Herbert Bachnick

Herbert Bachnick
Born(1920-02-09)9 February 1920
Mannheim, Germany
Died7 August 1944(1944-08-07) (aged 24)
Myslowitz. Oberschlesien, Germany
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1938–1944
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 52, JGr Ost
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Herbert Bachnick (9 February 1920 – 7 August 1944) was a World War II flying ace in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) credited with 80 aerial victories—that is, 80 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, 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.

Career

Bachnick was born on 9 February 1920 in Mannheim in the Republic of Baden. On 1 October 1938, Bachnik who was a kaufmännischer Angestellter (merchant) in his civil life, joined the military service in Luftwaffe.[1] Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to 9. Staffel (9th squadron), also known as the Karaya-Staffel, of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) on 5 December 1942 serving on the Eastern Front.[3] At the time, 9. Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Ernst Ehrenberg and was subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 headed by Major Hubertus von Bonin.[4]

War against the Soviet Union

Karaya-Staffel emblem

In preparation for Operation Citadel and the Battle of Kursk, III. Gruppe moved to the airfield Bessonovka at Ugrim, located south of Kursk, on 3 July. Here, Bachnick claimed his first three aerial victories on 5 July 1943 when he shot down a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber, an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and a Lavochkin La-5 fighter.[5] Following these events, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) and promoted to Feldwebel (sergeant).[6] On 2 August, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Warwarowka, located south of Belgorod, where they stayed for three days. There, Bachnik claimed an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter shot down on 4 August, and another LaGG-3 the following day.[7]

On 14 August, the Gruppe relocated to Pereshchepyne where they stayed for four days. Here, Bachnik claimed another LaGG-3 destroyed on 17 August.[8] Then flying from Mikhaylovka on 19 August, he again claimed a LaGG-3 fighter.[9] On 23 August, III. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Makeyevka. Here, Bachnik increased his number of aerial victories claimed to 17 by end-August.[10] On 9 September, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Dnipropetrovsk, present-day Dnipro, operating from this airfield until 24 September. Here, Bachnik claimed thirteen aerial victories, taking his total to 30 aerial victories.[11] The Gruppe reached an airfield near Apostolovo on 1 November. With the exception of a brief period from 12 to 20 November when they also used an airfield at Kirovohrad, the Gruppe remained here until 7 January 1944. Here, Bachnik claimed further aerial victories, increasing his total 46 by end of 1943.[12] Bachnick received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 13 December 1943.[13] On 7 January 1944, Bachnik became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time when he claimed five Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down near Nova Praha and Kirovohrad.[14]

On 5 February, Bachnick was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) for 55 aerial victories claimed.[6] The Gruppe moved to an airfield at Proskurov, present-day Khmelnytskyi, on 12 March where they stayed until 23 March. Here, Bachnick became an "ace-in-a-day" again on 13 March, and a third time on 19 March.[15] On 21 March, he was credited with III. Gruppe's 3,500th aerial victory.[16] In April, Unteroffizier Bachnick was transferred to 2. Staffel of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost as an instructor. He was promoted to Leutnant in May. Bachnick was wounded in combat with United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombers and fighters on 7 July force landing his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July for 78 aerial victories.[17][18]

Bachnick returned to 9. Staffel of JG 52 following three months as an instructor. At the time, III. Gruppe was based at Kraków in Poland and defending against the Soviet Operation Bagration which defeated Army Group Center under command of Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch, retaking all of Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and securing a foothold in Eastern Poland.[19] On 7 August 1944, he engaged a USAAF formation and shot down a North American P-51 Mustang. However, his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 166065—factory number) "Yellow 4" was damaged in the encounter. Bachnick attempted a forced landing near Myslowitz but crashed into a railroad embarkment, killing him.[20][21][22]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bachnik was credited with 80 aerial victories.[23] Spick also lists him with 80 aerial victories, including one four-engined bomber, claimed in 373 combat missions.[24] Obermaier lists Bachnick with 80 aerial victories, 79 of which on the Eastern Front, claimed in 373 combat mission.[3] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[25]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 62773". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[26]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bachnik an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Bachnik did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews, and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[27]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1 5 July 1943 12:51 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 62773[28]
vicinity of 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Oboyan 		24 18 September 1943 15:29 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 68572[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Pavlohrad
2 5 July 1943 16:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61631[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Vovchansk 		25 19 September 1943 10:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59634[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pavlohrad
3 5 July 1943 18:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61661, 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Vovchansk[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Vovchansk 		26 19 September 1943 15:28 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59612[29]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Pavlohrad
4 4 August 1943 09:46 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 61161[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Prokhorovka 		27 20 September 1943 13:35 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 59471[29]
20 km (12 mi) west of Pavlohrad
5 4 August 1943 13:49 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61354[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka 		28 20 September 1943 15:40 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58824[29]
vicinity of Bolschoj Tomak
6 5 August 1943 08:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61194[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krasny Liman 		29 23 September 1943 14:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58194[29]
20 km (12 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
7 17 August 1943 05:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70733[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Izium 		30 23 September 1943 14:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 58192[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
8 19 August 1943 13:38 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[32]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino 		31 27 November 1943 09:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49791[33]
55 km (34 mi) north of Nikopol
9 20 August 1943 06:13 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka[32]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kuteinikovo 		32 27 November 1943 14:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48761, Pawlowka[33]
40 km (25 mi) west-southwest of Bilozirka
10 20 August 1943 10:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka 		33 27 November 1943 14:26 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48732[33]
35 km (22 mi) south of Nikopol
11 21 August 1943 07:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo[34]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino 		34 27 November 1943 14:36 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48723[33]
40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Nikopol
12 21 August 1943 07:24 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Kuibyschewo[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino 		35 28 November 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49841[33]
40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak
13 21 August 1943 11:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88432[34]
3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienkeim 		36 28 November 1943 13:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48481[33]
25 km (16 mi) east of Nikopol
14 22 August 1943 16:21 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88284[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino 		37 28 November 1943 13:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48671[33]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nikopol
15 22 August 1943 16:25 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88431[34]
vicinity of Marienkeim 		38 28 November 1943 13:53 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 48622[33]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Nikopol
16 24 August 1943 17:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88332[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kuteinikovo 		39 7 December 1943 14:10 LaGG-3 north of Golovkovka[33]
17 24 August 1943 17:59 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 88414[34]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino 		40 13 December 1943 12:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] northwest of Varvarovka[33]
18 11 September 1943 11:04 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 60691[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Grishino 		41 17 December 1943 14:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29651[35]
20 km (12 mi) south of Nova Praha
19 14 September 1943 10:25?[Note 3] Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 69652[29]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Grishino 		42 17 December 1943 14:19 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29691[35]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Nova Praha
20 14 September 1943 17:05 Yak-9?[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 69494[29]
vicinity of Pavlohrad 		43 19 December 1943 12:09 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48691[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Beloserka
21 15 September 1943 11:58 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 68624[29]
35 km (22 mi) east-southeast of Polohy 		44 19 December 1943 12:16 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 48663[35]
20 km (12 mi) north of Beloserka
22 18 September 1943 15:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 68814[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Pavlohrad 		45 20 December 1943 08:56 Il-2 south of Bolshaya Belozerka[35]
23 18 September 1943 15:24 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 59682[29]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Pavlohrad 		46 25 December 1943 11:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] north of Kamenka[35]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[25]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 August 1944
47♠ 7 January 1944 11:22 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 29823[36][14]
40 km (25 mi) south of Nova Praha 		64♠ 13 March 1944 16:19 Il-2 m.H.?[Note 2][Note 5] PQ 25 Ost 60663[39][37]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Balakliia
48♠ 7 January 1944 11:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 29822[36][14]
40 km (25 mi) south of Nova Praha 		65♠ 13 March 1944 16:26 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 25 Ost 60063[39][37]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Balakliia
49♠ 7 January 1944 11:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 29684[36][14]
25 km (16 mi) south of Nova Praha 		66♠ 13 March 1944 16:29 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60481[39][37]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Andreyevka
50♠ 7 January 1944 11:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 19623[36]
PQ 19632[14]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Kirovohrad 		67 14 March 1944 06:14 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70543[39][37]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Balakliia
51♠ 7 January 1944 11:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 29373[36][14]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirovohrad 		68 14 March 1944 16:29?[Note 6] Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70512[39][37]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia
52 8 January 1944 14:05 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29392[36][14]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kirovohrad 		69 15 March 1944 06:48?[Note 7] LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70511[39][37]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia
53 9 January 1944 14:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 29511[36][14]
vicinity of Kirovohrad 		70 17 March 1944 10:20 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60621[39][37]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
54 23 January 1944 13:27 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19292[36][14]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Alekandrovka 		71♠ 19 March 1944 07:06 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70523,[37] east of Parchamowszy[39]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
55 30 January 1944 14:27 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19253[36][14]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Signajewka 		72♠ 19 March 1944 07:08 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70611[39][37]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Izium
56 26 February 1944 14:36 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29562[39][37]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kirovohrad 		73♠ 19 March 1944 07:11 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70642[39][37]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Izium
57 7 March 1944 10:20 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 70321[39][37]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo 		74♠ 19 March 1944 07:35 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70372[39][37]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo
58 12 March 1944 11:58 LaGG?[Note 8] PQ 25 Ost 70512[39][37]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia 		75♠ 19 March 1944 16:33 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60623[37][40]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
59 12 March 1944 12:01 LaGG?[Note 8] PQ 25 Ost 70374[39][37]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo 		76 21 March 1944 13:22 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60624[37][40]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
60 12 March 1944 15:46 LaGG?[Note 8] PQ 25 Ost 70562[39][37]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Izium 		77 21 March 1944 13:24 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60491[37][40]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Balakliia
61 12 March 1944 16:06 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70612[39][37]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Izium 		78 21 March 1944 16:16 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 70521[37][40]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
62♠ 13 March 1944 16:05 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70522[39][37]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
—
 7 August 1944
—
 P-51[41][42] vicinity of Mysłowice
63♠ 13 March 1944 16:15?[Note 9] LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60631, south of Kalinowka[39]
PQ 60644[37]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Andreyevka

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:26.[27]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.[27]
  5. ^ According to both Barbas,[37] and Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov aircraft.[38]
  6. ^ According to both Barbas,[37] and Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:40.[38]
  7. ^ According to both Barbas,[37] and Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:58.[38]
  8. ^ a b c According to both Barbas,[37] and Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.[38]
  9. ^ According to both Barbas,[37] and Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:30.[38]

References

Citations

  1. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 39.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 83.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 537.
  5. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 140, 361.
  6. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 133.
  7. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 142, 363–364.
  8. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 143, 365.
  9. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 144, 365.
  10. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 144, 366.
  11. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 146, 367–368.
  12. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 148, 371–372.
  13. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 283.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barbas 2010, p. 373.
  15. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 181, 374.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 265.
  17. ^ Weal 2007, p. 79.
  18. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 184.
  19. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 190–191.
  20. ^ Page 2020, p. 93.
  21. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 319.
  22. ^ Weal 2004, p. 109.
  23. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  24. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  25. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 27–28.
  26. ^ Planquadrat.
  27. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 27.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  30. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
  31. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  32. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
  35. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 258.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Barbas 2010, p. 374.
  38. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 28.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Prien et al. 2022, p. 259.
  40. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 260.
  41. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 264.
  42. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 379.
  43. ^ a b c MacLean 2007, p. 40.
  44. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 121.
  45. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 21.
  46. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 120.
  47. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 198.

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