Dr. Horst Patuschka (22 May 1912 – 6 March 1943) was a Luftwaffe night 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. Horst Patuschka was killed on 6 March 1943 after his Junkers Ju 88 crashed near Bizerte, Tunisia due to engine failure. During his career he was credited with 23 aerial victories all of them at night. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 10 May 1943.
Dr. Horst Patuschka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 May 1912 Kahla |
| Died | 6 March 1943 (aged 30) Bizerte, Tunisia |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1943 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | NJG 2 |
| Commands held | II./NJG 2 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Group commander and death
On 3 December 1942, Patuschka was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of NJG 2, succeeding Hauptmann Herbert Bönsch who had been killed in action on 1 August.[1]
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to Obermaier, Patuschka was credited with 23 nocturnal aerial victories, claimed in an unknown number of combat missions.[2] Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 23 nocturnal victory claims.[3] Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, also listing Patuschka with 23 claims.[4]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Serial No./Squadron No. |
| – Ergänzungsgruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –[5] | |||||
| 1 | 13 April 1942 | 02:38 | Wellington[6] | ||
| 2 | 31 May 1942 | 00:17 | Wellington[7] | ||
| 3 | 31 May 1942 | 00:28 | Wellington[7] | west of Zeeland | |
| 4 | 3 June 1942 | 02:50 | Halifax[8] | ||
| – 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –[5] | |||||
| 5 | 14 July 1942 | 03:20 | Wellington[9] | vicinity of Nijnsel | |
| 6 | 29 July 1942 | 02:00 | Havoc[10] | ||
| 7 | 1 August 1942 | 02:25 | Hampden[11] | vicinity of Ostend | |
| 8 | 1 August 1942 | 03:27 | Wellington[11] | ||
| 9 | 13 August 1942 | 02:40 | Halifax[12] | Scheldt Estuary | |
| 10 | 16 August 1942 | 05:05 | Manchester[12] | ||
| 11 | 28 August 1942 | 23:26 | Wellington[13] | ||
| 12 | 7 September 1942 | 04:41 | Wellington[14] | vicinity of Vlissingen | |
| 13 | 10 September 1942 | 23:36 | Stirling[14] | northwest of Biervliet | |
| 14 | 11 September 1942 | 01:37 | Wellington[14] | 30 km (19 mi) west of Schouwen | |
| 15 | 17 September 1942 | 00:12 | Wellington[15] | vicinity of Heiloo | |
| 16 | 17 September 1942 | 00:45 | Stirling[15] | 55 km (34 mi) west of Egmond aan Zee | |
| – 4. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –[5] | |||||
| 17 | 15 October 1942 | 23:29 | Wellington[16] | 40 km (25 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee | |
| 18 | 16 October 1942 | 00:25 | Wellington[16] | 34 km (21 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee | |
| 19 | 25 October 1942 | 03:10 | Wellington | 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Goeree-Overflakkee[16] | |
| 20 | 9 November 1942 | 22:42 | Stirling[17] | 30 km (19 mi) northwest of IJmuiden | |
| – Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –[5] | |||||
| 21 | 30 January 1943 | 04:06 | Wellington | Mediterranean[18] PQ 57374 | |
| 22 | 8 February 1943 | 21:30 | Halifax | Mediterranean[18] | Halifax DT495/No. 462 Squadron RAAF[19] |
| 23 | 8 February 1943 | 22:13 | Wellington | Mediterranean[18] | Wellington LA994/No. 37 Squadron RAF[19] |
Awards
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 21 September 1942 as Hauptmann and pilot[20]
- German Cross in Gold on 29 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[21][Note 1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 May 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[22][23]
