Franz Eisenach

Franz Eisenach (11 August 1918 – 21 August 1998) was a German fighter ace during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He was credited with 129 aerial victories claimed in 319 combat missions, all on the Eastern front of the Second World War.

Career In March 1942, IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1–1st Fighter Wing) was re-designated and became the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing). In consequence, Hauptmann Fritz Losigkeit was charged with the creation of a new IV. Gruppe which was initially based at Werneuchen near Berlin. Oberleutnant Friedrich Eberle headed 10. Staffel which had already served as 3. Staffel of Jagdgruppe Losigkeit. The Einsatzstaffel of Jagdfliegerschule 4 under Oberleutnant Wilhelm Moritz formed 11. Staffel on 3 April. Eisenach initially led 12. Staffel created from some pilots of the former IV. Gruppe. Command of 12. Staffel then passed on to Oberleutnant Heinz Stöcker in October.

Eisenach was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on 17 April 1943. He replaced Hauptmann Gerhard Koall in this function who was transferred. On 8 July 1943, Eisenach was wounded in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werknummer 1503—factory number) during combat with Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers northeast of Panino. During his convalescence, he was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Robert Weiß as Staffelkapitän. On 18 December, he was again injured and shot down. On this occurrence, his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 530391) was shot down by anti-aircraft artillery northwest of Gorodok, south of Nevel.

In July 1944, Eisenach was given command of 4. Staffel of JG 54, succeeding Hauptmann Herbert Aloé who had been killed in action on 21 June. At the time, II. Gruppe of JG 54, to which his Staffel was subordinated, was based at Immola Airfield. On 10 June, Soviet forces had launched the Karelian offensive against Finland on the Karelian Isthmus as part of the Continuation War. In response to the Finnish ask for assistance, the Luftwaffe had formed Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey (Detachment Kuhlmey) on 12 June, named after Oberstleutnant Kurt Kuhlmey, the commander of Schlachtgeschwader 3 (SG 3—3rd Combat Wing). Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey was made up of the Stab and I. Gruppe of SG 3, I. Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader 5 (SG 5—5th Combat Wing), elements of Nahaufklärungsgruppe 5, a reconnaissance unit, and II. Gruppe of JG 54.

On 8 August 1944, Eisennach was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) on I. Gruppe of JG 54. He succeeded Hauptmann Horst Ademeit who was killed in action the day before. Command of 4. Staffel was then temporarily given to Leutnant Hermann Schleinhege before the Staffel was renamed 7. Staffel and command was given to Leutnant Gerhard Thyben in September.

Soviet forces launched the Baltic Offensive on 14 September 1944. Thad day, Eisenach claimed his 100th victory on 14 September 1944 by shooting down an IL-2 Sturmovik. That day, he became an "ace-in-a-day" claiming nine aerial victories, include five Ilyushin Il-2 ground attach aircraft and four Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engined dive bombers. He was the 90th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. Eisenach was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 October for 107 aerial victories.

Later life Eisenach re-joined the military service of the Bundeswehr in 1956. He left the service in 1974 with the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). He died on 21 August 1998 at the age of in Ottobrunn, Germany.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Eisenach was credited with 129 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 129 aerial victories claimed in 319 combat missions, all of which on the Eastern Front, and a mission-to-claim ratio of 2.47. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and also found confirmed records for 129 aerial victories for 154 claims filed.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 00253". The Luftwaffe grid map 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — November 1942 1 8 November 1942 14:50 P-40 PQ 00253, Novaya Pustosh west-southwest of Shlisselburg – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — December 1942 – 3 February 1943 2 9 December 1942 11:20 Il-2 Atby-Whariya 6 8 January 1943 09:25 Il-2 PQ 07724 southwest of Velikiye Luki 3 30 December 1942 11:55 MiG-3 PQ 07682 east-southeast of Velikiye Luki 7 12 January 1943 13:22 Il-2 PQ 07831 east-southeast of Velikiye Luki 4 30 December 1942 12:30? Il-2 PQ 07663 east of Velikiye Luki 8 14 January 1943 09:30 LaGG-3 PQ 07643 east of Velikiye Luki 5 5 January 1943 08:46 Il-2 PQ 07761 south of Velikiye Luki 9 15 January 1943 12:06 LaGG-3 PQ 07814 south-southeast of Velikiye Luki – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 17 April – 31 December 1943 10 24 May 1943 19:28 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 09741 30 15 October 1943 13:38 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 07752, northeast of Nevel 11 24 May 1943 19:36? Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 09764 31 20 October 1943 09:10 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06163, Lake Ssennitza 12 17 June 1943 05:16 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10583 northeast of Lyuban 32 22 October 1943 15:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15173 south of Rudnya 13 17 June 1943 05:20 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10421 east-southeast of Mga 33 27 October 1943 14:52 LaGG-3 northeast of Dubrovo 14 5 July 1943 09:57 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63624 northeast of Maloarkhangelsk 34 28 October 1943 15:21 LaGG-3 south of Gomel 15 5 July 1943 14:45 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63393 northwest of Maloarkhangelsk 35 28 October 1943 15:34 Yak-9 south-southeast of Gomel 16 6 July 1943 07:52 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63571 south of Maloarkhangelsk 36 5 November 1943 10:40 Yak-9 west-northwest of Lake Ssennitza 17 6 July 1943 14:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63544 west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 37 5 November 1943 10:44 Yak-9 west of Lake Ssennitza 18 6 July 1943 14:31 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63722 west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 38 5 November 1943 10:46? Yak-9 east of Nevel 19 7 July 1943 08:32 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 63572 west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 39 6 November 1943 10:36 Yak-9 north of Lake Ssennitza 20 7 July 1943 14:12 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 63534 northwest of Maloarkhangelsk 40 10 November 1943 12:50 La-5 southeast of Nevel 21 8 July 1943 08:06 Boston PQ 35 Ost 63563, northeast of Ponyri southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 41 10 November 1943 13:42 Il-2 west of Nevel 22 30 September 1943 11:45 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06861 42 10 November 1943 13:43 Il-2 west-southwest of Nevel 23 30 September 1943 11:46 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06222 43 17 November 1943 10:22 Yak-9 southeast of Nevel 24 7 October 1943 15:40 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06249 44 15 December 1943 09:14 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06344 25 9 October 1943 06:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06114 45 15 December 1943 11:37 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06374 26 9 October 1943 06:54 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06121 46 15 December 1943 11:40 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06173 27 11 October 1943 07:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 97892vicinity of Nevel 47 15 December 1943 11:52 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06342 28 12 October 1943 12:52 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 15514, north of Leninsk north-northeast of Krassnyj 48 18 December 1943 10:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06352 29 13 October 1943 08:40 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 15553, Leninsk northeast of Gorky 49 18 December 1943 10:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06354 – Stab of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — June – 4 July 1944 50 26 June 1944 10:40 Yak-1? PQ 25 Ost 88471 southeast of Pskov 55 30 June 1944 18:15 P-39 PQ 25 Ost OT-4/4 51 26 June 1944 10:44 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88612 northeast of Ostrov 56 30 June 1944 18:18? Il-2 PQ 25 Ost OT-4/6 52 26 June 1944 10:46 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88624 northeast of Ostrov 57 2 July 1944 17:22 P-39 PQ 25 Ost PS-2/9Pyatnitsa 53 29 June 1944 12:35 P-39 PQ 25 Ost PS-4/5 58 4 July 1944 17:17 P-39 PQ 25 Ost OS-4/8vicinity of Siversky 54 30 June 1944 13:30 P-39 PQ 25 Ost PS-8/9 – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 24 July – 7 August 1944 59 24 July 1944 07:43 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70661 south-southwest of Narva 70 30 July 1944 19:53 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 60496northeast of Kunda 60 24 July 1944 08:01? Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70824 southwest of Narva 71 30 July 1944 19:54 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70357Baltic Sea, northeast of Kunda 61 24 July 1944 19:53 Yak-9? PQ 26 Ost 70694 southwest of Narva 72 2 August 1944 13:07 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 70454Baltic Sea, northwest of Hungerburg 62 26 July 1944 16:52 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 60381 west-southwest of Wesenberg 73 3 August 1944 11:02? Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 70661 west-southwest of Hungerburg 63 26 July 1944 16:55 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 60575southwest of Kunda 74 3 August 1944 11:11 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70613Baltic Sea, west of Hungerburg 64 26 July 1944 16:57 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 60581southwest of Kunda 75 3 August 1944 11:21 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70653in the vicinity of southwest of Hungerburg 65 27 July 1944 16:52 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70692 southwest of Narva 76 3 August 1944 20:08 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70694Baltic Sea, west of Hungerburg 66 28 July 1944 04:48 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 60393northwest of Kunda 77 4 August 1944 09:18 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70692 southwest of Narva 67 30 July 1944 08:20 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70682 southwest of Narva 78 5 August 1944 12:50? Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 50433Gulf of Finland 68 30 July 1944 19:49 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 60482northeast of Kunda 79 5 August 1944 13:07 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 50263in the middle of the Gulf of Finland 69 30 July 1944 19:51 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70397Gulf of Finland, north-northwest of Reval – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 8 August 1944 – 19 March 1945 80 15 August 1944 11:19 Il-2 PQ LJ-8/7 105 17 September 1944 12:40 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47356 south-southeast of Riga 81 15 August 1944 17:40 P-39 PQ LJ-5/3 north-northwest of Pasewalk 106 17 September 1944 12:50 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47365 southeast of Riga 82 23 August 1944 11:05 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57267 north of Kreuzburg 107 19 September 1944 16:01 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47148 south of Riga 83 24 August 1944 18:55 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37395 southwest of Mitau 108 14 December 1944 12:11? Il-2 Gulf of Riga 84 26 August 1944 11:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37366 west-southwest of Mitau 109 14 December 1944 12:15? Il-2 Gulf of Riga 85 27 August 1944 14:54 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 58897 southeast of Wenden 110 15 December 1944 11:01 Pe-2 86 27 August 1944 14:56 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57235 north of Kreuzburg 111 15 December 1944 11:04 Pe-2 east of Libau 87? 28 August 1944 11:26 Il-2 north of Kreuzburg 112 15 December 1944 11:05 Pe-2 southeast of Libau 88 29 August 1944 18:55? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 37525 southwest of Mitau 113 15 December 1944 11:08 Pe-2 89 12 September 1944 16:20 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 47553 north-northwest of Pasewalk 114 23 December 1944 08:45 Il-2 90 12 September 1944 16:23 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 47572 northwest of Pasewalk 115 23 December 1944 08:47 Il-2 south-southeast of Goldingen 91 12 September 1944 16:26 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 47587 north-northwest of Pasewalk 116 26 December 1944 10:02 Pe-2 east-southeast of Libau 92♠ 14 September 1944 11:52 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57215 east-southeast of Mālpils 117 29 December 1944 10:55 Yak-9 93♠ 14 September 1944 11:59 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57251 north-northwest of Kreuzburg 118 6 January 1945 11:31 Il-2 north of Doblin 94♠ 14 September 1944 16:34 Il-2? PQ 25 Ost 37264 southwest of Riga 119 6 January 1945 11:33 Yak-9 north of Doblin 95♠ 14 September 1944 16:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 37239 west of Riga 120 6 January 1945 11:46 Pe-2 north of Doblin 96♠ 14 September 1944 16:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 37263 southwest of Riga 121 21 February 1945 13:40 Pe-2 east-southeast of Libau 97♠ 14 September 1944 16:40 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 47555 north-northwest of Pasewalk 122 23 February 1945 16:30 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland 98♠ 14 September 1944 18:18 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47376 south of Riga 123 23 February 1945 16:31 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland 99♠ 14 September 1944 18:20 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47394 south-southeast of Riga 124 5 March 1945 09:06 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland 100♠ 14 September 1944 18:21 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47531 north of Pasewalk 125 5 March 1945 09:07 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland 101 15 September 1944 09:51 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 47372 south of Riga 126 5 March 1945 14:12 Yak-3 vicinity of Courland 102 15 September 1944 10:00 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47346 south-southeast of Riga 127 6 March 1945 15:52 Yak-3 vicinity of Courland 103 15 September 1944 13:40 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 47397 south-southeast of Riga 128 19 March 1945 12:17 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland 104 17 September 1944 09:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47451 southwest of Mālpils 129 19 March 1945 12:27 Pe-2 vicinity of Courland

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot German Cross in Gold on 16 January 1944 as Oberleutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 October 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54