Английская Википедия:Franz Eckerle

Franz Eckerle (24 April 1912 – 14 February 1942) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and aerobatics pilot. As a fighter ace during World War II, he was credited with 59 aerial victories, four over the Western Allies and 55 on the Eastern Front. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.Шаблон:Sfn

Born in Baden-Baden, Eckerle grew up in the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1935. Following further training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 135. In 1938 and 1939, Eckerle competed in the German Aeronautical Nationals. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving with Jagdgeschwader 76 and claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 during the Battle of France. Following further aerial victories claimed during the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 September 1941. In January 1942, Eckerle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54. Following aerial combat on 14 February 1942, he went missing in action, presumed killed in action, near Schlüsselburg. Posthumously, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.

Early life and career

Eckerle was born on 24 April 1912 in Baden-Baden, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Baden of the German Empire.Шаблон:Sfn Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935. On 1 April 1937, Eckerle was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and posted to the I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 135 (JG 135—135th Fighter Wing) based in Bad Aibling.Шаблон:Sfn The Gruppe had just been created on 15 March and was commanded by Major Max Ibel.Шаблон:Sfn

In 1938, flying a Klemm Kl 35, Eckerle took fourth place in 10th German Aeronautical Nationals in Nuremberg.Шаблон:Sfn The following year, flying a Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister, he took second place at the 11th German Aeronautical Nationals in Frankfurt.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn

Following the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, Eckerle was posted to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing) stationed in Wien-Schwechat also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group"). There, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 138 in 1939.Шаблон:Sfn On 1 May 1939, his unit I./JG 138 was re-designated I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (I./JG 76—1st group of the 76th Fighter Wing).Шаблон:Sfn

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In preparation of the invasion, I. Gruppe of JG 76 had been moved to an airfield at Stubendorf, present-day Izbicko in Poland, in mid-August 1939 and supported the German advance on the central and southern sectors of the front.Шаблон:Sfn On 14 September, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to its home airfield at Wien-Aspern where it arrived on 26 September.Шаблон:Sfn On 26 October, the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit) and 1. Staffel were ordered to Frankfurt Rhein-Main where it was united again with 2. and 3. Staffel on 2 November. From Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" for the Frankfurt, Rhine and Saar region. In April 1940, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mainz-Finthen, originally named Fliegerhorst Ober-Olm. The Gruppe stayed at Ober-Olm until the Battle of France began.Шаблон:Sfn Supporting the German crossing of the Meuse, Eckerle claimed his first and only aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire fighter on 15 May during the Battle of Sedan.Шаблон:Sfn

On 26 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 76 was moved to the airfield at Waalhaven in the Netherlands and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). There, the Gruppe was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area. On 5 July, I./JG 76 was officially integrated into JG 54 and was renamed to II./JG 54 and 3./JG 76 became 6./JG 54.Шаблон:Sfn On 25 August, II. Gruppe of JG 54 was placed under the command of Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak.Шаблон:Sfn

War against the Soviet Union

Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, while stationed at an airfield at Zemun near Belgrade, the Geschwader received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf 109-Es so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant. Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania. Following intensive training, the Geschwader was moved to airfields in Eastern Prussia. On 18 June, II. Gruppe relocated to Neukuhren, present-day Pionersky, and then to Trakehnen, present-day Yasnaya Polyana, on 20 June. The Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. Gruppe supporting Army Group North in its strategic goal towards Leningrad.Шаблон:Sfn Prior, Eckerle was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 June 1941.Шаблон:Sfn

On the first day of the invasion, II. Gruppe flew multiple missions in support of German bombers attacking Soviet airfields near Kowno, present-day Kaunas. That day, Eckerle claimed a Tupolev SB bomber shot down.Шаблон:Sfn This was his fifth aerial victory in total.Шаблон:Sfn On 25 June, the Gruppe followed the German advance and relocated to an airfield at Kowno. Two days later they moved to Dünaburg, present-day Daugavpils. On 28 June, the 8th Panzer Division had established a bridgehead across the Daugava. Operating from Dünaburg, Eckerle claimed three Ilyushin DB-3 bombers shot down on 30 June over the bridgehead.Шаблон:Sfn Following his 30th aerial victory, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Шаблон:Lang) on 18 September. The presentation was made by General der Flieger Helmuth Förster, commanding general of the I. Fliegerkorps (1st Air Corps).Шаблон:Sfn

In early November, the Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front for a period of rest and replenishment where they were based at airfields in Döberitz, and later at Uetersen. By 20 December, the Gruppe had received 40 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A fighter aircraft. The order for conversion to the Fw 190 was recanted and ordered to Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, where they received 40 Bf 109-F-4 aircraft.Шаблон:Sfn During this period, Eckerle was transferred to the Gruppenstab of I. Gruppe of JG 54. Command of 6. Staffel was then passed to Hauptmann Carl Sattig.Шаблон:Sfn

Group commander and death

On 5 January 1942, Eckerle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 54. He succeeded Hauptmann Erich von Selle who was transferred. The Gruppe was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina and fought in the aerial battles of the Siege of Leningrad.Шаблон:Sfn On 7 January, the Soviet Volkhov Front attacked German forces at Volkhov river while the Soviet Northwestern Front attacked south of Lake Ilmen in what became the Battle of Lyuban. That day, Soviet bombers attacked Ziverskaya Airfield, defending against this attack, Eckerle shot down one aircraft.Шаблон:Sfn Over thex days, the Gruppe again flew missions in support of the Heer (army) along the Volkhov in the combat area southeast of Leningrad near Tosno. On 13 January, Eckerle was credited with shooting down a SB-2 bomber followed by two Polikarpov I-16 fighters shot down on 19 January.Шаблон:Sfn

Eckerle was forced to make an emergency landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 9728—factory number) behind Soviet lines near Woronowo, southeast of Schlüsselburg, on 14 February 1942.Шаблон:Sfn He was posted as missing in action and presumed killed. He was posthumously honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Шаблон:Lang) on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.Шаблон:Sfn Eckerle was succeeded by Hauptmann Hans Philipp as commander of I. Gruppe.Шаблон:Sfn According to Soviet sources, Eckerle was shot down near Turyshkino, located approximately Шаблон:Convert southeast of Mga. He was likely shot down by Mladshiy Leytenant Petrukhin, Mladshiy Leytenant Markov, and Serzhant Savosin from 71 IAP (Fighter Aviation Regiment—Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk) of the KBF (Krasnoznamyonnyy Baltiyskiy Flot), the air force of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet.Шаблон:Sfn Page states that he was shot near Velikiye Luki.Шаблон:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Eckerle was credited with 59 aerial victories.Шаблон:Sfn Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 59 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed. This number includes 55 on the Eastern Front and four on the Western Front.Шаблон:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
Шаблон:Legend2
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 76 –Шаблон:Sfn Battle of France – 10 May – 25 June 1940
1	15 May 1940	12:00	Spitfire Шаблон:Sfn
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Шаблон:Sfn At the Channel and over England – 26 June 1940 – 29 March 1941
2	30 July 1940	20:04	Blenheim	Vlissingen Шаблон:Sfn	4	9 November 1940	11:45	Spitfire	Шаблон:Convert east of Deal Шаблон:Sfn
3	1 August 1940	16:50	Blenheim	Шаблон:Convert off Haamstede Шаблон:Sfn
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Шаблон:Sfn Operation Barbarossa – 22 June – 5 December 1941
5	22 June 1941	17:30	SB-2 Шаблон:Sfn		22	25 July 1941	07:55	DB-3 Шаблон:Sfn
6	30 June 1941	06:50	DB-3Шаблон:Sfn		23	10 August 1941	04:10	I-16 Шаблон:Sfn
7	30 June 1941	06:51	DB-3Шаблон:Sfn		24	12 August 1941	12:35	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
8	30 June 1941	12:32	DB-3Шаблон:Sfn		25	12 August 1941	17:45	I-153 Шаблон:Sfn
9	2 July 1941	20:30	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn		26	14 August 1941	11:15	I-16	east of PetrovskoyeШаблон:Sfn
10	2 July 1941	20:32	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn		27	18 August 1941	12:15	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
11	2 July 1941	20:40	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn		28	22 August 1941	19:18	I-16Шаблон:Sfn
12	6 July 1941	04:05	SB-2Шаблон:Sfn		29	22 August 1941	19:21	I-16Шаблон:Sfn
13	7 July 1941	06:46	DB-3Шаблон:Sfn		30	23 August 1941	18:50	I-16Шаблон:Sfn
14	7 July 1941	15:50	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn		31	3 September 1941	11:30	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
15	17 July 1945	09:35	SB-2Шаблон:Sfn		32	8 September 1941	13:30	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
16	19 July 1941	20:45	SB-2Шаблон:Sfn		33	8 September 1941	13:40	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
17	19 July 1941	20:46	SB-2Шаблон:Sfn		34	15 September 1941	17:20	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
18	22 July 1941	09:56	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn		35	17 September 1941	13:45	low wing monoplaneШаблон:Sfn
19	22 July 1941	18:15	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn		36	19 September 1941	07:07	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn
20	23 July 1941	03:25	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		37	19 September 1941	07:09	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn
21	23 July 1941	03:26	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		38	14 October 1941	15:30	SB-3Шаблон:Sfn
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Шаблон:Sfn Eastern Front – 6 December 1941 – 14 February 1942
39	1 January 1942	10:35	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		50	28 January 1942	12:06	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
40	1 January 1942	10:42	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		51	30 January 1942	11:11	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
41	1 January 1942	14:08	I-153Шаблон:Sfn		52?Шаблон:Refn	2 February 1942	14:44	I-16	Шаблон:Convert south-southwest of Narva Шаблон:Sfn
42	7 January 1942	14:50	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		53	3 February 1942	09:25	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
43	13 January 1942	08:53	SB-2Шаблон:Sfn		54	3 February 1942	09:45	I-18 (Mig-1)Шаблон:Sfn
44	19 January 1942	11:05	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		55	5 February 1942	15:37	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn
45	19 January 1942	11:10	I-16Шаблон:Sfn		?Шаблон:Refn	6 February 1942	11:25	MiG-1Шаблон:Sfn
46	21 January 1942	09:30	Il-2 Шаблон:Sfn		56	7 February 1942	09:15	I-16Шаблон:Sfn
47	26 January 1942	13:22	I-18 (MiG-1)Шаблон:Sfn		57	7 February 1942	13:00	I-16Шаблон:Sfn?Шаблон:Refn
48	28 January 1942	09:03	I-180 (Yak-7)Шаблон:Sfn		58	7 February 1942	15:42	Il-2Шаблон:Sfn
49	28 January 1942	09:06	I-180 (Yak-7)Шаблон:Sfn		59	14 February 1942	14:25	I-153Шаблон:Sfn	vicinity of Woronovo

Awards

Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (13 September 1939)Шаблон:Sfn
- 1st Class (11 August 1940)Шаблон:Sfn
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 18 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn
- 82nd Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Sfn

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

References

Citations

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

Шаблон:Refbegin

Шаблон:Refend

Шаблон:Subject bar

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