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German World War II fighter pilot (1922–2003) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heinz "Negus" Marquardt (29 December 1922 – 19 December 2003) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories—that is, 121 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—with a further 16 unconfirmed victories in 320 combat missions. All but one of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.
Heinz Marquardt | |
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![]() Marquardt as an Oberfeldwebel | |
Nickname(s) | "Negus" |
Born | Braunsberg, East Prussia, (now Poland) | 29 December 1922
Died | 19 December 2003 80) Hammersbach | (aged
Buried | New cemetery in Marköbel, suburb of Hammersbach |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | Luftwaffe German Air Force |
Years of service | 1939–1945 1956–1973 |
Rank | Leutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
Unit | Jagdgeschwader 51 Jagdgeschwader 73 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Other work | Condor |
Marquardt was born on 29 December 1922 in Braunsberg, present-day Braniewo in Poland, at the time in East Prussia a province of the Weimar Republic's Free State of Prussia.[1] On 15 September 1941, he was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th fighter pilot school), stationed at the Le Havre – Octeville airfield in France. As of 1 February 1942, he served as a fighter pilot instructor and flew a number of operational sorties on the Channel Front with the operational squadron of JFS 5.[2]
On 1 August 1943, Marquard was transferred to the 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front.[3] His transfer to JG 51 occurred during the Soviet Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation where it supported the 8th Army.[4] The Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adolf Borchers and subordinated to IV. Gruppe of JG 51 headed by Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob.[5] According to Obermaier, Marquardt claimed his first aerial victory on 2 October, shooting down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.[2]
On 22 June 1944, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, the strategic offensive operation against Army Group Centre. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was moved to Mogilev that day and to an airfield named Bayary located 92 kilometers (57 miles) northeast of Minsk and 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) east of Barysaw.[6] Following the German retreat, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Lida, which is 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Minsk, on 3 July.[7] On 14 August, Marquardt claimed a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter near Osowiec Fortress. Later that day, IV. Gruppe retreated to an airfield at Tilsit, present-day Sovetsk located on the south bank of the Neman River. The next day, as part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, 10. Staffel was re-designated and became the 13. Staffel while 11. Staffel became the 14. Staffel of JG 51.[8] Marquardt was then transferred and served with 13. Staffel which was commanded by Leutnant Peter Kalden.[9] On 28 August, IV. Gruppe moved to Modlin Airfield located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Warsaw. Here, the Gruppe predominately flew combat missions to the area north and northeast of Warsaw. The next day, Marquardt claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down northeast of Warsaw.[10] On 10 September, Marquardt was awarded German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[3] Following a brief period of little combat in central Poland, Marquardt became an "ace-in-a-day" on 7 October, claiming two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, also known as Boston, on the first mission of the day.[11]
Marquard and his Gruppenkommandeur (group commander), Hauptmann Heinz Lange, both received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 18 November for 89 and 70 aerial victories respectively.[12] On 14 April 1945, Marquardt was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 102nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[13] On a transfer flight of new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 to his unit, he was credited with four aerial victories over Yakovlev Yak-3 on 25 April 1945.[14] On 30 April, Marquardt accidentally ran his Fw 190 D-9 into a drainage ditch on a transfer flight. Due to lack of spare parts, the damage was not reparable and the aircraft was blown up to prevent it from falling to the enemy.[15]
On 1 May 1945 Marquardt became Jagdgeschwader 51's last casualty of the war when he was shot down by Royal Air Force Spitfires north of Berlin.[16] Marquardt had led a flight of six Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 on an escort mission of 12 Fw 190 F-8 ground attack aircraft from Redlin on a mission to Berlin. After completing the mission the aircraft returned to Schwerin. During the landing approach the flight came under attack of 6 Spitfire Mk XIV from No. 41 Squadron. Marquardt ordered his flight to cover the landing of the ground attack fighters while he and his wingman, Feldwebel Radlauer, attacked the Spitfires from below. Marquardt claimed one of the attackers but was shot down as well along with two other Fw 190s. Radlauer saw Marquardt's Fw 190 crash in flames but did not observe any sign of life. Marquardt was initially reported as killed in action but he had bailed out injured and was taken to a hospital in Schwerin, where he was taken prisoner of war shortly after.[14]
Following World War II, Marquardt served in the newly established German Air Force of West Germany with the rank of Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) on 16 August 1956. He served with Jagdgeschwader 73 (JG 73—73rd Fighter Wing) and Leichtes Kampfgeschwader 42 (LeKG 42—42nd Light Combat Wing). Marquardt retired on 30 September 1973, having risen to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Following his retirement, he became good friends with former Flight Lieutenant Peter Cowell who had shot him down on 1 May 1945. Marquardt died on 19 December 2003 in Hammersbach.[17]
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories.[18] His aerial victories were claimed on 320 combat missions.[19] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Marquardt was credited with more than 121 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[20]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 39551". 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 Marquardt 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. | |||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[22] | |||||||||
1 | 17 October 1943 | 09:32 | Yak-1 | southwest of St. Budniza[23] | 27 | 6 July 1944 | 10:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65531[24] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Telchje |
2 | 28 October 1943 | 06:40 | Yak-1 | west of Pjatichatki[23] | 28 | 6 July 1944 | 10:29 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65534[24] 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Navahrudak |
3 | 21 November 1943 | 09:50 | Il-2 | Loschkarewka[25] | 29 | 9 July 1944 | 19:13 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 54852[24] 20 km (12 mi) east of Slonim |
4 | 22 November 1943 | 14:32 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | Pavlovskoye[25] | 30 | 9 July 1944 | 19:17 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 54845[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Baranavichy |
5 | 11 December 1943 | 11:07 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 39551[25] 35 km (22 mi) west Borovichi |
31 | 17 July 1944 | 17:47 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 41881[24] 20 km (12 mi) west of Brody |
6 | 10 January 1944 | 11:19 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 80681[26] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia |
32 | 20 July 1944 | 14:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 40565[24] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
7 | 10 January 1944 | 11:21 | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 80681[26] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia |
33 | 21 July 1944 | 14:49 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 50517[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Berezhany |
8 | 9 April 1944 | 13:32 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50731[27] southeast of Ternopil |
34 | 24 July 1944 | 07:46 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 20265[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Sanok |
9 | 29 April 1944 | 10:30 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59354[27] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Kolomyia |
35 | 31 July 1944 | 10:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36859[24] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kėdainiai |
10 | 29 April 1944 | 10:31 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59354[27] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Kolomyia |
36 | 31 July 1944 | 13:16 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 46777[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Ukmergė |
11 | 29 April 1944 | 10:32 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59363[27] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kolomyia |
37 | 1 August 1944 | 06:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35321[24] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Marijampolė |
12 | 2 May 1944 | 05:44 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 40261[27] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Zolochiv |
38 | 1 August 1944 | 10:48 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 35314[24] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Marijampolė |
13 | 2 May 1944 | 05:45 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 50141[27] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Zolochiv |
39 | 1 August 1944 | 10:58 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35347[24] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Marijampolė |
14 | 10 May 1944 | 07:10 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59287[28] 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Kolomyia |
40 | 2 August 1944 | 08:00 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 25429[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
15 | 10 May 1944 | 07:11 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59264[28] 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Kolomyia |
41 | 2 August 1944 | 08:02 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 25438[24] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
16 | 18 May 1944 | 08:20 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 50474[28] vicinity of Ternopil |
42 | 4 August 1944 | 07:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36599[24] 30 km (19 mi) west of Kėdainiai |
17 | 23 May 1944 | 11:09 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50386[28] 25 km (16 mi) west of Ternopil |
43 | 5 August 1944 | 08:08 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36731[24] 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
18 | 28 May 1944 | 06:35 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50512[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Berezhany |
44 | 5 August 1944 | 08:10 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36729[24] 30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Kėdainiai |
19 | 8 June 1944 | 11:20 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 50183[28] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Brody |
45 | 7 August 1944 | 13:30 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 25433[24] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
20 | 8 June 1944 | 11:23 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 50164[28] 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Brody |
46 | 8 August 1944 | 11:05 | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 36544[24] 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nemakščiai |
21 | 8 June 1944 | 11:30 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 50168[28] 25 km (16 mi) east of Zolochiv |
47 | 8 August 1944 | 11:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 36575[24] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
22 | 17 June 1944 | 13:21 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50882[28] 55 km (34 mi) south-southeast of Ternopil |
48 | 8 August 1944 | 11:12 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 36573[24] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
23 | 4 July 1944 | 20:55 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 65661[28] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna |
49 | 9 August 1944 | 11:56 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35388[24] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Marijampolė |
24 | 4 July 1944 | 20:57 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 65623[28] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna |
50 | 9 August 1944 | 14:51 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35334[29] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Marijampolė |
25 | 4 July 1944 | 20:58 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 65622[28] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna |
51 | 9 August 1944 | 14:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]?[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 25466[29] 20 km (12 mi) west of Marijampolė |
26 | 4 July 1944 | 20:59 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65625[28] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maladzyechna |
52 | 14 August 1944 | 10:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 24619[29] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Łomża |
– 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[31] | |||||||||
53 | 16 August 1944 | 17:22 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 26627[29] vicinity of Nemakščiai |
72?[Note 3] | 13 October 1944 | 09:26 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 03639[33] |
54 | 17 August 1944 | 10:51 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 26631[29] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Nemakščiai |
73 | 13 October 1944 | 12:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13511[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw |
55 | 17 August 1944 | 10:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 26635[29] 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Nemakščiai |
74 | 13 October 1944 | 15:26 | Boston?[Note 4] | PQ 25 Ost 13517[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw |
56 | 29 August 1944 | 09:56 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13523[29] 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw |
75 | 15 October 1944 | 11:42 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13573, Jabłonna[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw |
57 | 1 September 1944 | 13:44 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13519[29] 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw |
76 | 15 October 1944 | 11:46 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13546[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw |
58 | 4 September 1944 | 17:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13259[29] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Ostrołęka |
77 | 17 October 1944 | 14:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13341[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
59 | 4 September 1944 | 17:21 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 13219[29] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Ostrów |
78 | 17 October 1944 | 14:53?[Note 5] | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03446[33] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
60 | 4 September 1944 | 17:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13245[29] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Ostrów |
79 | 19 October 1944 | 10:12 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13344[33] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
61 | 5 September 1944 | 18:42 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 13344[33] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
80 | 19 October 1944 | 10:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13347[34] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
62 | 11 September 1944 | 15:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13722[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Warsaw |
81 | 19 October 1944 | 10:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13378[34] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
63 | 15 September 1944 | 12:26 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 03699[33] 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Warsaw |
82 | 21 October 1944 | 15:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13316[34] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
64♠ | 7 October 1944 | 12:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 13373[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
83 | 23 October 1944 | 09:25 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 03493[34] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Warsaw |
65♠ | 7 October 1944 | 12:58 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 13348[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
84♠ | 24 October 1944 | 08:40 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 03469[34] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
66♠ | 7 October 1944 | 13:04 | Boston | PQ 25 Ost 13555[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
85♠ | 24 October 1944 | 11:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03498[34] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Warsaw |
67♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:10 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03461[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
86♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:52 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 13171[34] 30 km (19 mi) east of Ciechanów |
68♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03465[33] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
87♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 13147[34] 30 km (19 mi) east of Ciechanów |
69♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03469[33] 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
88♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:57 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] | PQ 25 Ost 13142[34] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
70♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:16 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03463[33] 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nasielsk |
89 | 25 October 1944 | 12:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13177[34] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
71♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:17 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 03567[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Warsaw |
|||||
According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 89 to 98 were not documented.[32] The author Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that the aerial victory records of IV. Gruppe dated later than November 1944 are incomplete.[34] | |||||||||
99 | 14 April 1945 | 09:00+ | Yak-3 | 108 | 18 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | ||
100 | 14 April 1945 | 09:00+ | Yak-3 | 109 | 18 April 1945 | — |
Il-2 | ||
101 | 15 April 1945 | — |
P-39 | 24 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | |||
102 | 15 April 1945 | — |
P-39 | 24 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | |||
103 | 15 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | 24 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | |||
104 | 16 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | 24 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | |||
105 | 16 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | 27 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | |||
106 | 18 April 1945 | — |
Il-2 | 120 | 29 April 1945 | — |
Il-2 | ||
107 | 18 April 1945 | — |
Yak-3 | 121 | 1 May 1945 | — |
Spitfire | Lake Schwerin |
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