Hans-Joachim Kroschinski
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
German flying ace (1920–1985)
Born(1920-05-11)11 May 1920
Died7 January 1995(1995-01-07) (aged 74)
Allegiance
Nazi Germany
Nazi GermanyBranch
Luftwaffe
LuftwaffeHans-Joachim Kroschinski | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1920-05-11)11 May 1920 |
| Died | 7 January 1995(1995-01-07) (aged 74) |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Luftwaffe |
| Service years | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Leutnant (second lieutenant) |
| Unit | JG 54 |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Hans-Joachim Kroschinski (11 May 1920 – 7 January 1995) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
Ace-in-a-day?
Serving with 2./JG 54 Kroschinski gained his first known Soviet victory, a MiG-3 on 5 August 1942. He had a total of four by the end of 1942.
On 21 December 1944 in the Courland Pocket, Kroschinski may have become an "ace-in-a-day", when he claimed five Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers near Frauenburg, now Frombork in northern Poland.[1] The authors Obermaier and Weal also state that Kroschinski claimed five Pe-2s that day.[2][3] However, the authors Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that I. Gruppe pilots claimed five Pe-2s shot down, but only two by Kroschinski, two further by Feldwebel Johann Neidlinger and one by an unknown pilot.[4]
Kroschinski was then shot down in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-9 (Werknummer 380360—factory number) in combat with Pe-2 bombers and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters. Severely wounded, he managed to bail out at 09:05 southeast of Frauenburg.[5] In this encounter, Kroschinski lost his eyesight and his right leg.[6] During his convalescence on 17 April 1945, Kroschinki was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 76 aerial victories claimed, the last recipient of JG 54.[7]
Later life
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kroschinski was credited with 76 aerial victories.[9] The authors Heaton, Lewis, Olds and Schulze also list him with 76 aerial victories.[10] Spick states that his 76 aerial victories were claimed in 360 combat missions.[11] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 74 aerial victories, plus two further unconfirmed claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[12]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 20732". The Luftwaffe grid map (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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[13]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock without an explicit sequence number.
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. | |||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[14] Eastern Front — June 1942 – 3 February 1943 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 August 1942 | 15:20 | MiG-3 | PQ 20732[15] 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Malaya Vishera |
5 | 22 January 1943 | 08:50 | Yak-1 | PQ 10241[16] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg |
| 2 | 11 August 1942 | 14:28 | Il-2 | PQ 28172[15] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Demyansk |
6 | 23 January 1943 | 13:37 | Il-2 | PQ 00413[17] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin |
| 3 | 27 August 1942 | 11:48 | Yak-1 | PQ 46232[18] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Zubtsov |
7 | 23 January 1943 | 13:39 | Il-2 | PQ 00411[17] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin |
| 4 | 11 November 1942 | 08:33 | P-40 | PQ 10211[19] 45 km (28 mi) west of Volkhov |
8 | 24 January 1943 | 09:48 | La-5 | PQ 10241[17] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg |
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[12] Eastern Front — 4 February – September 1943 | |||||||||
| 9 | 11 February 1943 | 09:35 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00484[20] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Tosno |
24?[Note 1] | 12 August 1943 | 13:39 | unknown[21] | |
| 10 | 14 February 1943 | 13:37?[Note 2] | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00254[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg |
25 | 20 August 1943 | 06:03 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51743[22] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Akhtyrka |
| 11 | 23 February 1943 | 07:00?[Note 3] | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00254[23] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg |
26 | 21 August 1943 | 06:53 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51394[24] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Grayvoron |
| 12 | 24 February 1943 | 11:31 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 10151[23] southeast of Shlisselburg |
27 | 22 August 1943 | 06:15 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 51891[24] 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Kharkov |
| 13 | 2 March 1943 | 11:18 | MiG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 01751[25] 20 km (12 mi) north of Leningrad |
28 | 22 August 1943 | 06:17 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51864[24] 25 km (16 mi) east of Bogodukhov |
| 14 | 3 May 1943 | 15:21?[Note 4] | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 00121[26] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Pushkin |
29 | 24 August 1943 | 07:36 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 41663[24] |
| 15 | 3 May 1943 | 15:30 | LaGG-3?[Note 5] | PQ 36 Ost 00123[26] vicinity of Leningrad |
30 | 24 August 1943 | 07:37 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 41664[24] |
| 16 | 8 June 1943 | 13:38 | P-40 | PQ 36 Ost 00331[27] vicinity of Pushkin |
31 | 24 August 1943 | 07:38 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 41662[24] |
| 17 | 13 July 1943 | 13:43 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 6] | PQ 35 Ost 63222[28] 40 km (25 mi) east of Orel |
32 | 25 August 1943 | 17:56?[Note 7] | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51553[24] northeast of Bogodukhov |
| 18 | 16 July 1943 | 09:45 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54179[28] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zhizdra |
33 | 11 September 1943 | 14:29 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 34242[29] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Seschtschinskaja |
| 19 | 16 July 1943 | 09:47 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54185[28] 30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Zhizdra |
34 | 11 September 1943 | 14:58 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 35873[29] 45 km (28 mi) west-southwest of Kirov |
| 20 | 17 July 1943 | 06:34?[Note 8] | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54788[30] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Bolkhov |
35 | 12 September 1943 | 09:24 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44142[29] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov |
| 21 | 17 July 1943 | 13:30 | LaGG-3 | southwest of Bolkhov[30] | 36 | 14 September 1943 | 16:10?[Note 9] | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 26673[29] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna |
| 22 | 19 July 1943 | 08:43 | La-5 | northwest of Kerenkowo[30] | 37 | 15 September 1943 | 13:42 | Pe-2?[Note 10] | PQ 35 Ost 35342[29] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Yelnya |
| 23 | 12 August 1943 | 07:40 | La-5 | east of Schipeilowka[21] | |||||
| – 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1] Eastern Front — September – October 1943 | |||||||||
| 38 | 24 September 1943 | 07:23 | P-40 | east of Sinyavino[31] | 40 | 16 October 1943 | 07:39 | La-5 | west of Gorki airfield[31] |
| 39 | 10 October 1943 | 12:55 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 07743[31] | |||||
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1] Eastern Front — December 1943 – January 1944 | |||||||||
| 41 | 15 December 1943 | 12:32 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 06178[32] | 45 | 6 January 1944 | 11:03 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 96663[33] |
| 42 | 23 December 1943 | 11:21 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06871[32] | 46 | 6 January 1944 | 11:04 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 96691[33] |
| 43 | 4 January 1944 | 11:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 06871[33] | 47 | 12 January 1944 | 14:42 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06553[33] |
| 44 | 5 January 1944 | 12:30 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 06884[33] | |||||
| – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1] Eastern Front — October – 21 December 1944 | |||||||||
| 48 | 29 October 1944 | 13:34 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 27499[34] south-southwest of Tukums |
52 | 7 November 1944 | 14:25 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 17481[34] 40 km (25 mi) east of Libau |
| 49 | 30 October 1944 | 11:05 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 17655[34] 45 km (28 mi) southeast of Libau |
53 | 7 November 1944 | 14:26 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 17482[34] 40 km (25 mi) east of Libau |
| 50 | 30 October 1944 | 14:40 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 17639[34] 55 km (34 mi) east-southeast of Libau |
54 | 7 November 1944 | 14:27 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 17483[34] 40 km (25 mi) east of Libau |
| 51 | 30 October 1944 | 14:47 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 17625[34] 45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Libau |
|||||
| According to Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock, Kroschinski claimed four undocumented aerial victories in November and December 1944.[35] Mathews and Foreman list three claims of unknown type on 15 December 1944.[1] | |||||||||
| #?[Note 1] | 18 November 1944 | — |
Pe-2[34] | ?[Note 11] | 15 December 1944 | — |
unknown[1] | ||
| #?[Note 1] | 18 November 1944 | — |
Pe-2[34] | ?[Note 11] | 15 December 1944 | — |
unknown[1] | ||
| # | 23 November 1944 | 10:06 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 28117[34] 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Arensburg |
65 | 21 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2 | south of Frauenburg[34] |
| 62?[Note 1] | 14 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2[34] | 66 | 21 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2 | south of Frauenburg[34] | |
| 63?[Note 1] | 14 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2[34] | ?[Note 11] | 21 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2 | south of Frauenburg[34] | |
| 64?[1] | 14 December 1944 | — |
unknown[34] | ?[Note 11] | 21 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2 | south of Frauenburg[1] | |
| ?[Note 11] | 15 December 1944 | — |
unknown[1] | ?[Note 11] | 21 December 1944 | — |
Pe-2 | south of Frauenburg[1] | |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[36]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 11 October 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot[37]
- German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1943 as Feldwebel in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 54[38]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 April 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54[39][40]
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[1]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:45.[14]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:05.[14]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:31.[1]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[1]
- ↑ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:58.[1]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:37.[1]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:11.[1]
- ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin Il-2.[1]
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[34]
References
Citations
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 694.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 152.
- ↑ Weal 2001, p. 114.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 371, 391.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2022, p. 398.
- ↑ Theotokis 2020, p. 124.
- ↑ Weal 2001, pp. 114, 120.
- ↑ Dixon 2023, p. 218.
- ↑ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
- ↑ Heaton et al. 2011, p. 236.
- ↑ Spick 1996, p. 236.
- 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 693–694.
- ↑ Planquadrat.
- 1 2 3 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 693.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2006, p. 90.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
- 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 93.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2006, p. 95.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
- 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 178.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
- 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
- 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2012, p. 350.
- 1 2 Prien et al. 2012, p. 188.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2022, p. 379.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Prien et al. 2022, p. 391.
- ↑ Prien et al. 2022, p. 392.
- ↑ Dixon 2023, p. 217.
- ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 126.
- ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 256.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 275.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 477.
Bibliography
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Heaton, Colin D.; Lewis, Anne-Marie; Olds, Robin; Schulze, Kurt (2011). The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-1-61059-748-7.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- 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] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
- 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] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
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- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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