# Hans-Joachim Birkner

Hans-Joachim Birkner (22 October 1921 – 14 December 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in 284 combat missions, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on three separate occasions.
Born in Schönwalde, Birkner was trained as a fighter pilot and posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) in 1943. Fighting on the Eastern Front, he claimed his first aerial victory on 1 October 1943. Following his 98th aerial victory, Birkner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944. On 1 October, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 52. Two weeks later, he claimed his 100th aerial victory. Birkner was killed in a flight accident on 14 December at an airfield at Kraków.

## Early life and career

Birkner was born on 22 October 1921 at Schönwalde in East Prussia, at the time part of the Weimar Republic's Free State of Prussia. In the summer of 1943, Feldwebel Birkner had completed flight training and was posted to 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe (3rd group). At the time, III. Gruppe was officially commanded by Major Günther Rall, occasionally replaced by either Oberleutnant Walter Krupinski on Oberleutnant Josef Haiböck.

## World War II

On Friday 1 September 1939 German forces had invaded Poland which marked the beginning of World War II, and in June 1941, Germany had invaded the Soviet Union which created the Eastern Front. In late September 1943, III. Gruppe of JG 52 was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G and fought in the Battle of the Caucasus and was based at Zaporizhia. In October, III. Gruppe flew combat missions over the right flank of the 1st Panzer Army and the left flank of 6th Army during the Battle of the Dnieper.

### Eastern Front

Birkner claimed his first aerial victory on 1 October 1943 over a P-39 Airacobra in combat south-southwest of Bolschoj Tokmak. That day, III. Gruppe had claimed 17 aerial victories in an encounter with Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and their fighter escort. Birkner claimed his second aerial victory on 4 October over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3. The following day he shot down a Lend-Lease Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber also referred to as a "Boston". On 9 October, he claimed another LaGG-3 fighter shot down followed by two further claims over LaGG-3 fighters on 11 October. On 19 October, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Kirovograd, present-day Kropyvnytskyi where they stayed until 31 October. Here Birkner claimed a LaGG-3 fighter on 21 October, two LaGG-3 fighters on 24 October, a Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter and another LaGG-3 fighter on 25 October, and an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and another P-39 fighter on 29 October.
On 1 November, III. Gruppe was moved to Apostolove fighting in the combat area between Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia. Adverse whether conditions rendered the airfield unusable and the Gruppe temporarily used an airfield near Kirovograd from 12 to 20 November. By the end of 1943, Birkner had claimed 24 aerial victories in total. Over the next few months Birkner often flew as Rottenflieger (wing man) to the high scoring aces Günther Rall and Erich Hartmann, claiming many of his victories whilst flying with them. On 3 January 1944, Birkner claimed two LaGG-3 fighters shot down, taking his total to 26 aerial victories. The Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mala Vyska on 7 January where they stayed for three days.
On 10 January, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Novokrasne located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southwest of Novoukrainka. While based at Novokrasne, elements of III. Gruppe also operated from Ivanhorod (11 to 13 January), at Velyka Lepetykha (3 to 22 February), and Mykolaiv (2 to 23 February). Five days later, Birkner claimed five P-39 fighters shot down near Kirovograd, one of which was not confirmed. In April, he claimed a further 29 victories, including six in one day on 19 April making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time, taking his total to 60 aerial victories. Birkner received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 24 April. In May, he claimed 17 victories, including another "ace-in-a-day" achievement on 30 May.
III. Gruppe relocated to Roman on 1 June. On 3 June, Birkner claimed three Lavochkin aircraft shot down north of Iași. On 24 June, the United States Army Air Forces' (USAAF) Fifteenth Air Force attacked various targets in Romania with 377 bombers. A fraction of this attack force, consisting of 135 Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Lockheed P-38 Lightning and North American P-51 Mustang fighters, headed for the Ploiești oilfields. Defending against this attack, Birkner claimed a P-51 shot down, his 91st aerial victory. Birkner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July 1944 for 98 victories.

### Squadron leader and death

On 1 October 1944, Birkner was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 52. He thus succeeded Oberleutnant Hartmann who was transferred. At the time of this assignment, III. Gruppe was based in Warzyn Pierwszy, Poland. The airfield was located approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Jędrzejów. The Gruppe was under the command of Hauptmann Wilhelm Batz and Oberstleutnant Hermann Graf had just taken over the JG 52 as Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander). On 8 October, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield near Lobellen, present-day Tushino located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) east-southeast of Tilsit, present-day Sovetsk, on the south bank of the Memel, present day Neman River. Here, Birkner claimed an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down on 14 October, his 100th aerial victory. He was the 95th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. Two days later on 16 October, he became an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time, claiming four LaGG fighters and a single Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.
The Gruppe moved to an airfield named Hasenfeld, also referred to as Jürgenfelde, located approximately 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) south of Insterburg, present-day Chernyakhovsk, on 20 October where they stayed until 7 November. Here Birkner claimed five further aerial victories over LaGG fighters, one on 23 October, and two each on 25 and 27 October respectively. On 7 November, III. Gruppe again moved to the airfield at Warzyn Pierwszy. On 12 December, the Gruppe relocated to Krakau, present-day Kraków. Two days later, Birkner was killed in a flying accident when his Bf 109 G-14/U4 (Werknummer 510531—factory number) suffered engine failure during the landing approach at Krakau. Following his death, command of 9. Staffel was passed on to Hauptmann Otto-Karl Klemenz.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Birkner was credited with 117 aerial victories. Spick also lists Birkner with 117 aerial victories claimed in 284 combat missions. His victories were recorded over the Eastern Front and included one USAAF P-51 fighter. Included in his total are at least 15 Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmoviks. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Birkner was credited with 117 aerial victories. This figure includes 116 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one over the Western Allies.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 58842". 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 Birkner 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 Birkner 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 |
| – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 4 February – 31 December 1943 ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 October 1943 | 10:25 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 58842 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Bolschoj Tokmak | 13 | 29 October 1943 | 12:55 | P-39? | PQ 34 Ost 39362, northwest of Mishorin-Rog 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Mironovka |
| 2 | 4 October 1943 | 09:07 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 58191 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhia | 14 | 27 November 1943 | 09:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 49784 55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Nikopol |
| 3 | 5 October 1943 | 08:58 | Boston | PQ 34 Ost 59582 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Dnepropetrovsk | 15 | 27 November 1943 | 14:20 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 47782 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Bilozirka |
| 4 | 9 October 1943 | 13:44 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 59732 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Dnepropetrovsk | 16 | 28 November 1943 | 08:45 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 48783 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Bilozirka |
| 5 | 11 October 1943 | 07:30 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 58182, east of Zaporizhia 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zaporizhia | 17 | 28 November 1943 | 13:47 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 48782 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Bilozirka |
| 6 | 11 October 1943 | 07:31 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 58182, east of Zaporizhia 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Zaporizhia | 18 | 28 November 1943 | 14:35 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 48472 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Nikopol |
| 7 | 21 October 1943 | 07:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 39481 vicinity of Pjatichatki | 19 | 15 December 1943 | 12:00 | P-39 | northeast of Novgorodka |
| 8 | 24 October 1943 | 09:35 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 58392 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Zaporizhia | 20 | 17 December 1943 | 13:52 | P-39 | south of Novgorodka |
| 9 | 24 October 1943 | 09:36 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 58391 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Zaporizhia | 21 | 19 December 1943 | 12:07 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 48654 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Bilozirka |
| 10 | 25 October 1943 | 10:05 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 39462 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Mironovka | 22 | 19 December 1943 | 14:20 | LaGG-3 | north of Bolschoj Tokmak |
| 11 | 25 October 1943 | 10:08 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 39483 vicinity of Pjatichatki | 23 | 19 December 1943 | 14:22 | LaGG-3 | west of Malaya-Tomatshka |
| 12 | 29 October 1943 | 06:07 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 29524 vicinity of Alekandrovka | 24 | 20 December 1943 | 11:56 | LaGG-3 | south-southeast of Novo-Nikolayevka |
| – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 1 January – 14 December 1944 ||||||||||
| 25 | 3 January 1944 | 12:05 | LaGG | PQ 34 Ost 38623 20 km (12 mi) south of Apostolove | 70♠ | 30 May 1944 | 08:50 | LaGG | PQ 24 Ost 78599 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 26 | 3 January 1944 | 12:25 | LaGG | PQ 34 Ost 48114 45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Nikopol | 71♠ | 30 May 1944 | 14:40 | P-39 | PQ 78647 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 27 | 9 January 1944 | 14:07 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 29374 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirovohrad | 72♠ | 30 May 1944 | 14:43 | P-39 | PQ 78652 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Tudora |
| 28 | 15 January 1944 | 08:54 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 19491 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirovohrad | 73♠ | 30 May 1944 | 19:10 | P-39 | PQ 78643 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora |
| 29 | 15 January 1944 | 09:25 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 19493 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirovohrad | 74♠ | 30 May 1944 | 19:13 | P-39 | PQ 78812 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași |
| 30 | 15 January 1944 | 12:15 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 19462 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Kirovohrad | 75 | 31 May 1944 | 10:31 | LaGG | PQ 78679 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași |
| 31 | 15 January 1944 | 12:21 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 29341 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Kirovohrad | 76 | 31 May 1944 | 10:36 | LaGG | PQ 78679 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași |
| —? | 15 January 1944 | — | P-39 | | 77 | 31 May 1944 | 16:25 | P-39 | PQ 78676 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași |
| 32 | 15 April 1944 | 06:40 | LaGG | PQ 34 Ost 35262 vicinity of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 78 | 3 June 1944 | 14:10 | LaGG | PQ 78733 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 33 | 15 April 1944 | 06:43 | LaGG | PQ 35254 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Simferopol | 79 | 3 June 1944 | 14:12 | LaGG | PQ 78733 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 34 | 15 April 1944 | 10:30 | Il-2 | PQ 35322 Black Sea, 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Sevastopol | 80 | 3 June 1944 | 14:14 | LaGG | PQ 78811 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași |
| 35 | 15 April 1944 | 10:32 | LaGG | PQ 35242 Black Sea, 25 km (16 mi) south of Saky | 81 | 4 June 1944 | 16:15 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 78589 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 36 | 16 April 1944 | 13:03 | Il-2 | PQ 35361 Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Sevastopol | 82 | 4 June 1944 | 16:25 | P-39 | PQ 78723 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Iași |
| 37 | 16 April 1944 | 13:08 | LaGG | PQ 35132 Black Sea, 25 km (16 mi) south of Euparorja | 83 | 4 June 1944 | 16:40 | P-39 | PQ 78559 25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Tudora |
| 38 | 18 April 1944 | 10:38 | LaGG | PQ 35823 Black Sea, 45 km (28 mi) southeast of Sevastopol | 84 | 4 June 1944 | 17:15 | P-39 | PQ 78595 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 39 | 18 April 1944 | 15:50 | LaGG | PQ 35442 vicinity of Sevastopol | 85 | 6 June 1944 | 17:24 | P-39 | PQ 78593 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 40 | 18 April 1944 | 16:05 | LaGG | PQ 35454 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol | 86 | 8 June 1944 | 12:19 | Pe-2? | PQ 78687 |
| 41 | 18 April 1944 | 16:17 | Il-2 | vicinity of Sevastopol 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 87 | 8 June 1944 | 12:21 | Pe-2? | PQ 75685 |
| 42♠ | 19 April 1944 | 10:40 | LaGG | PQ 35471 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 88 | 8 June 1944 | 15:10 | LaGG | PQ 78586 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Iași |
| 43♠ | 19 April 1944 | 10:43 | LaGG | PQ 35472 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 89 | 8 June 1944 | 15:30 | LaGG | PQ 6899 |
| 44♠ | 19 April 1944 | 10:44 | LaGG | vicinity of Sevastopol 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | —? | 8 June 1944 | — | Il-2 | |
| 45♠ | 19 April 1944 | 15:35 | LaGG | vicinity of Sevastopol 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 90 | 14 June 1944 | 17:29 | LaGG | PQ 78547 45 km (28 mi) west-northwest of Iași |
| 46♠ | 19 April 1944 | 15:50 | LaGG | vicinity of Balaklava Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 91 | 24 June 1944 | 09:56 | P-51 | PQ 65133 Black Sea, south of Cape Takyl |
| 47♠ | 19 April 1944 | 15:51 | LaGG | vicinity of Balaklava Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 92 | 1 July 1944 | 10:57 | LaGG | PQ 85841 Black Sea, southwest of Ol'ginka |
| 48 | 22 April 1944 | 09:38 | Boston | PQ 25481 20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya | 93 | 9 July 1944 | 09:57 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 45462 |
| 49 | 22 April 1944 | 13:40 | LaGG | PQ 35712 Black Sea, 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Sevastopol | 94 | 20 July 1944 | 12:15 | LaGG | PQ 41569 45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Busk |
| 50 | 23 April 1944 | 08:00 | Pe-2 | PQ 35331 Black Sea, 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Sevastopol | 95 | 20 July 1944 | 16:38 | P-39 | PQ 40141 vicinity of Lviv |
| 51 | 23 April 1944 | 10:50 | Il-2 | PQ 35481 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sevastopol | 96 | 21 July 1944 | 16:50 | LaGG | PQ 30262 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Lviv |
| 52 | 23 April 1944 | 11:20 | LaGG | vicinity of Belbek | 97 | 21 July 1944 | 16:55 | LaGG | PQ 30261 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Lviv |
| 53 | 24 April 1944 | 14:30 | LaGG | vicinity of Sevastopol 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 98 | 21 July 1944 | 17:22 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 40154 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Lviv |
| 54 | 24 April 1944 | 15:35 | Il-2 | PQ 35391 Black Sea, southwest of Sevastopol | 99 | 14 October 1944 | 15:35 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 16316 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Timișoara |
| 55 | 25 April 1944 | 07:33 | LaGG | vicinity of Balaklava Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 100♠ | 16 October 1944 | 09:09 | LaGG | PQ 26767 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Prahovo |
| 56 | 25 April 1944 | 07:45 | LaGG | PQ 35332 Black Sea, 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Sevastopol | 101♠ | 16 October 1944 | 09:10 | LaGG | PQ 26733 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Prahovo |
| 57 | 25 April 1944 | 07:58 | P-39 | PQ 35454 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol | 102♠ | 16 October 1944 | 14:15 | LaGG | PQ 25468 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Turnu Severin |
| 58 | 27 April 1944 | 10:55 | LaGG | north of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 103♠ | 16 October 1944 | 14:32 | LaGG | PQ 25455 Turnu Severin |
| 59 | 27 April 1944 | 17:55 | P-39 | north of Balaklava 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol | 104♠ | 16 October 1944 | 16:00 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35517 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin |
| 60 | 27 April 1944 | 18:10 | P-39 | PQ 35452 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol | 105 | 17 October 1944 | 15:00 | Pe-2 | PQ 25356 Turnu Severin |
| 61 | 21 May 1944 | 09:46 | P-39 | PQ 78562 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora | 106 | 18 October 1944 | 09:40 | LaGG | PQ 25632 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin |
| 62 | 22 May 1944 | 15:40 | LaGG | PQ 78792 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Iași | 107 | 18 October 1944 | 09:42 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25637 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin |
| 63 | 23 May 1944 | 16:02 | LaGG | PQ 68791 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Piatra Neamț | 108 | 18 October 1944 | 09:43 | LaGG | PQ 25639 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin |
| 64 | 23 May 1944 | 16:07 | LaGG | PQ 67183 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Piatra Neamț | 109 | 23 October 1944 | 14:00 | LaGG | PQ 25314 20 km (12 mi) west of Orșova |
| 65 | 28 May 1944 | 08:20 | P-39 | PQ 78811 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași | 110 | 25 October 1944 | 15:00 | LaGG | PQ 25586 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Majdanpek |
| 66 | 28 May 1944 | 08:55 | LaGG | PQ 78715 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași | 111 | 25 October 1944 | 15:02 | LaGG | PQ 25599 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Prahovo |
| 67 | 28 May 1944 | 12:20 | P-39 | PQ 78511 40 km (25 mi) west of Tudora | 112 | 27 October 1944 | 14:15 | LaGG | PQ 25529 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Majdanpek |
| 68 | 28 May 1944 | 17:40 | P-39 | PQ 68833 north of Târgu Frumos | 113 | 27 October 1944 | 14:23 | LaGG | PQ 25533 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Turnu Severin |
| 69 | 29 May 1944 | 13:25 | P-39 | PQ 78543 45 km (28 mi) west-northwest of Iași | | | | | |
| According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 114 to 117 were not documented. ||||||||||
| 114 | 14 December 1944 | — | unknown | | 116 | 14 December 1944 | — | unknown | |
| 115 | 14 December 1944 | — | unknown | | | | | | |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 24 April 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 20 March 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52