Wilhelm, Hans-Joachim

Date of birth:: May 25th, 1922 (Großenhain, Germany)
Date of death:: April 13th, 1945 (Near Torgau, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Flew approx. 400 combat missions, all over the Eastern front.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Flugzeugführer 1. / Kampfgeschwader 100
Awarded on:: November 16th, 1942

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: 1. / Kampfgeschwader 100
Awarded on:: March 15th, 1943

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:: 9./Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg"
Awarded on:: October 29th, 1944

Awarded for his approx. 400 combat missions flown on the eastern front, primarily in the south. They included sorties against Black Sea shipping, minelaying operations over the Volga, 18 supply sorties into Stalingrad as well as ground support missions. He came very close to capture after his plane was shot down over Soviet territory during a raid on Tuapse on 18.11.1942, however he and his crew managed to reach German lines five days later.

Sources

- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- PATZWALL, K. D., Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2008.
- URBANKE, AXEL & KAISER, JOCHEN, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger, Luftfahrtverlag-Start, 2011.