Herbert Bachnick

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.

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

Career
Karaya-Staffel emblem

Bachnick was born on 9 February 1920 in Mannheim in the Republic of Baden. Following flight training, 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.[1] 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.[2]

Bachnik claimed his first three aerial victories on 5 July 1943 and had by August claimed 14 victories. By late September his victory total was 31, and by the end of 1943 had 47 victories credited. Bachnick received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 13 December 1943.[3] On 7 January 1944 he claimed five Il-2 Sturmovik aircraft shot down. He claimed 27 victories in March.

On 7 January 1944, Bachnick became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time when shot down five Soviet aircraft.[4] 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 near Moran. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July for 78 aerial victories.[5][6]

Bachnick returned to 9. Staffel of JG 52 following three months as an instructor. 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.[7][8][9]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Bachnick was credited with 80 aerial victories, including one four-engined bomber, claimed in 373 combat missions.[10] Obermaier lists Bachnick with 80 aerial victories, 79 of which on the Eastern Front, claimed in 373 combat mission.[1] 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.[4]

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.[11]

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, Bock, Mathews, and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[5]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1 5 July 1943 12:51 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 62773[12]
vicinity of 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Oboyan		 24 18 September 1943 15:29 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 68572[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Pavlohrad
2 5 July 1943 16:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 35 Ost 61631[12]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Vovchansk		 25 19 September 1943 10:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59634[13]
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[12]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Vovchansk		 26 19 September 1943 15:28 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59612[13]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Pavlohrad
4 4 August 1943 09:46 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 35 Ost 61161[14]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Prokhorovka		 27 20 September 1943 13:35 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 59471[13]
20 km (12 mi) west of Pavlohrad
5 4 August 1943 13:49 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61354[15]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka		 28 20 September 1943 15:40 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58824[13]
vicinity of Bolschoj Tomak
6 5 August 1943 08:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61194[15]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krasny Liman		 29 23 September 1943 14:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 58194[13]
20 km (12 mi) east of Zaporizhzhia
7 17 August 1943 05:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70733[16]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Izium		 30 23 September 1943 14:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 58192[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
8 19 August 1943 13:38 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo[16]
1 km (0.62 mi) south of Jalisawehino		 31 27 November 1943 09:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49791[17]
55 km (34 mi) north of Nikopol
9 20 August 1943 06:13 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka[16]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kuteinikovo		 32 27 November 1943 14:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 48761, Pawlowka[17]
40 km (25 mi) west-southwest of Bilozirka
10 20 August 1943 10:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263[18]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Marinowka		 33 27 November 1943 14:26 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48732[17]
35 km (22 mi) south of Nikopol
11 21 August 1943 07:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo[18]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino		 34 27 November 1943 14:36 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 48723[17]
40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Nikopol
12 21 August 1943 07:24 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Kuibyschewo[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino		 35 28 November 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49841[17]
40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak
13 21 August 1943 11:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88432[18]
3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienkeim		 36 28 November 1943 13:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 48481[17]
25 km (16 mi) east of Nikopol
14 22 August 1943 16:21 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88284[18]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino		 37 28 November 1943 13:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 48671[17]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nikopol
15 22 August 1943 16:25 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88431[18]
vicinity of Marienkeim		 38 28 November 1943 13:53 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 48622[17]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Nikopol
16 24 August 1943 17:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88332[18]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kuteinikovo		 39 7 December 1943 14:10 LaGG-3 north of Golovkovka[17]
17 24 August 1943 17:59 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 88414[18]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino		 40 13 December 1943 12:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] northwest of Varvarovka[17]
18 11 September 1943 11:04 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 60691[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Grishino		 41 17 December 1943 14:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29651[19]
20 km (12 mi) south of Nowa Praha
19 14 September 1943 10:25?[Note 2] Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 69652[13]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Grishino		 42 17 December 1943 14:19 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29691[19]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Nowa Praha
20 14 September 1943 17:05 Yak-9?[Note 3] PQ 34 Ost 69494[13]
vicinity of Pavlohrad		 43 19 December 1943 12:09 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48691[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Beloserka
21 15 September 1943 11:58 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 68624[13]
35 km (22 mi) east-southeast of Polohy		 44 19 December 1943 12:16 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 48663[19]
20 km (12 mi) north of Beloserka
22 18 September 1943 15:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 68814[13]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Pavlohrad		 45 20 December 1943 08:56 Il-2 south of Bolshaya Belozerka[19]
23 18 September 1943 15:24 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 59682[13]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Pavlohrad		 46 25 December 1943 11:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] north of Kamenka[19]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[4]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 August 1944
47♠ 7 January 1944 11:22 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 29823[20]
40 km (25 mi) south of Nowa Praha		 64♠ 13 March 1944 16:26 Il-2 PQ 60063[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Balakliia
48♠ 7 January 1944 11:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 29822[20]
40 km (25 mi) south of Nowa Praha		 65♠ 13 March 1944 16:29 LaGG PQ 60481[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Andreyevka
49♠ 7 January 1944 11:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 29684[20]
25 km (16 mi) south of Nowa Praha		 66♠ 13 March 1944 16:30 LaGG PQ 60644[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Andreyevka
50♠ 7 January 1944 11:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 19632[20]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Kirovograd		 67 14 March 1944 06:14 LaGG PQ 70543[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Balakliia
51♠ 7 January 1944 11:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 29373[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirovograd		 68 14 March 1944 15:40 Il-2 PQ 70512[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia
52 8 January 1944 14:05 P-39 PQ 29392[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kirovograd		 69 15 March 1944 06:58 LaGG PQ 70511[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia
53 9 January 1944 14:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 29511[20]
vicinity of Kirovograd		 70 17 March 1944 10:20 Il-2 PQ 60621[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
54 23 January 1944 13:27 LaGG PQ 19292[20]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Alekandrovka		 71♠ 19 March 1944 07:06 Il-2 PQ 70523[21]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
55 30 January 1944 14:27 LaGG PQ 19253[20]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Signajewka		 72♠ 19 March 1944 07:08 Il-2 PQ 70611[21]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Izium
56 26 February 1944 14:36 P-39 PQ 29562[21]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kirovograd		 73♠ 19 March 1944 07:11 LaGG PQ 70642[21]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Izium
57 7 March 1944 10:20 Pe-2 PQ 70321[21]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo		 74♠ 19 March 1944 07:35 LaGG PQ 70372[21]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo
58 12 March 1944 11:58 Il-2 PQ 70512[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Balakliia		 75♠ 19 March 1944 16:33 LaGG PQ 60623[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
59 12 March 1944 12:01 Il-2 PQ 70374[21]
vicinity of Shevchenkovo		 76 21 March 1944 13:22 Il-2 PQ 60624[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Andreyevka
60 12 March 1944 15:46 Il-2 PQ 70562[21]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Izium		 77 21 March 1944 13:24 Il-2 PQ 60491[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Balakliia
61 12 March 1944 16:06 LaGG PQ 70612[21]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Izium		 78 21 March 1944 16:16 Pe-2 PQ 70521[21]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
62♠ 13 March 1944 16:05 LaGG PQ 70522[21]
20 km (12 mi) east of Balakliia
—
 7 August 1944
—
 P-51[22] vicinity of Mysłowice
63♠ 13 March 1944 16:19 LaGG PQ 60663[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Balakliia

Awards

Notes
  1. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:26.[5]
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.[5]

References

Citations
  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 83.
  2. Prien et al. 2006, p. 537.
  3. Barbas 2010, p. 283.
  4. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 27–28.
  5. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 27.
  6. Schreier 1990, p. 184.
  7. Page 2020, p. 93.
  8. Barbas 2010, p. 319.
  9. Weal 2004, p. 109.
  10. Spick 1996, p. 236.
  11. Planquadrat.
  12. Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.
  13. Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.
  14. Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
  17. Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
  20. Barbas 2010, p. 373.
  21. Barbas 2010, p. 374.
  22. Barbas 2010, p. 379.
  23. MacLean 2007, p. 40.
  24. Patzwall 2008, p. 121.
  25. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 21.
  26. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 120.
  27. Scherzer 2007, p. 198.

Bibliography
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