Hermann Habich
| Hermann Habich | |
|---|---|
| Born |
15 August 1895 Plättig, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire |
| Died | Post World War II |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | Feldflieger Abteilung 47, Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215, Jagdstaffel 49 |
| Awards | Iron Cross First and Second Class, Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order |
| Other work | Served in World War II |
Early life
Hermann Habich was born in Plättig, the Grand Duchy of Baden, the German Empire on 15 August 1895. He was a pioneer aviator, having gained his license, number 697, before the start of World War I, on 17 March 1914.[1]
World War I
Habich was one of the early German military fliers, joining Feldflieger Abteilung 47 performing aerial reconnaissance as an Unteroffizier in late 1914. He then transferred to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215 for artillery reconnaissance and ranging duties. He was awarded the Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order by his native Baden on 5 February 1915, followed by both classes of the Iron Cross; his First Class Iron Cross was awarded 18 March 1916. In August 1916, he was promoted to Offizierstellvertreter and applied for duty in a fighter squadron. On 8 January 1918, he joined Jagdstaffel 49 in France. By this time, as a Leutnant, he was senior enough to sometimes assume command as the deputy commander. He finally scored his first air-to-air victory on 27 March 1918. By war’s end, he had destroyed five more enemy aircraft and an observation balloon.[2]
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 March 1918 @ 1100 hours | Albatros D.III or Albatros D.V | Airco DH.4 Ser. No. A7767 | Destroyed | Bapaume, France |
| 2 | 2 September 1918 @ 1320 hours | Albatros | Breguet 14 | Destroyed | Between Châlons-en-Champagne and Suippes, France |
| 3 | 7 September 1918 @ 1135 hours | Albatros | SPAD | Destroyed | Saint-Hilaire, France |
| 4 | 26 September 1918 @ 1540 hours | Albatros | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Minaucourt-le-Mesnil-lès-Hurlus, France |
| 5 | 30 September 1918 @ 1820 hours | Albatros | SPAD | Destroyed | Maure, France |
| 6 | 5 October 1918 @ 1106 hours | Albatros | SPAD, Roland Garros[3] | Destroyed | Somme-Py, France |
| 7 | 6 October 1918 @ 0830 hours | Albatros | Brequet 14 | Destroyed | Somme-Py, France[4][5] |
Post World War I
Habich remained in aviation after World War I, becoming a flight instructor. He returned to service in World War II, commanding a night operations unit in Russia.[6]
References
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
External links
- http://riseofflight.com/forum/download/file.php?id=4129&sid=fd7671c074ada36fee52b7451b963016&mode=view is a photograph of Habich posed in front of his airplane.
- http://riseofflight.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6291 has a modeler's color recreation of Habich's Albatros