Dr. Horst Patuschka
Born22 May 1912
Kahla
Died6 March 1943(1943-03-06) (aged 30)
Bizerte, Tunisia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1943
RankHauptmann
UnitNJG 2
Commands heldII./NJG 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight'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 was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Horst 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.[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

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Obermaier on 16 November 1942.[2]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Aders 1978, p. 227.
  2. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 177.
  3. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 38–66.
  4. ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 948–949.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 948.
  6. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 38.
  7. 1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 42.
  8. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 43.
  9. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 50.
  10. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 52.
  11. 1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 53.
  12. 1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 54.
  13. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 56.
  14. 1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 58.
  15. 1 2 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 59.
  16. 1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 61.
  17. ↑ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 62.
  18. 1 2 3 Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 66.
  19. 1 2 Shores et al. 2016, p. 309.
  20. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 158.
  21. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 344.
  22. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 333.
  23. ↑ 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.
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