 27 July 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and pilot in the 9./JG 52