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Hermann Habich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hermann Habich
Habich during World War I
Born15 August 1895
Plättig, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
DiedUnknown; after World War II
Allegiance
Service/branch
RankLieutenant
UnitFeldflieger Abteilung 47;
Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215;
Jagdstaffel 49
AwardsIron Cross First and Second Class;
Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order

Leutnant Hermann Habich (15 August 1895 – unknown) was one of the original pilots in the Imperial German Air Service, having earned his brevet two months before World War I began. He is credited with having downed and killed French aviation pioneer Roland Garros. Habich scored seven victories in all, becoming a flying ace. He joined the Luftwaffe in the 1930s and served in World War II.

Early life

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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]

Military career

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World War I

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Habich was one of the early German military pilots, 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 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.[1]

Habich is widely credited with being the aviator who shot down and killed French flying ace Roland Garros.[2]

Aerial victories

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See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
No. Date @ time Aircraft Foe Result Location (all in France)
1 27 March 1918 @ 1100 hours Albatros D.III or
Albatros D.V 		Airco DH.4 Ser. No. A7767 Destroyed Bapaume
2 2 September 1918 @ 1320 hours Albatros Breguet 14 Destroyed Between Châlons-en-Champagne and Suippes
3 7 September 1918 @ 1135 hours Albatros SPAD Destroyed Saint-Hilaire[ambiguous]
4 26 September 1918 @ 1540 hours Albatros Observation balloon Destroyed Minaucourt-le-Mesnil-lès-Hurlus
5 30 September 1918 @ 1820 hours Albatros SPAD Destroyed Maure[ambiguous]
6 5 October 1918 @ 1106 hours Albatros SPAD† Destroyed Somme-Py
7 6 October 1918 @ 0830 hours Albatros Breguet 14 Destroyed Somme-Py
† Believed to be Roland Garros[2]
Source:[1][3]

World War II

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By the 1930s, Habich worked as a military pilot and flight instructor in the Luftwaffe. He served on the Eastern Front commanding a Nachtschlachtgruppe in 1944.[1] Later information about Habich, including when he died, is lacking.

Honors and awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Franks, Norman L. R.; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (2008). Above the Lines: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Grub Street Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  2. ^ a b Guttman, Jon (2002). SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 1-84176-316-0.
  3. ^ "Hermann Habich". theaerodrome.com. 18 January 2012.
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