Johann Pichler

Johann Pichler
Born15 December 1912
Oberschweinbach
Died16 February 1995(1995-02-16) (aged 82)
Oberschweinbach
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1934–1945
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 77
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Johann Pichler (15 December 1912 – 16 February 1995) was a Luftwaffe 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. During his career Johann Pichler was credited with between 52 and 75 aerial victories.[citation needed]

Career

Pichler was born on 15 December 1912 in Oberschweinbach in the Kingdom of Bavaria within the German Empire.[1] In November 1934, Pichler joined the military service of the Wehrmacht, initially serving in the Army.[2]

In preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Deta in western Romania on 4 April 1941.[3]

Mediterranean Theater and Romania

On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army launched the Second Battle of El Alamein. Preceding this attack, the Luftwaffe had already planned to replace Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), which had been fighting in North African theater, with JG 77.[4] In preparation for this rotation, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the Gruppe moved to Bari in southern Italy.[5] The Gruppe then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.[6] The following day, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.[7]

On 14 July 1943, Pichler was shot down and wounded during aerial combat with Supermarine Spitfire fighters northwest of Lentini, he bailed out of his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 18151—factory number).[8] On 28 July 1944, Pichler was again shot down and severely wounded. Following aerial combat in the area of Pitești, he bailed out of his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 165685) near Titu.[9] Taken to a hospital, Pichler was captured and taken prisoner of war by advancing Soviet forces on 30 August. He was released from Soviet captivity in January 1950. Upon his return to Germany, he was informed that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 19 August 1944.[10]

Later life

Pichler died on 16 February 1995 at the age of 82 in Oberschweinbach, Germany.[10]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Pichler was credited with 75 aerial victories claimed in approximately 700 combat missions. This number includes 29 claims on the Eastern Front and 45 claims over the Western Allies, including sixteen heavy bombers.[11] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 39 aerial victory claims, and one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 16 aerial victory over the Western Allies, including ten heavy bombers, and 23 on the Eastern Front.[12]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3787". 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 along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941
1 16 May 1941 16:48 Hurricane 7 km (4.3 mi) west of Lakki[15]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
2 10 July 1941 17:40 I-16[16] 10 5 September 1941 13:55 I-61 (MiG-3)[17]
3 10 July 1941 17:48 I-16[16] 11 7 September 1941 09:36 I-61 (MiG-3)[18]
4 31 July 1941 11:34 I-61 (MiG-3)[19] 12 24 September 1941 17:14 MiG-3 PQ 3787[20]
5?[Note 1] 31 July 1941
—
 I-61 (MiG-3)[19] 13 26 September 1941 12:52 Pe-2[20]
6 14 August 1941 17:42 DB-3[21] 14 19 October 1941 16:11 I-15[22]
7 15 August 1941 17:45 PS-84[21] 15 23 October 1941 16:21 I-15[22]
8 5 September 1941 07:38 I-61 (MiG-3)[17] 16 6 November 1941 10:50 I-16[23]
9 5 September 1941 07:45 I-61 (MiG-3)[17]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 20 March 1942
17 15 January 1942 08:45 DB-3[24] 19 15 January 1942 13:28 SB-2[24]
18 15 January 1942 13:20 I-301 (LaGG-3)[24] 20?[Note 2] 15 January 1942
—
 unknown[24]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, the exact number of aerial victories Pichler had claimed by 20 March 1942 on the Eastern Front cannot be verified. The figure could be 23 aerial victories, potentially up to 25 claims.[25]
16 March 1942 11:02 DB-3[25] 19 March 1942 13:12 I-153[25]
16 March 1942 17:22 I-153 PQ 5684[25]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 16 October 1942
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Pichler claimed three additional victories, two which in February/March 1942.[26]
17 May 1942 08:35 I-153[27] 12 June 1942 06:57 I-153[27]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 1 January – May 1943
29 14 January 1943 11:10 P-40 PQ 13 Ost 52512, northwest of Bir el Gheddahia[28] 32 4 April 1943 17:07 B-25 PQ 03 Ost 96831, northwest of Sidi Bouzid[29]
30 14 January 1943 11:26 P-40 PQ 13 Ost 42153, west of Bir Dufan[29] 33 5 April 1943 14:30 B-25 PQ 03 Ost 96683, south of Fondouk[29]
31 18 January 1943 14:24 B-17 PQ 13 Ost 53724, south of Misrata[29]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — June – 14 July 1943
34 18 June 1943 10:12 P-38[30] PQ 04 Ost 9196, northeast of the Sardinian coast[31] ?[Note 3] 13 July 1943
—
 P-38[33]
35 24 June 1943 09:56 P-38[34] PQ 04 Ost 81651, east of Montresta[31] ?[Note 3] 14 July 1943
—
 B-26[33]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[14]
Romania and Hungary — 1 January – 28 July 1944
36 4 April 1944 13:52 B-24*[35] PQ 24 6573[36]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Giurgiu 		41 28 June 1944 09:54 B-24*[37] PQ 24 Ost 5548[38]
Romania
37 15 April 1944 12:55 B-17[35] PQ 24 Ost 55522[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Târgșoru Nou 		42 3 July 1944 11:50 B-24[37] PQ 24 Ost 5555[38]
40 km (25 mi) southeast of Caracal
38 5 May 1944 13:55 B-24*[35] PQ 24 Ost 55263[38]
25 km (16 mi) south of Câmpulung 		43 3 July 1944 12:15 B-24[37] PQ 24 Ost 44254[39]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Svistov
39 5 May 1944 14:17 B-24[35] PQ 24 Ost 56773[38]
55 km (34 mi) east-northeast of Caracal 		44 3 July 1944 12:15 B-24[37] PQ 24 Ost 44353[39]
60 km (37 mi) west-southwest of Otopeni
40 18 May 1944 11:32 B-17[37] PQ 24 55719[38]
20 km (12 mi) west of Băneasa 		?[Note 4] 22 July 1944
—
 B-24[37]
?[Note 4] 31 May 1944
—
 B-24[37] ?[Note 4] 28 July 1944
—
 B-24[41]
?[Note 4] 10 June 1944
—
 P-38[37]

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[14]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[14]
  3. ^ a b This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,[32] nor in the 2011 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[31]
  4. ^ a b c d This claim is not listed Mathews and Foreman,[32] nor in the 2021 book by Prien, Stemmer, Bock and Balke.[40]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer as Oberfeldwebel who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 77.[45]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 179.
  2. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 147.
  3. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 482–483, 487.
  4. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1293.
  5. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1296.
  6. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1298.
  7. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1301.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 540.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2021, p. 441.
  10. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 148.
  11. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  12. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 966–967.
  13. ^ Planquadrat.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 966.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 293.
  16. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 364.
  17. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 369.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 370.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 365.
  20. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 371.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 367.
  22. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 373.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 374.
  24. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 323.
  25. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 324.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 354.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 352.
  28. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 533.
  29. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2011, p. 534.
  30. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2428.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2011, p. 535.
  32. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 967.
  33. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2430.
  34. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2429.
  35. ^ a b c d Prien 1995, p. 2435.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2021, p. 435.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien 1995, p. 2436.
  38. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2021, p. 436.
  39. ^ a b Prien et al. 2021, p. 437.
  40. ^ Prien et al. 2021, pp. 436–437.
  41. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2437.
  42. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 161.
  43. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 351.
  44. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 338, 499.
  45. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 594.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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