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Heinz Hackler
Born14 December 1918
Siegen
Died1 January 1945(1945-01-01) (aged 26)
near Antwerp, Nazi-occupied Belgium
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
block X—row 11—grave 260
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchHeer
Luftwaffe
RankLeutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 77
Commands8./JG 77, 11./JG 77
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinrich "Heinz" Hackler (14 December 1918 – 1 January 1945) was a German Luftwaffe 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. Heinz Hackler was listed as missing in action near Antwerp, Belgium after being hit by Allied flak during Operation Bodenplatte. Heinz Hackler was credited with 56 aerial victories.

Career

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Hackler was born on 14 December 1918 in Siegen, at the time in the Province of Westphalia of the Weimar Republic. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to the 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) in early 1941.[2] At the time, 8. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Kurt Ubben. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 77 which was headed by Major Alexander von Winterfeldt.[3] 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 and to Korinos on 19 April. That day, Hackler claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Hawker Hurricane fighter near Larissa.[4]

Eastern Front

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In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. Gruppe was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South). III. Gruppe arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.[5] Four days later, III. Gruppe moved to Roman.[6]

On 25 September 1941, Hackler claimed his fifth aerial victory, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter in the combat area near Perekop.[7] The next day, he became an "ace-in-a-day" claiming his aerial victories six through ten. Hackler was credited with shooting down two Polikarpov I-16 fighters, two Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft and a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber.[8] During the fighting along the Isthmus of Perekop on 29 September, Hackler claimed a MiG-3 fighter shot down.[9] On 15 October, while the 11th Army was preparing for the attack on the Crimea Peninsula in what would become the Crimean campaign, Hackler shot down a Pe-2 bomber on mission to Armiansk and Ishun, located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of Krasnoperekopsk.[10] The next day, he claimed two I-16 fighters in the same combat area.[11] By 27 October, the fighting has moved to the combat area south of Perekop. That day, Hackler claimed a Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighter.[12]

Mediterranean Theater and Romania

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German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn - Heinrich Hackler

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.[13] In preparation for this rotation, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Munich on 19 October where it was equipped with the Bf 109 G-2/trop. On 23 and 24 October, the Gruppe moved to Bari in southern Italy.[14] The Gruppe then relocated to Tobruk Airfield on 26 October.[15] The following day, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Tanyet-Harun.[16]

On 1 July 1944, Hackler was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of JG 77. He succeeded Leutnant Wilhelm Mockel who had temporarily replaced Hauptmann Helmut Goedert after he had been wounded in combat on 31 May.[17] As part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, Hackler's 8. Staffel was re-designated and became the 11. Staffel of JG 77 on 15 August.[18]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Hackler was credited with 56 aerial victories.[19] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Hackler was credited with 37 aerial victories plus further four unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 24 claims made on the Eastern Front and 13 on the Western Front, including at least five four-engined bombers.[20]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 5659". 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.[21]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Hackler an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Hackler did not receive credit.
  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 ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.
  This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location Claim! Claim# Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –
Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941
1 19 April 1941 11:20 Hurricane 25 km (16 mi) north of Lamia[22]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[23]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
2 1 22 June 1941 19:03 I-16[24] 3 2 8 July 1941 18:25 DB-3[25]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Hackler claimed his fourth aerial victory in late August 1941.[26] This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23]
5 25 September 1941
—
 MiG-3[27] 11 29 September 1941 17:13 MiG-3[27]
6♠ 26 September 1941
—
 I-16[27] 12 7 15 October 1941 09:33 Pe-2[28]
7♠ 3 26 September 1941 11:26 V-11 (Il-2)[27] 13 16 October 1941
—
 I-16[28]
8♠ 4 26 September 1941 11:29 V-11 (Il-2)[27] 14 16 October 1941
—
 I-16[28]
9♠ 5 26 September 1941 13:58 Pe-2[27] 15 8 27 October 1941 12:38 I-15[29]
10♠ 6 26 September 1941 16:02 I-16[27] 16 9 27 October 1941 12:50 I-16[29]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[23]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 20 March 1942
10 5 January 1942 11:35 I-153 22 5 March 1942 09:40 MiG-3[30]
17 6 January 1942 11:35 I-153[30] 23 12 5 March 1942 17:03 I-16[30]
18
—
 10 January 1942
—
 DB-3[30] 13 15 March 1942 10:50 I-153
19
—
 10 January 1942
—
 DB-3[30] 14 15 March 1942 10:55 I-153
20
—
 10 January 1942
—
 DB-3[30] 24 15 17 March 1942 10:15 I-153 PQ 5659[31]
21 11 23 February 1942 11:05 I-153[30]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[23]
Eastern Front — April – June 1942
16 19 April 1942 11:20 Hurricane 17 11 June 1942 12:47 Il-2
– Stab of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[23]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 16 October 1942
18 2 July 1942 14:40 Il-2 PQ 66561[32] 20 15 July 1942 09:03 I-153[33]
19 2 July 1942 14:46 Il-2[32] 21 12 September 1942 14:02 LaGG-3 PQ 10182[33]
55 km (34 mi) southeast of Sloboda
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Hackler claimed nine aerial victories in May/July while serving with the Stab of JG 77.[34]
22 21 September 1942 11:18 Pe-2 39 4 October 1942
—
 Yak-1[35]
38 23 30 September 1942 11:46 Yak-1 PQ 00263[35]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[23]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — 26 October – 31 December 1942
41 3 November 1942
—
 P-40[36] 25 18 November 1942 12:37 P-40 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Sidi Ahmed el-Magrun[36]
42 24 9 November 1942 14:46 P-40 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Sallum[36]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[37]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — January 1943
45 18 January 1943 14:22 P-38 PQ 13 Ost 52312, Zarzur[38]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[37]
Mediterranean Theater, North Africa — February – May 1943
—
 4 February 1943
—
 P-38[38] 48 28 11 April 1943 11:38 Spitfire PQ 03 Ost 97271, west of Tebourba[38]
—
 2 March 1943
—
 P-40[38]
—
 25 April 1943
—
 P-40[38]
—
 4 March 1943
—
 P-40[38]
—
 4 May 1943
—
 Spitfire[38]
46 26 15 March 1943 14:48 P-38 30 km (19 mi) west of Gafsa[38] 49 29 7 May 1943 15:22 Spitfire[38] PQ 03 Ost 97271, west of Tebourba[38]
47 27 29 March 1943 19:10 P-40 25 km (16 mi) south of Meknassy[38]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[37]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — June – 25 October 1943
50 30 18 June 1943 10:14 B-25 PQ 04 Ost 9275, northwest of Olbia[39]
—
—
 24 June 1943
—
 P-38[39]
—
 23 June 1943
—
 P-38[39]
—
 7 August 1943
—
 Beaufighter[39]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[40]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — 1 January – 15 August 1944
51 31 5 April 1944 14:35 B-24 PQ 24 Ost 55126[41]
30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Pitești 		53 34 18 May 1944 11:17 B-17* PQ 24 Ost 55738[42]
60 km (37 mi) southwest of Bucharest
32 24 April 1944 12:04 B-17 Romania 54 35 31 May 1944 09:58 B-24* PQ 24 Ost 5527[42]
60 km (37 mi) southwest of Bucharest
52 33 5 May 1944 14:15 B-24 PQ 24 Ost 4417[42]
50 km (31 mi) southwest of Caracal 		55 36 3 July 1944 12:20 P-51 PQ 24 Ost 6582[43]
60 km (37 mi) southwest of Bucharest
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[40]
Mediterranean Theater, Italy — 15 August – 15 September 1944
56 37 23 August 1944 08:08 Yak-9 PQ 24 Ost 7743[43]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Huși

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 126.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 288.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, pp. 280, 293.
  5. ^ Prien 1993, p. 628.
  6. ^ Prien 1993, p. 630.
  7. ^ Prien 1993, p. 804.
  8. ^ Prien 1993, pp. 805–806.
  9. ^ Prien 1993, p. 808.
  10. ^ Prien 1993, p. 825.
  11. ^ Prien 1993, p. 828.
  12. ^ Prien 1993, p. 840.
  13. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1293.
  14. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1296.
  15. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1298.
  16. ^ Prien 1994, p. 1301.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2021, pp. 430, 440.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2021, pp. 421–422, 430.
  19. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
  20. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 454–455.
  21. ^ Planquadrat.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 293.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 455.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 362.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 364.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 374.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003b, p. 371.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 372.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 373.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2005, p. 323.
  31. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 324.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 352.
  33. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 353.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 246, 354.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 354.
  36. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 331.
  37. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1343.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2011, p. 534.
  39. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2011, p. 535.
  40. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 341.
  41. ^ Prien et al. 2021, p. 435.
  42. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2021, p. 436.
  43. ^ a b Prien et al. 2021, p. 437.
  44. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 145.
  45. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 92.
  46. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 158.
  47. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 174.
  48. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 358.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • 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.
  • Manrho, John; Pütz, Ron (2004). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope-The Attack on Allied Airfields, New Year's Day 1945. Crowborough, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-902109-40-4.
  • 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 (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1994). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 3—1942–1943 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 3—1942–1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-26-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • 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 (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried; Balke, Ulf (2021). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 14—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 15.9.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 14—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 15 September 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-24-6.
  • 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.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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