Horst Patuschka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born22 May 1912

Kahla

Died6 March 1943 (aged 30)

Bizerte, Tunisia

Allegiance

Nazi Germany

Branch

Luftwaffe

Dr. Horst Patuschka
Born	22 May 1912 Kahla
Died	6 March 1943(1943-03-06) (aged 30) Bizerte, Tunisia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Service years	?–1943
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	NJG 2
Commands	II./NJG 2
Conflicts	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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.

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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, also listing Patuschka with 23 claims.^[4]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Serial No./Squadron No.
– Ergänzungsgruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –^[5]
1	13 April 1942	02:38	Wellington^[6]
2	31 May 1942	00:17	Wellington^[7]
3	31 May 1942	00:28	Wellington^[7]	west of Zeeland
4	3 June 1942	02:50	Halifax^[8]
– 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –^[5]
5	14 July 1942	03:20	Wellington^[9]	vicinity of Nijnsel
6	29 July 1942	02:00	Havoc^[10]
7	1 August 1942	02:25	Hampden^[11]	vicinity of Ostend
8	1 August 1942	03:27	Wellington^[11]
9	13 August 1942	02:40	Halifax^[12]	Scheldt Estuary
10	16 August 1942	05:05	Manchester^[12]
11	28 August 1942	23:26	Wellington^[13]
12	7 September 1942	04:41	Wellington^[14]	vicinity of Vlissingen
13	10 September 1942	23:36	Stirling^[14]	northwest of Biervliet
14	11 September 1942	01:37	Wellington^[14]	30 km (19 mi) west of Schouwen
15	17 September 1942	00:12	Wellington^[15]	vicinity of Heiloo
16	17 September 1942	00:45	Stirling^[15]	55 km (34 mi) west of Egmond aan Zee
– 4. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –^[5]
17	15 October 1942	23:29	Wellington^[16]	40 km (25 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee
18	16 October 1942	00:25	Wellington^[16]	34 km (21 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee
19	25 October 1942	03:10	Wellington	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee^[16]
20	9 November 1942	22:42	Stirling^[17]	30 km (19 mi) northwest of IJmuiden
– Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –^[5]
21	30 January 1943	04:06	Wellington	Mediterranean^[18] PQ 57374
22	8 February 1943	21:30	Halifax	Mediterranean^[18]	Halifax DT495/No. 462 Squadron RAAF^[19]
23	8 February 1943	22:13	Wellington	Mediterranean^[18]	Wellington LA994/No. 37 Squadron RAF^[19]

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^[20]
German Cross in Gold on 29 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2^[21]^{[Note 1]}
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 May 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2^[22]^[23]

Notes

References

Citations

↑ Aders 1978, p. 227.
1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 177.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 38–66.
↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 948–949.
1 2 3 4 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 948.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 38.
1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 42.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 43.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 50.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 52.
1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 53.
1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 54.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 56.
1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 58.
1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 59.
1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 61.
↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 62.
1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 66.
1 2 Shores et al. 2016, p. 309.
↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 158.
↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 344.
↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 333.
↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 584.

Bibliography

Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London, UK: Janes Publishing. ISBN 0-354-01247-9.
Bowman, Martin (2016). Nachtjagd, Defenders of the Reich 1940–1943. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-4986-0.
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.
Foreman, John; Parry, Simon; Mathews, Johannes (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
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.
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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Shores, Christopher F.; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2014). A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945: North African Desert: February 1942 – March 1943. Vol. Two. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-909166-12-7.
Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried (2016). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Tunisia and the End in Africa: November 1942 – May 1943. Vol. Three. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-910690-00-0.

Military offices

Preceded by

Hauptmann Herbert Bönsch

Gruppenkommandeur of II. Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
3 December 1942 – 6 March 1943

Succeeded by

Hauptmann Sewing

Aerial victory claims

Awards

Citations

Bibliography

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