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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

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. 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. 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.

War against the Soviet Union

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. Following these events, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and promoted to Feldwebel (sergeant). 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.

On 14 August, the Gruppe relocated to Pereshchepyne where they stayed for four days. Here, Bachnik claimed another LaGG-3 destroyed on 17 August. Then flying from Mikhaylovka on 19 August, he again claimed a LaGG-3 fighter. 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. 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. 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 to 46 by end of 1943. Bachnick received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943. 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.

On 5 February, Bachnick was awarded the German Cross in Gold for 55 aerial victories claimed. 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. On 21 March, he was credited with III. Gruppes 3,500th aerial victory. 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 on 27 July for 78 aerial victories.

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. 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.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bachnik was credited with 80 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 80 aerial victories, including one four-engined bomber, claimed in 373 combat missions and a mission-to-claim ratio of 4.66. Obermaier lists Bachnick with 80 aerial victories, 79 of which on the Eastern Front, claimed in 373 combat mission. 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.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 62773". 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 – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 1 5 July 1943 12:51 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 62773vicinity of south-southwest of Oboyan 24 18 September 1943 15:29 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 68572 east of Pavlohrad 2 5 July 1943 16:42 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 61631 north of Vovchansk 25 19 September 1943 10:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59634 south of Pavlohrad 3 5 July 1943 18:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61661, northwest of Vovchansk north of Vovchansk 26 19 September 1943 15:28 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 59612 southwest of Pavlohrad 4 4 August 1943 09:46 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 61161 southwest of Prokhorovka 27 20 September 1943 13:35 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 59471 west of Pavlohrad 5 4 August 1943 13:49 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61354 west of Tomarovka 28 20 September 1943 15:40 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 58824vicinity of Bolschoj Tomak 6 5 August 1943 08:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61194 east of Krasny Liman 29 23 September 1943 14:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58194 east of Zaporizhzhia 7 17 August 1943 05:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 70733 east of Izium 30 23 September 1943 14:15 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 58192 east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia 8 19 August 1943 13:38 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo south of Jalisawehino 31 27 November 1943 09:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49791 north of Nikopol 9 20 August 1943 06:13 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka east-northeast of Kuteinikovo 32 27 November 1943 14:23 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 48761, Pawlowka west-southwest of Bilozirka 10 20 August 1943 10:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88263 east of Marinowka 33 27 November 1943 14:26 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48732 south of Nikopol 11 21 August 1943 07:18 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo southeast of Jalisawehino 34 27 November 1943 14:36 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 48723 south-southwest of Nikopol 12 21 August 1943 07:24 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Kuibyschewo east of Jalisawehino 35 28 November 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 49841 south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak 13 21 August 1943 11:50 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88432 southeast of Marienkeim 36 28 November 1943 13:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 48481 east of Nikopol 14 22 August 1943 16:21 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88284 southwest of Jalisawehino 37 28 November 1943 13:49 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 48671 southeast of Nikopol 15 22 August 1943 16:25 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88431vicinity of Marienkeim 38 28 November 1943 13:53 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 48622 east-southeast of Nikopol 16 24 August 1943 17:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 88332 southeast of Kuteinikovo 39 7 December 1943 14:10 LaGG-3 north of Golovkovka 17 24 August 1943 17:59 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 88414 southwest of Jalisawehino 40 13 December 1943 12:28 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Varvarovka 18 11 September 1943 11:04 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 60691 southwest of Grishino 41 17 December 1943 14:16 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29651 south of Nova Praha 19 14 September 1943 10:25? Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 69652 west-northwest of Grishino 42 17 December 1943 14:19 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29691 south-southeast of Nova Praha 20 14 September 1943 17:05 Yak-9? PQ 34 Ost 69494vicinity of Pavlohrad 43 19 December 1943 12:09 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 48691 north of Beloserka 21 15 September 1943 11:58 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 68624 east-southeast of Polohy 44 19 December 1943 12:16 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 48663 north of Beloserka 22 18 September 1943 15:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 68814 east of Pavlohrad 45 20 December 1943 08:56 Il-2 south of Bolshaya Belozerka 23 18 September 1943 15:24 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 59682 south-southwest of Pavlohrad 46 25 December 1943 11:12 Il-2 m.H. north of Kamenka – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 August 1944 47♠ 7 January 1944 11:22 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 29823 south of Nova Praha 64♠ 13 March 1944 16:19 Il-2 m.H.? PQ 25 Ost 60663 south of Balakliia 48♠ 7 January 1944 11:25 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 29822 south of Nova Praha 65♠ 13 March 1944 16:26 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 60063 south of Balakliia 49♠ 7 January 1944 11:28 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 29684 south of Nova Praha 66♠ 13 March 1944 16:29 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60481 northeast of Andreyevka 50♠ 7 January 1944 11:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 19623PQ 19632 west-southwest of Kirovohrad 67 14 March 1944 06:14 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70543 southeast of Balakliia 51♠ 7 January 1944 11:49 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 29373 west of Kirovohrad 68 14 March 1944 16:29? Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70512 east of Balakliia 52 8 January 1944 14:05 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29392 east of Kirovohrad 69 15 March 1944 06:48? LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70511 east of Balakliia 53 9 January 1944 14:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 29511vicinity of Kirovohrad 70 17 March 1944 10:20 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60621 east of Andreyevka 54 23 January 1944 13:27 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19292 south-southwest of Alekandrovka 71♠ 19 March 1944 07:06 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70523, east of Parchamowszy east of Balakliia 55 30 January 1944 14:27 LaGG PQ 34 Ost 19253 southeast of Signajewka 72♠ 19 March 1944 07:08 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 70611 north-northeast of Izium 56 26 February 1944 14:36 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 29562 southeast of Kirovohrad 73♠ 19 March 1944 07:11 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70642 northeast of Izium 57 7 March 1944 10:20 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 70321vicinity of Shevchenkovo 74♠ 19 March 1944 07:35 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70372vicinity of Shevchenkovo 58 12 March 1944 11:58 LaGG? PQ 25 Ost 70512 east of Balakliia 75♠ 19 March 1944 16:33 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60623 east of Andreyevka 59 12 March 1944 12:01 LaGG? PQ 25 Ost 70374vicinity of Shevchenkovo 76 21 March 1944 13:22 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60624 east of Andreyevka 60 12 March 1944 15:46 LaGG? PQ 25 Ost 70562 northeast of Izium 77 21 March 1944 13:24 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 60491 north of Balakliia 61 12 March 1944 16:06 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70612 north-northeast of Izium 78 21 March 1944 16:16 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 70521 east of Balakliia 62♠ 13 March 1944 16:05 LaGG PQ 25 Ost 70522 east of Balakliia 7 August 1944 P-51 vicinity of Mysłowice 63♠ 13 March 1944 16:15? LaGG PQ 25 Ost 60631, south of KalinowkaPQ 60644 south of Andreyevka

Awards Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold (31 July 1943) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (6 August 1943) 1st Class (7 September 1943) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 13 December 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 5 February 1944 as Feldwebel in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52