Herbert Bachnick Explained

Herbert Bachnick
Birth Date:	1920 2, df=yes
Birth Place:	Mannheim, Germany
Death Place:	Myslowitz. Oberschlesien, Germany Child: yes Death Cause: Killed in action
Serviceyears:	1938–1944
Rank:	Leutnant (second lieutenant)
Unit:	JG 52, JGr Ost
Battles:	World War II Eastern Front Defense of the Reich
Awards:	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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 was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

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 (German: Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) 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 46 by end of 1943. Bachnick received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (German: Ehrenpokal der 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 (German: Deutsches Kreuz 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 (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) 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. 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 (German: Jägermeldenetz) 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 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x 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 62773 vicinity of 20km (10miles) south-southwest of Oboyan	24	18 September 1943	15:29	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 68572 15km (09miles) east of Pavlohrad
2	5 July 1943	16:42	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 61631 15km (09miles) north of Vovchansk	25	19 September 1943	10:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 59634 10km (10miles) south of Pavlohrad
3	5 July 1943	18:58	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 61661, 5km (03miles) northwest of Vovchansk 10km (10miles) north of Vovchansk	26	19 September 1943	15:28	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 59612 30km (20miles) southwest of Pavlohrad
4	4 August 1943	09:46	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 61161 10km (10miles) southwest of Prokhorovka	27	20 September 1943	13:35	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 59471 20km (10miles) west of Pavlohrad
5	4 August 1943	13:49	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61354 15km (09miles) west of Tomarovka	28	20 September 1943	15:40	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 58824 vicinity of Bolschoj Tomak
6	5 August 1943	08:35	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 61194 10km (10miles) east of Krasny Liman	29	23 September 1943	14:10	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 58194 20km (10miles) east of Zaporizhzhia
7	17 August 1943	05:20	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 70733 15km (09miles) east of Izium	30	23 September 1943	14:15	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 58192 15km (09miles) east-southeast of Zaporizhzhia
8	19 August 1943	13:38	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88283, southwest of Kuibyschewo 1km (01miles) south of Jalisawehino	31	27 November 1943	09:07	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49791 55km (34miles) north of Nikopol
9	20 August 1943	06:13	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka 25km (16miles) east-northeast of Kuteinikovo	32	27 November 1943	14:23	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 48761, Pawlowka 40km (30miles) west-southwest of Bilozirka
10	20 August 1943	10:18	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88263 10km (10miles) east of Marinowka	33	27 November 1943	14:26	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 48732 35km (22miles) south of Nikopol
11	21 August 1943	07:18	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuibyschewo 5km (03miles) southeast of Jalisawehino	34	27 November 1943	14:36	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 48723 40km (30miles) south-southwest of Nikopol
12	21 August 1943	07:24	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Kuibyschewo 15km (09miles) east of Jalisawehino	35	28 November 1943	12:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 49841 40km (30miles) south-southwest of Werchnedjeprowak
13	21 August 1943	11:50	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88432 3km (02miles) southeast of Marienkeim	36	28 November 1943	13:45	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 48481 25km (16miles) east of Nikopol
14	22 August 1943	16:21	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88284 10km (10miles) southwest of Jalisawehino	37	28 November 1943	13:49	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 48671 20km (10miles) southeast of Nikopol
15	22 August 1943	16:25	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88431 vicinity of Marienkeim	38	28 November 1943	13:53	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 48622 25km (16miles) east-southeast of Nikopol
16	24 August 1943	17:55	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 88332 15km (09miles) 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 20km (10miles) 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 10km (10miles) southwest of Grishino	41	17 December 1943	14:16	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 29651 20km (10miles) south of Nova Praha
19	14 September 1943	10:25?	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 69652 20km (10miles) west-northwest of Grishino	42	17 December 1943	14:19	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 29691 30km (20miles) south-southeast of Nova Praha
20	14 September 1943	17:05	Yak-9?	PQ 34 Ost 69494 vicinity of Pavlohrad	43	19 December 1943	12:09	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 48691 10km (10miles) north of Beloserka
21	15 September 1943	11:58	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 68624 35km (22miles) east-southeast of Polohy	44	19 December 1943	12:16	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 48663 20km (10miles) north of Beloserka
22	18 September 1943	15:20	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 68814 15km (09miles) 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 25km (16miles) 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 40km (30miles) south of Nova Praha	64♠	13 March 1944	16:19	Il-2 m.H.?	PQ 25 Ost 60663 10km (10miles) south of Balakliia
48♠	7 January 1944	11:25	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 29822 40km (30miles) south of Nova Praha	65♠	13 March 1944	16:26	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 25 Ost 60063 10km (10miles) south of Balakliia
49♠	7 January 1944	11:28	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 29684 25km (16miles) south of Nova Praha	66♠	13 March 1944	16:29	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 60481 15km (09miles) northeast of Andreyevka
50♠	7 January 1944	11:45	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 19623 PQ 19632 25km (16miles) west-southwest of Kirovohrad	67	14 March 1944	06:14	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70543 15km (09miles) southeast of Balakliia
51♠	7 January 1944	11:49	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 29373 15km (09miles) west of Kirovohrad	68	14 March 1944	16:29?	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 70512 10km (10miles) east of Balakliia
52	8 January 1944	14:05	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 29392 10km (10miles) east of Kirovohrad	69	15 March 1944	06:48?	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70511 10km (10miles) east of Balakliia
53	9 January 1944	14:05	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 29511 vicinity of Kirovohrad	70	17 March 1944	10:20	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 60621 15km (09miles) east of Andreyevka
54	23 January 1944	13:27	LaGG	PQ 34 Ost 19292 25km (16miles) south-southwest of Alekandrovka	71♠	19 March 1944	07:06	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 70523, east of Parchamowszy 20km (10miles) east of Balakliia
55	30 January 1944	14:27	LaGG	PQ 34 Ost 19253 25km (16miles) southeast of Signajewka	72♠	19 March 1944	07:08	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 70611 35km (22miles) north-northeast of Izium
56	26 February 1944	14:36	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 29562 25km (16miles) southeast of Kirovohrad	73♠	19 March 1944	07:11	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70642 30km (20miles) northeast of Izium
57	7 March 1944	10:20	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost 70321 vicinity of Shevchenkovo	74♠	19 March 1944	07:35	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70372 vicinity of Shevchenkovo
58	12 March 1944	11:58	LaGG?	PQ 25 Ost 70512 10km (10miles) east of Balakliia	75♠	19 March 1944	16:33	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 60623 15km (09miles) east of Andreyevka
59	12 March 1944	12:01	LaGG?	PQ 25 Ost 70374 vicinity of Shevchenkovo	76	21 March 1944	13:22	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 60624 15km (09miles) east of Andreyevka
60	12 March 1944	15:46	LaGG?	PQ 25 Ost 70562 20km (10miles) northeast of Izium	77	21 March 1944	13:24	Il-2	PQ 25 Ost 60491 10km (10miles) north of Balakliia
61	12 March 1944	16:06	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70612 35km (22miles) north-northeast of Izium	78	21 March 1944	16:16	Pe-2	PQ 25 Ost 70521 20km (10miles) east of Balakliia
62♠	13 March 1944	16:05	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 70522 20km (10miles) east of Balakliia		7 August 1944		P-51	vicinity of Mysłowice
63♠	13 March 1944	16:15?	LaGG	PQ 25 Ost 60631, south of Kalinowka PQ 60644 10km (10miles) 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

References

Bibliography

• Book: Barbas , Bernd . 2010 . Die Geschichte der III. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 . The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-94-6.
• Book: Bergström . Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . Antipov . Vlad . Sundin . Claes . 2003 . Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces . Hamilton MT . Eagle Editions . 978-0-9721060-4-7.
• Web site: Bergström . Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat . Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website . 21 March 2019 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm . 22 December 2018 . dead.
• Book: Dixon , Jeremy . 2023 . Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945 . Barnsley . . 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Book: Fellgiebel , Walther-Peer .

  de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

  . 2000 . 1986 . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile . The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches . German . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Book: MacLean , French L . 2007 . Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners . Atglen, Pennsylvania . . 978-0-7643-2657-8.
• Book: Mathews . Andrew Johannes . Foreman . John . 2014 . Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F . Walton on Thames . Red Kite . 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Book: Obermaier , Ernst . 1989 . Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 . The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 . de . Mainz, Germany . Verlag Dieter Hoffmann . 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Book: Page , Neil . 2020 . Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45 . Philadelphia, PA . . 978-1-61200-879-0.
• Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . Scherzer . Veit . 2001 . Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II . The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . 2008 . Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg . The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2006 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-77-9.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2012 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943 . de . Eutin, Germany . Buchverlag Rogge . 978-3-942943-05-5.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Balke . Ulf . Bock . Winfried . 2022 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944 . de . Eutin, Germany . Buchverlag Rogge . 978-3-942943-28-4.
• Book: Scherzer , Veit . 2007 . Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives . The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives . de . Jena, Germany . Scherzers Militaer-Verlag . 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Book: Schreier , Hans . 1990 . JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs . JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II . de . Berg am See . K. Vowinckel . 978-3-921655-66-5.
• Book: Spick , Mike . 1996 . Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: The Jadgflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques . Barnsley . Pen & Sword . 978-1-84832-627-9.
• Book: Weal , John . 2004 . Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten . Aviation Elite Units . 15 . Oxford, UK . . 978-1-84176-786-4.
• Book: Weal , John . 2007 . More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front . Aircraft of the Aces . 76 . Oxford, UK . . 978-1-84603-177-9.
• Book: Zabecki . David T. . David T. Zabecki . Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History . Santa Barbara, California . . 2014 . 978-1-59884-981-3.