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.
Hermann Habich | |
|---|---|
 Habich during World War I | |
| Born | 15 August 1895 Plättig, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire |
| Died | Unknown; after World War II |
| Allegiance | |
| Service | |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Feldflieger Abteilung 47; Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215; Jagdstaffel 49 |
| Awards | Iron Cross First and Second Class; Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order |
Early life
editHabich 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
editWorld War I
editHabich 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
edit| 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
editBy 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
edit
Prussia:
- Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Classes
Baden:
- Knight of the Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Guttman, Jon (2002). SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 1-84176-316-0.
- ^ "Hermann Habich". theaerodrome.com. 18 January 2012.
External links
edit- Rise of Flight website(Archived 1 February 2013 at archive.today) has a photograph of Habich posed in front of his airplane.
- Rise of Flight website(Archived 1 February 2013 at archive.today) also has a modeler's color recreation of Habich's Albatros