Horst Patuschka

Dr. Horst Patuschka (22 May 1912 – 6 March 1943) was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. 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. Patuschka was killed on 6 March 1943 after his Junkers Ju 88 crashed near Bizerte, Tunisia due to engine failure. During his career he was credited with 23 aerial victories all of them at night. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 10 May 1943.

Group commander and death On 3 December 1942, Patuschka was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of NJG 2, succeeding Hauptmann Herbert Bönsch who had been killed in action on 1 August.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Patuschka was credited with 23 nocturnal aerial victories, claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 23 nocturnal victory claims. Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, also listing Patuschka with 23 claims.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No. – Ergänzungsgruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – 1 13 April 1942 02:38 Wellington 2 31 May 1942 00:17 Wellington 3 31 May 1942 00:28 Wellington west of Zeeland 4 3 June 1942 02:50 Halifax – 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – 5 14 July 1942 03:20 Wellington vicinity of Nijnsel 6 29 July 1942 02:00 Havoc 7 1 August 1942 02:25 Hampden vicinity of Ostend 8 1 August 1942 03:27 Wellington 9 13 August 1942 02:40 Halifax Scheldt Estuary 10 16 August 1942 05:05 Manchester 11 28 August 1942 23:26 Wellington 12 7 September 1942 04:41 Wellington vicinity of Vlissingen 13 10 September 1942 23:36 Stirling northwest of Biervliet 14 11 September 1942 01:37 Wellington west of Schouwen 15 17 September 1942 00:12 Wellington vicinity of Heiloo 16 17 September 1942 00:45 Stirling west of Egmond aan Zee – 4. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – 17 15 October 1942 23:29 Wellington west of Goeree-Overflakkee 18 16 October 1942 00:25 Wellington west of Goeree-Overflakkee 19 25 October 1942 03:10 Wellington west of Goeree-Overflakkee 20 9 November 1942 22:42 Stirling northwest of IJmuiden – Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 – 21 30 January 1943 04:06 Wellington MediterraneanPQ 57374 22 8 February 1943 21:30 Halifax Mediterranean Halifax DT495/No. 462 Squadron RAAF 23 8 February 1943 22:13 Wellington Mediterranean Wellington LA994/No. 37 Squadron RAF

Awards Flugzeugführerabzeichen Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 21 September 1942 as Hauptmann and pilot German Cross in Gold on 29 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 May 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2