# Heinz Sachsenberg

Heinz Wimmersal Sachsenberg (12 July 1922 – 17 June 1951) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe. He was also a 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. Sachsenberg claimed 104 aerial victories.

## Early life

Sachsenberg was born on 12 July 1922 in Dessau. "Heino", also called "Wimmersaal" by his comrades, was the nephew of Gotthard Sachsenberg, a World War I fighter pilot and recipient of the Pour le Mérite. He had a brother also named Gotthard, who also served in the Luftwaffe, and was killed in action on 8 March 1944 during a night fighter mission.

## Flying on the Eastern Front

After flight training he was assigned, as a Feldwebel, to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in the fall of 1942. He was sent to the Eastern Front in late 1942 and was assigned to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 52. At the time, 6. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Resch and was subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 52 under the leadership of Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff. On 21 April 1943, Sachsenberg claimed his first aerial victory, shooting down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) southwest of Novorossiysk. On 5 May, Sachsenberg was shot down in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4, (Werknummer 14956—factory number) by a Supermarine Spitfire in combat 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Anapa.
By the end of July 1943, he had shot down 22 enemy airplanes in heavy air combat over the Kuban bridgehead. His unit was then transferred to cover the retreat from the southern Kursk salient where he scored a further 16 victories. After a spell of leave from September to November due to overstress (when he was also awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) and Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe), he returned to the Crimea and the intense air-battles over the Kerch Straits.
After 76 victories, and on leave, Sachsenberg was recommended for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) in March 1944. Upon returning to the Crimea at the beginning of May, he shot down 25 aircraft in just a month including six aircraft on 7 May, making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time. On 31 May, over Iași, in the battles for Romania, he claimed four victories (89-92v.) and five more were claimed on 8 June 1944, bringing his total to 101 air victories. He was the 76th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Sachsenberg was awarded the Knight's Cross on 9 June 1944. Returning from leave, his unit was then transferred to cover the Ploiești oilfields in Romania. On 23 August 1944, he was seriously wounded during an air battle with United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) North American P-51 Mustang fighters, resulting in a forced landing of his Bf 109 G-6, (Werknummer 166233) "Yellow 1". Promoted to Leutnant, he claimed his final victories over Hungary, including a USAAF P-51 and a Soviet Bell P-39 Airacobra.

## The Sachsenberg Schwarm

In 1945, he transferred briefly to jet fighters in Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 7, but in April 1945 he joined Jagdverband 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment) based at Munich-Riem. His task was to provide top cover for the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters during takeoff and landing. Sachsenberg was assigned as Staffelkapitän of the Platzschutzstaffel or airfield-protection squadron, flying the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 fighter. As squadron commander, his particular aircraft was known as "Red 1". The inscription on his Fw 190 D-9 was "Verkaaft's mei Gwand I foahr in Himmel!" meaning "Sell my clothes I'm going to heaven" in a Bavarian dialect. The Me 262 jet was vulnerable to strafing attacks during takeoff and landing. Generalleutnant Adolf Galland, the commanding officer of JV 44, ordered the formation of the Platzschutzstaffel. Already in 1944, III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), flying the Fw 190 D, had provided fighter protection to Kommando Nowotny, the first experimental Me 262 jet fighter unit.
The aircraft in the protection squadron were painted red on their underbelly with prominent white stripes to help in their identification by ground crews. The legend of the Papagei Staffel (parrot squadron) was born (the name was given after the war and is truly misleading as it was not used by the squadron itself). The decision to paint the aircraft in this manner was made by the pilots themselves, perhaps as result of the failed Operation Bodenplatte, where a number of German aircraft were lost to friendly fire.
The protection squadron was tasked with flying Start- und Landeschutz (Takeoff and landing cover). During takeoff and landing, the jets were very vulnerable to attacks by strafing Allied ground-attack airplanes, because their engines were not very responsive at those times and the jets could not accelerate and decelerate quickly. Thus to give additional protection besides the light and medium AA-guns around the airfields, parts of JG 52 and JG 54 were delegated to fly protective missions to cover the takeoff-and-landing phase of the 'Stormbirds'. JV 44 was a special case in that they had their own protection squadron.

## After the war

He died on 17 June 1951 in Lich, following complications from wounds he received on 23 October 1944.

## Quotations

"I don't trust anything without a Propeller at least." - Sachsenberg in reply to being asked why he didn't fly jet aircraft.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Sachsenberg was credited with 104 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists Sachsenberg with 104 aerial victories, claimed in 520 combat missions, one on the Western Front and 103 on the Eastern Front. He was also credited with the destruction of one fast attack craft. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 104 aerial victory claims, 103 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one on the Western Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 7545". 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 km$^2$). 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.
Chronicle of aerial victories :
| This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Sachsenberg 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 – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Sachsenberg did not receive credit.  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 4 February – 31 December 1943 ||||||||||
| 1 | 21 April 1943 | 11:10 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 7545, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Novorossiysk | 27 | 6 August 1943 | 10:50 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 61394, 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Belgorod |
| 2 | 8 May 1943 | 07:18 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 85142, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Abinskaya | 28 | 6 August 1943 | 10:54 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61363, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Petylowka |
| 3 | 15 May 1943 | 09:50 | P-40 | PQ 34 Ost 85141, 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Krymskaya | 29 | 7 August 1943 | 18:30 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 60832, 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Petrowkskaja |
| 4 | 24 May 1943 | 10:04 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 75462, east of Kabardinka | 30 | 8 August 1943 | 18:22 | Boston | 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of Krassnopawlowka |
| 5 | 26 May 1943 | 15:55 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 76852, 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Varenikovskaya | 31 | 10 August 1943 | 13:34 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 71771, 1 km (0.62 mi) northwest of Sserdonka |
| 6 | 27 May 1943 | 11:50 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 65241, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Scheljesny-Rog | 32 | 12 August 1943 | 05:35 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 41684, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Achtyrka |
| 7 | 29 May 1943 | 18:18 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 75231, 7 km (4.3 mi) northwest of Krymskaya | 33 | 12 August 1943 | 10:50 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 51513, 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Achtyrka |
| 8 | 29 May 1943 | 18:20? | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 76892, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kijewskoje 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Krymsk | 34 | 12 August 1943 | 10:53 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 51373, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Dernowoje |
| 9 | 5 June 1943 | 11:32 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 85114, 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Abinskaja | — | 12 August 1943 | — | Yak-1 | |
| 10 | 5 June 1943 | 11:34 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 85112, 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Krymskaya | 35 | 17 August 1943 | 06:56 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 41464, 1 km (0.62 mi) south-southwest of Boromlja |
| 11 | 6 June 1943 | 07:35 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 76894, 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Kijewskoje | 36 | 17 August 1943 | 09:40 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 51371, 5 km (3.1 mi) east-northeast of Boromlja |
| 12 | 6 June 1943 | 07:36 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 76894, 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Kijewskoje | 37 | 19 August 1943 | 16:05 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 51593, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Sewyschtschij |
| 13 | 8 June 1943 | 09:27 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 76862, 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Imeni-Dimitrowa | 38 | 21 August 1943 | 18:18 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51593, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Bohodukhiv |
| 14 | 11 June 1943 | 10:19 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 76684, 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Sswisteljnikow | 39 | 19 November 1943 | 14:29 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 6664, 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Bakssy |
| 15 | 13 June 1943 | 10:37 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 85144, 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of Abinskaja | 40 | 20 November 1943 | 10:17 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66677, 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Cape Khroni |
| 16 | 20 July 1943 | 15:05 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 75452, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossijsk | 41 | 21 November 1943 | 09:48 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66611, 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Bulganak |
| — | 20 July 1943 | — | P-39 | | 42 | 25 November 1943 | 08:59 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66643, northeastern edge of Kolonka |
| 17 | 22 July 1943 | 08:15 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 76892, 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Kijewskoje | 43 | 26 November 1943 | 13:59 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66563, 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of Kerch |
| 18 | 26 July 1943 | 06:10 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 75363, 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Noworossijsk Black Sea, southeast of Anapa | 44 | 28 November 1943 | 07:10 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 6685, 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Cape Tusla |
| 19 | 26 July 1943 | 06:20 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 65293, 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Anapa | 45 | 4 December 1943 | 11:56 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66673, 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Kossa Tusla |
| 20 | 26 July 1943 | 10:25 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 76882, 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Kesslerowa | 46 | 5 December 1943 | 07:15 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66813, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Taman 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Kossa Tusla |
| 21 | 26 July 1943 | 18:20 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 75262, 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Krymskaya | 47 | 5 December 1943 | 12:30 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66841, 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Kossa Tusla |
| 22 | 30 July 1943 | 06:25 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 75234, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Krymskaya | 48 | 6 December 1943 | 10:35 | MiG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66842, 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Taman |
| 23 | 4 August 1943 | 11:12 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 61383, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Orlovka | 49 | 7 December 1943 | 14:50 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66811, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Taman |
| 24 | 4 August 1943 | 13:40 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 61363, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Tomarovka | 50 | 7 December 1943 | 14:55 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66812, 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Taman |
| 25 | 4 August 1943 | 13:47? | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 61271, 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Gostschtschewo | 51 | 31 December 1943 | 14:18 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 66522, 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Kesy vicinity of Felsen Nowyj Sswet |
| 26 | 4 August 1943 | 16:00 | R-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51292, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Rahinoje | 52 | 31 December 1943 | 15:20 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66521, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Tschokrak |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 1 January 1944 – 16 March 1945 ||||||||||
| 53 | 3 January 1944 | 11:15 | Yak-7 | east of Kolonka 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Kolonka | 79♠ | 7 May 1944 | 14:25 | Il-2 | PQ 35612 Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 54 | 17 January 1944 | 09:04 | P-39 | southeast of Kerch 4 km (2.5 mi) north-northwest of Baksy | 80♠ | 7 May 1944 | 14:40 | Yak-7 | PQ 35453 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol |
| 55 | 17 January 1944 | 11:37 | P-39 | north-northwest of Baksy 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Kerch | 81♠ | 7 May 1944 | 18:05 | P-39 | PQ 35612 Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 56 | 17 January 1944 | 14:40 | Yak-7 | Adshim-Uschkaj 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Adshim-Uschkaj | 82♠ | 7 May 1944 | 18:25 | Yak-7 | PQ 35443 vicinity of Sevastopol |
| 57 | 18 January 1944 | 09:32 | Yak-7 | north of Baksy 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Baksy | 83 | 8 May 1944 | 15:40 | Yak-7 | vicinity of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 58 | 22 January 1944 | 13:28 | P-39 | southwest of Bagerowo 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Bagerowo | 84 | 9 May 1944 | 11:35 | Il-2 | vicinity of Balaklava Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 59 | 22 January 1944 | 13:40 | Yak-7 | Cape Tarchan 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Cape Tarchan | 85 | 9 May 1944 | 11:38 | Yak-7 | icinity of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 60 | 23 January 1944 | 07:25 | P-39 | Cape Khroni 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Cape Khroni | 86 | 9 May 1944 | 11:43 | Yak-7 | icinity of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 61 | 24 January 1944 | 07:10 | Yak-1 | east of Kolonka 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Kolonka | 87 | 30 May 1944 | 11:42 | P-39 | vicinity of Huși 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași |
| 62 | 24 January 1944 | 12:48 | Yak-1 | Kamysch-Burun 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Kamysch-Burun | 88 | 30 May 1944 | 17:24 | P-39 | vicinity of Sulani |
| 63 | 7 February 1944 | 11:05 | Yak-7 | Adshim-Uschkaj 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of Adshim-Uschkaj | 89 | 31 May 1944 | 08:45 | P-39 | vicinity of Iași 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași |
| 64 | 7 February 1944 | 13:43 | Yak-9 | north of Cape Tarchan 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Cape Tarchan | 90 | 31 May 1944 | 12:19 | P-39 | PQ 78645 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 65 | 12 February 1944 | 08:36 | Yak-9 | east-northeast of Bulganak 3 km (1.9 mi) east-northeast of Bulganak | 91 | 31 May 1944 | 16:40 | Yak-1 | PQ 78643 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 66 | 15 February 1944 | 08:37 | P-39 | southeast of Bulganak 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Bulganak | 92 | 31 May 1944 | 16:44 | P-39 | vicinity of Huși 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 67 | 11 March 1944 | 11:50 | Yak-7 | Alexandrovka 5 km (3.1 mi) north-northwest of Alexandrovka | 93 | 2 June 1944 | 08:55 | Pe-2 | PQ 78683 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași |
| 68 | 11 March 1944 | 15:00 | Yak-7 | west of Tschigary 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Tschigary | 94 | 2 June 1944 | 14:47 | Yak-7 | PQ 78533 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tudora |
| 69 | 13 March 1944 | 08:37 | Yak-7 | east of Feodosia 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Feodosia | 95 | 2 June 1944 | 16:05 | P-39 | PQ 78564 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora |
| 70 | 13 March 1944 | 08:42 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 56873 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Feodosia | 96 | 6 June 1944 | 09:04 | Pe-2 | PQ 48652 30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Bistritz |
| 71 | 16 March 1944 | 14:15 | Yak-9 | south of Tschigary 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Tschigary | 97♠ | 8 June 1944 | 10:30 | La-5 | PQ 78551 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Tudora |
| 72 | 17 March 1944 | 10:05 | Yak-7 | east of Karankut 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Karankut | 98♠ | 8 June 1944 | 10:36 | La-5 | PQ 78552 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Tudora |
| 73 | 17 March 1944 | 13:38 | Yak-7 | southwest of Tschigary 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Tschigary | 99♠ | 8 June 1944 | 13:13 | P-39 | PQ 78562 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora |
| 74 | 18 March 1944 | 16:50 | Yak-7 | Fedorowka | 100♠ | 8 June 1944 | 13:14 | P-39 | PQ 78641 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 75 | 22 March 1944 | 10:40 | LaGG-3 | vicinity of Cape Tarchan | 101♠ | 8 June 1944 | 19:22 | Il-2 | PQ 78592 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 76 | 22 March 1944 | 10:45 | LaGG-3? | Cape Tarchan east of Bulganak | 102 | 22 August 1944 | 13:25 | Boston | PQ 97573 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Serpnewoje (Leipzig) |
| 77♠ | 7 May 1944 | 08:34 | Yak-1 | vicinity of Balaklava Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 103 | 3 March 1945 | — | P-51 | Hungary |
| 78♠ | 7 May 1944 | 10:35 | Yak-7 | vicinity of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 104 | 16 April 1945 | — | P-39 | Hungary |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 11 October 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Feldwebel in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52