Heinz Marquardt

Heinz "Negus" Marquardt (29 December 1922 – 19 December 2003) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories—that is, 121 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—with a further 16 unconfirmed victories in 320 combat missions. All but one of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

World War II Marquardt was born on 29 December 1922 in Braunsberg, present-day Braniewo in Poland, at the time in East Prussia a province of the Weimar Republic's Free State of Prussia. On 15 September 1941, he was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th fighter pilot school), stationed at the Le Havre – Octeville airfield in France. As of 1 February 1942, he served as a fighter pilot instructor and flew a number of operational sorties on the Channel Front with the operational squadron of JFS 5.

Eastern Front On 1 August 1943, Marquard was transferred to the 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front. His transfer to JG 51 occurred during the Soviet Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation where it supported the 8th Army. The Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adolf Borchers and subordinated to IV. Gruppe of JG 51 headed by Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob. According to Obermaier, Marquardt claimed his first aerial victory on 2 October, shooting down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

On 22 June 1944, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, the strategic offensive operation against Army Group Centre. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was moved to Mogilev that day and to an airfield named Bayary located northeast of Minsk and east of Barysaw. Following the German retreat, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Lida, which is west of Minsk, on 3 July. On 14 August, Marquardt claimed a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter near Osowiec Fortress. Later that day, IV. Gruppe retreated to an airfield at Tilsit, present-day Sovetsk located on the south bank of the Neman River. The next day, as part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, 10. Staffel was re-designated and became the 13. Staffel while 11. Staffel became the 14. Staffel of JG 51. Marquardt was then transferred and served with 13. Staffel which was commanded by Leutnant Peter Kalden. On 28 August, IV. Gruppe moved to Modlin Airfield located approximately northwest of Warsaw. Here, the Gruppe predominately flew combat missions to the area north and northeast of Warsaw. The next day, Marquardt claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down northeast of Warsaw. On 10 September, Marquardt was awarded German Cross in Gold . Following a brief period of little combat in central Poland, Marquardt became an "ace-in-a-day" on 7 October, claiming two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, also known as Boston, on the first mission of the day.

Marquard and his Gruppenkommandeur (group commander), Hauptmann Heinz Lange, both received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November for 89 and 70 aerial victories respectively. On 14 April 1945, Marquardt was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 102nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. On a transfer flight of new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 to his unit, he was credited with four aerial victories over Yakovlev Yak-3 on 25 April 1945. On 30 April, Marquardt accidentally ran his Fw 190 D-9 into a drainage ditch on a transfer flight. Due to lack of spare parts, the damage was not reparable and the aircraft was blown up to prevent it from falling to the enemy.

On 1 May 1945 Marquardt became Jagdgeschwader 51s last casualty of the war when he was shot down by Royal Air Force Spitfires north of Berlin. Marquardt had led a flight of six Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 on an escort mission of 12 Fw 190 F-8 ground attack aircraft from Redlin on a mission to Berlin. After completing the mission the aircraft returned to Schwerin. During the landing approach the flight came under attack of 6 Spitfire Mk XIV from No. 41 Squadron. Marquardt ordered his flight to cover the landing of the ground attack fighters while he and his wingman, Feldwebel Radlauer, attacked the Spitfires from below. Marquardt claimed one of the attackers but was shot down as well along with two other Fw 190s. Radlauer saw Marquardt's Fw 190 crash in flames but did not observe any sign of life. Marquardt was initially reported as killed in action but he had bailed out injured and was taken to a hospital in Schwerin, where he was taken prisoner of war shortly after.

Later life Following World War II, Marquardt served in the newly established German Air Force of West Germany with the rank of Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) on 16 August 1956. He served with Jagdgeschwader 73 (JG 73—73rd Fighter Wing) and Leichtes Kampfgeschwader 42 (LeKG 42—42nd Light Combat Wing). Marquardt retired on 30 September 1973, having risen to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Following his retirement, he became good friends with former Flight Lieutenant Peter Cowell who had shot him down on 1 May 1945. Marquardt died on 19 December 2003 in Hammersbach.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories. His aerial victories were claimed on 320 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Marquardt was credited with more than 121 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 39551". 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 – 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 1 17 October 1943 09:32 Yak-1 southwest of St. Budniza 27 6 July 1944 10:25 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 65531 northeast of Telchje 2 28 October 1943 06:40 Yak-1 west of Pjatichatki 28 6 July 1944 10:29 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 65534 east-southeast of Navahrudak 3 21 November 1943 09:50 Il-2 Loschkarewka 29 9 July 1944 19:13 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 54852 east of Slonim 4 22 November 1943 14:32 Il-2 m.H. Pavlovskoye 30 9 July 1944 19:17 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 54845 west of Baranavichy 5 11 December 1943 11:07 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39551 west Borovichi 31 17 July 1944 17:47 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 41881 west of Brody 6 10 January 1944 11:19 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 80681 southeast of Vinnytsia 32 20 July 1944 14:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 40565 south-southwest of Ternopil 7 10 January 1944 11:21 Yak-1 PQ 25 Ost 80681 southeast of Vinnytsia 33 21 July 1944 14:49 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50517 east of Berezhany 8 9 April 1944 13:32 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50731southeast of Ternopil 34 24 July 1944 07:46 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 20265 northeast of Sanok 9 29 April 1944 10:30 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 59354 northeast of Kolomyia 35 31 July 1944 10:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36859 southwest of Kėdainiai 10 29 April 1944 10:31 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 59354 northeast of Kolomyia 36 31 July 1944 13:16 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 46777 west of Ukmergė 11 29 April 1944 10:32 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 59363 east-northeast of Kolomyia 37 1 August 1944 06:23 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 35321 northwest of Marijampolė 12 2 May 1944 05:44 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 40261 north of Zolochiv 38 1 August 1944 10:48 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 35314 north-northwest of Marijampolė 13 2 May 1944 05:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50141 northeast of Zolochiv 39 1 August 1944 10:58 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 35347 west-northwest of Marijampolė 14 10 May 1944 07:10 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 59287 northeast of Kolomyia 40 2 August 1944 08:00 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 25429 east-southeast of Blumenfeld 15 10 May 1944 07:11 R-5 PQ 24 Ost 59264 northeast of Kolomyia 41 2 August 1944 08:02 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 25438 east-southeast of Blumenfeld 16 18 May 1944 08:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 50474vicinity of Ternopil 42 4 August 1944 07:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36599 west of Kėdainiai 17 23 May 1944 11:09 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50386 west of Ternopil 43 5 August 1944 08:08 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36731 southeast of Nemakščiai 18 28 May 1944 06:35 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50512 east of Berezhany 44 5 August 1944 08:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36729 west-southwest of Kėdainiai 19 8 June 1944 11:20 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50183 south-southeast of Brody 45 7 August 1944 13:30 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25433 east-southeast of Blumenfeld 20 8 June 1944 11:23 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50164 south-southeast of Brody 46 8 August 1944 11:05 Yak-1 PQ 25 Ost 36544 east-southeast of Nemakščiai 21 8 June 1944 11:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50168 east of Zolochiv 47 8 August 1944 11:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36575 southeast of Nemakščiai 22 17 June 1944 13:21 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50882 south-southeast of Ternopil 48 8 August 1944 11:12 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36573 southeast of Nemakščiai 23 4 July 1944 20:55 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 65661 north-northwest of Maladzyechna 49 9 August 1944 11:56 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 35388 west-northwest of Marijampolė 24 4 July 1944 20:57 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 65623 north-northwest of Maladzyechna 50 9 August 1944 14:51 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 35334 north of Marijampolė 25 4 July 1944 20:58 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 65622 north-northwest of Maladzyechna 51 9 August 1944 14:54 Il-2 m.H. ? PQ 25 Ost 25466 west of Marijampolė 26 4 July 1944 20:59 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 65625 north of Maladzyechna 52 14 August 1944 10:55 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 24619 northeast of Łomża – 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 53 16 August 1944 17:22 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 26627vicinity of Nemakščiai 72? 13 October 1944 09:26 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 03639 54 17 August 1944 10:51 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 26631 east of Nemakščiai 73 13 October 1944 12:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13511 north of Warsaw 55 17 August 1944 10:54 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 26635 east of Nemakščiai 74 13 October 1944 15:26 Boston? PQ 25 Ost 13517 north of Warsaw 56 29 August 1944 09:56 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13523 north-northeast of Warsaw 75 15 October 1944 11:42 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13573, Jabłonna north of Warsaw 57 1 September 1944 13:44 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13519 north-northeast of Warsaw 76 15 October 1944 11:46 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13546 north of Warsaw 58 4 September 1944 17:18 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13259 south of Ostrołęka 77 17 October 1944 14:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13341 southwest of Modlin 59 4 September 1944 17:21 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 13219 northwest of Ostrów 78 17 October 1944 14:53? Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03446 east of Nasielsk 60 4 September 1944 17:25 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13245 northwest of Ostrów 79 19 October 1944 10:12 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13344 northeast of Nasielsk 61 5 September 1944 18:42 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 13344 east of Nasielsk 80 19 October 1944 10:14 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13347 east of Nasielsk 62 11 September 1944 15:23 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13722 east of Warsaw 81 19 October 1944 10:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13378 east of Nasielsk 63 15 September 1944 12:26 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 03699 west of Warsaw 82 21 October 1944 15:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13316 northeast of Nasielsk 64♠ 7 October 1944 12:54 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 13373 southwest of Modlin 83 23 October 1944 09:25 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 03493 northwest of Warsaw 65♠ 7 October 1944 12:58 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 13348 southwest of Modlin 84♠ 24 October 1944 08:40 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 03469 southwest of Modlin 66♠ 7 October 1944 13:04 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13555 southwest of Modlin 85♠ 24 October 1944 11:18 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03498 northwest of Warsaw 67♠ 7 October 1944 16:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03461 southwest of Modlin 86♠ 24 October 1944 13:52 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 13171 east of Ciechanów 68♠ 7 October 1944 16:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03465 east of Nasielsk 87♠ 24 October 1944 13:54 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 13147 east of Ciechanów 69♠ 7 October 1944 16:14 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03469 east of Nasielsk 88♠ 24 October 1944 13:57 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 13142 northeast of Nasielsk 70♠ 7 October 1944 16:16 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 03463 east-southeast of Nasielsk 89 25 October 1944 12:23 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13177 northeast of Nasielsk 71♠ 7 October 1944 16:17 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 03567 northeast of Warsaw According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 89 to 98 were not documented. The author Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that the aerial victory records of IV. Gruppe dated later than November 1944 are incomplete. 99 14 April 1945 09:00+ Yak-3 108 18 April 1945 Yak-3 100 14 April 1945 09:00+ Yak-3 109 18 April 1945 Il-2 101 15 April 1945 P-39 24 April 1945 Yak-3 102 15 April 1945 P-39 24 April 1945 Yak-3 103 15 April 1945 Yak-3 24 April 1945 Yak-3 104 16 April 1945 Yak-3 24 April 1945 Yak-3 105 16 April 1945 Yak-3 27 April 1945 Yak-3 106 18 April 1945 Il-2 120 29 April 1945 Il-2 107 18 April 1945 Yak-3 121 1 May 1945 Spitfire Lake Schwerin

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (26 July 1944) German Cross in Gold on 10 September 1944 as Oberfeldwebel in the 10./Jagdgeschwader 51 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 13./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"