Hans-Joachim Kroschinski

Hans-Joachim Kroschinski
Born(1920-05-11)11 May 1920
Saalfeld in East Prussia, Germany (now Poland)
Died7 January 1995(1995-01-07) (aged 74)
Eutin, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years1939–1945
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 54
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans-Joachim Kroschinski (11 May 1920 – 7 January 1995) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.

World War II

Serving with 2./JG 54 Kroschinski gained his first known Soviet victory, a MiG-3 on 5 August 1942. He had a total of four by the end of 1942.

Ace-in-a-day?

On 21 December 1944 in the Courland Pocket, Kroschinski may have become an "ace-in-a-day", when he claimed five Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers near Frauenburg, now Frombork in northern Poland.[1] The authors Obermaier and Weal also state that Kroschinski claimed five Pe-2s that day.[2][3] However, the authors Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that I. Gruppe pilots claimed five Pe-2s shot down, but only two by Kroschinski, two further by Feldwebel Johann Neidlinger and one by an unknown pilot.[4]

Kroschinski was then shot down in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-9 (Werknummer 380360—factory number) in combat with Pe-2 bombers and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters. Severly wounded, he managed to bail out at 09:05 southeast of Frauenburg.[5] In this encounter, Kroschinski lost his eyesight and his right leg.[6] During his convalescence on 17 April 1945, Kroschinki was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 76 aerial victories claimed, the last recipient of JG 54.[7]

Later life

Kroschinski died on 7 January 1985 at the age of 64 in Eutin, West Germany.[8]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Kroschinski was credited with 76 aerial victories.[9] The authors Heaton, Lewis, Olds and Schulze also list him with 76 aerial victories.[10] Spick states that his 76 aerial victories were claimed in 360 combat missions.[11] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 74 aerial victories, plus two further unconfirmed claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[12]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 20732". 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 and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock without an explicit sequence number.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[14]
Eastern Front — June 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 5 August 1942 15:20 MiG-3 PQ 20732[15]
55 km (34 mi) northeast of Malaya Vishera 		5 22 January 1943 08:50 Yak-1 PQ 10241[16]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg
2 11 August 1942 14:28 Il-2 PQ 28172[15]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Demyansk 		6 23 January 1943 13:37 Il-2 PQ 00413[17]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin
3 27 August 1942 11:48 Yak-1 PQ 46232[18]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Zubtsov 		7 23 January 1943 13:39 Il-2 PQ 00411[17]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin
4 11 November 1942 08:33 P-40 PQ 10211[19]
45 km (28 mi) west of Volkhov 		8 24 January 1943 09:48 La-5 PQ 10241[17]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shlisselburg
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[12]
Eastern Front — 4 February – September 1943
9 11 February 1943 09:35 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00484[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Tosno 		24?[Note 1] 12 August 1943 13:39 unknown[21]
10 14 February 1943 13:37?[Note 2] Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00254[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg 		25 20 August 1943 06:03 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51743[22]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Akhtyrka
11 23 February 1943 07:00?[Note 3] Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00254[23]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg 		26 21 August 1943 06:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51394[24]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Grayvoron
12 24 February 1943 11:31 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10151[23]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		27 22 August 1943 06:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51891[24]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Kharkov
13 2 March 1943 11:18 MiG-3 PQ 36 Ost 01751[25]
20 km (12 mi) north of Leningrad 		28 22 August 1943 06:17 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51864[24]
25 km (16 mi) east of Bogodukhov
14 3 May 1943 15:21?[Note 4] LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00121[26]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Pushkin 		29 24 August 1943 07:36 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41663[24]
15 3 May 1943 15:30 LaGG-3?[Note 5] PQ 36 Ost 00123[26]
vicinity of Leningrad 		30 24 August 1943 07:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41664[24]
16 8 June 1943 13:38 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00331[27]
vicinity of Pushkin 		31 24 August 1943 07:38 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41662[24]
17 13 July 1943 13:43 Il-2 m.H.[Note 6] PQ 35 Ost 63222[28]
40 km (25 mi) east of Orel 		32 25 August 1943 17:56?[Note 7] La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51553[24]
northeast of Bogodukhov
18 16 July 1943 09:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54179[28]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zhizdra 		33 11 September 1943 14:29 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 34242[29]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Seschtschinskaja
19 16 July 1943 09:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54185[28]
30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Zhizdra 		34 11 September 1943 14:58 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35873[29]
45 km (28 mi) west-southwest of Kirov
20 17 July 1943 06:34?[Note 8] La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54788[30]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Bolkhov 		35 12 September 1943 09:24 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44142[29]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov
21 17 July 1943 13:30 LaGG-3 southwest of Bolkhov[30] 36 14 September 1943 16:10?[Note 9] Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26673[29]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Moschna
22 19 July 1943 08:43 La-5 northwest of Kerenkowo[30] 37 15 September 1943 13:42 Pe-2?[Note 10] PQ 35 Ost 35342[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Yelnya
23 12 August 1943 07:40 La-5 east of Schipeilowka[21]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1]
Eastern Front — September – October 1943
38 24 September 1943 07:23 P-40 east of Sinyavino[31] 40 16 October 1943 07:39 La-5 west of Gorki airfield[31]
39 10 October 1943 12:55 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 07743[31]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1]
Eastern Front — December 1943 – January 1944
41 15 December 1943 12:32 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 06178[32] 45 6 January 1944 11:03 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 96663[33]
42 23 December 1943 11:21 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06871[32] 46 6 January 1944 11:04 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 96691[33]
43 4 January 1944 11:40 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06871[33] 47 12 January 1944 14:42 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 06553[33]
44 5 January 1944 12:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 06884[33]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[1]
Eastern Front — October – 21 December 1944
48 29 October 1944 13:34 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 27499[34]
south-southwest of Tukums 		52 7 November 1944 14:25 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 17481[34]
40 km (25 mi) east of Libau
49 30 October 1944 11:05 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 17655[34]
45 km (28 mi) southeast of Libau 		53 7 November 1944 14:26 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 17482[34]
40 km (25 mi) east of Libau
50 30 October 1944 14:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17639[34]
55 km (34 mi) east-southeast of Libau 		54 7 November 1944 14:27 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 17483[34]
40 km (25 mi) east of Libau
51 30 October 1944 14:47 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 17625[34]
45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Libau
According to Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock, Kroschinski claimed four undocumented aerial victories in November and December 1944.[35] Mathews and Foreman list three claims of unknown type on 15 December 1944.[1]
#?[Note 1] 18 November 1944
—
 Pe-2[34] ?[Note 11] 15 December 1944
—
 unknown[1]
#?[Note 1] 18 November 1944
—
 Pe-2[34] ?[Note 11] 15 December 1944
—
 unknown[1]
# 23 November 1944 10:06 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 28117[34]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Arensburg 		65 21 December 1944
—
 Pe-2 south of Frauenburg[34]
62?[Note 1] 14 December 1944
—
 Pe-2[34] 66 21 December 1944
—
 Pe-2 south of Frauenburg[34]
63?[Note 1] 14 December 1944
—
 Pe-2[34] ?[Note 11] 21 December 1944
—
 Pe-2 south of Frauenburg[34]
64?[1] 14 December 1944
—
 unknown[34] ?[Note 11] 21 December 1944
—
 Pe-2 south of Frauenburg[1]
?[Note 11] 15 December 1944
—
 unknown[1] ?[Note 11] 21 December 1944
—
 Pe-2 south of Frauenburg[1]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[1]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:45.[14]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:05.[14]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:31.[1]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[1]
  6. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:58.[1]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:37.[1]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:11.[1]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin Il-2.[1]
  11. ^ a b c d e f This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.[34]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 694.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 152.
  3. ^ Weal 2001, p. 114.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 371, 391.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 398.
  6. ^ Theotokis 2020, p. 124.
  7. ^ Weal 2001, pp. 114, 120.
  8. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 218.
  9. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1615.
  10. ^ Heaton et al. 2011, p. 236.
  11. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  12. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 693–694.
  13. ^ Planquadrat.
  14. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 693.
  15. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 90.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  17. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 93.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 95.
  20. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  26. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 178.
  29. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
  30. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 350.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 188.
  33. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 379.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2022, p. 391.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 392.
  36. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 217.
  37. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 126.
  38. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 256.
  39. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 275.
  40. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 477.

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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