# Heinz Marquardt

Heinz "Negus" Marquardt (29 December 1922 – 19 December 2003) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and 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. Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories—that is, 121 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—with a further 16 unconfirmed victories in 320 combat missions. All but one of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

## World War II

Marquardt was born on 29 December 1922 in Braunsberg, present-day Braniewo in Poland, at the time in East Prussia a province of the Weimar Republic's Free State of Prussia. On 15 September 1941, he was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th fighter pilot school), stationed at the Le Havre – Octeville airfield in France. As of 1 February 1942, he served as a fighter pilot instructor and flew a number of operational sorties on the Channel Front with the operational squadron of JFS 5.

### Eastern Front

On 1 August 1943, Marquard was transferred to the 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front. His transfer to JG 51 occurred during the Soviet Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation where it supported the 8th Army. The Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Adolf Borchers and subordinated to IV. Gruppe of JG 51 headed by Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob. According to Obermaier, Marquardt claimed his first aerial victory on 2 October, shooting down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.
On 22 June 1944, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, the strategic offensive operation against Army Group Centre. In consequence, IV. Gruppe was moved to Mogilev that day and to an airfield named Bayary located 92 kilometers (57 miles) northeast of Minsk and 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) east of Barysaw. Following the German retreat, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Lida, which is 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Minsk, on 3 July. On 14 August, Marquardt claimed a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter near Osowiec Fortress. Later that day, IV. Gruppe retreated to an airfield at Tilsit, present-day Sovetsk located on the south bank of the Neman River. The next day, as part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, 10. Staffel was re-designated and became the 13. Staffel while 11. Staffel became the 14. Staffel of JG 51. Marquardt was then transferred and served with 13. Staffel which was commanded by Leutnant Peter Kalden. On 28 August, IV. Gruppe moved to Modlin Airfield located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Warsaw. Here, the Gruppe predominately flew combat missions to the area north and northeast of Warsaw. The next day, Marquardt claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down northeast of Warsaw. On 10 September, Marquardt was awarded German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). Following a brief period of little combat in central Poland, Marquardt became an "ace-in-a-day" on 7 October, claiming two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, also known as Boston, on the first mission of the day.
Marquard and his Gruppenkommandeur (group commander), Hauptmann Heinz Lange, both received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 18 November for 89 and 70 aerial victories respectively. On 14 April 1945, Marquardt was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 102nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. On a transfer flight of new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 to his unit, he was credited with four aerial victories over Yakovlev Yak-3 on 25 April 1945. On 30 April, Marquardt accidentally ran his Fw 190 D-9 into a drainage ditch on a transfer flight. Due to lack of spare parts, the damage was not reparable and the aircraft was blown up to prevent it from falling to the enemy.
On 1 May 1945 Marquardt became Jagdgeschwader 51's last casualty of the war when he was shot down by Royal Air Force Spitfires north of Berlin. Marquardt had led a flight of six Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 on an escort mission of 12 Fw 190 F-8 ground attack aircraft from Redlin on a mission to Berlin. After completing the mission the aircraft returned to Schwerin. During the landing approach the flight came under attack of 6 Spitfire Mk XIV from No. 41 Squadron. Marquardt ordered his flight to cover the landing of the ground attack fighters while he and his wingman, Feldwebel Radlauer, attacked the Spitfires from below. Marquardt claimed one of the attackers but was shot down as well along with two other Fw 190s. Radlauer saw Marquardt's Fw 190 crash in flames but did not observe any sign of life. Marquardt was initially reported as killed in action but he had bailed out injured and was taken to a hospital in Schwerin, where he was taken prisoner of war shortly after.

## Later life

Following World War II, Marquardt served in the newly established German Air Force of West Germany with the rank of Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) on 16 August 1956. He served with Jagdgeschwader 73 (JG 73—73rd Fighter Wing) and Leichtes Kampfgeschwader 42 (LeKG 42—42nd Light Combat Wing). Marquardt retired on 30 September 1973, having risen to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Following his retirement, he became good friends with former Flight Lieutenant Peter Cowell who had shot him down on 1 May 1945. Marquardt died on 19 December 2003 in Hammersbach.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Marquardt was credited with 121 aerial victories. His aerial victories were claimed on 320 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Marquardt was credited with more than 121 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 39551". 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 Marquardt 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – ||||||||||
| 1 | 17 October 1943 | 09:32 | Yak-1 | southwest of St. Budniza | 27 | 6 July 1944 | 10:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65531 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Telchje |
| 2 | 28 October 1943 | 06:40 | Yak-1 | west of Pjatichatki | 28 | 6 July 1944 | 10:29 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65534 40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Navahrudak |
| 3 | 21 November 1943 | 09:50 | Il-2 | Loschkarewka | 29 | 9 July 1944 | 19:13 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 54852 20 km (12 mi) east of Slonim |
| 4 | 22 November 1943 | 14:32 | Il-2 m.H. | Pavlovskoye | 30 | 9 July 1944 | 19:17 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 54845 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Baranavichy |
| 5 | 11 December 1943 | 11:07 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 39551 35 km (22 mi) west Borovichi | 31 | 17 July 1944 | 17:47 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 41881 20 km (12 mi) west of Brody |
| 6 | 10 January 1944 | 11:19 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 80681 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia | 32 | 20 July 1944 | 14:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 40565 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
| 7 | 10 January 1944 | 11:21 | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 80681 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vinnytsia | 33 | 21 July 1944 | 14:49 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 50517 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Berezhany |
| 8 | 9 April 1944 | 13:32 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50731 southeast of Ternopil | 34 | 24 July 1944 | 07:46 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 20265 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Sanok |
| 9 | 29 April 1944 | 10:30 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59354 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Kolomyia | 35 | 31 July 1944 | 10:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36859 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kėdainiai |
| 10 | 29 April 1944 | 10:31 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59354 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Kolomyia | 36 | 31 July 1944 | 13:16 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 46777 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Ukmergė |
| 11 | 29 April 1944 | 10:32 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59363 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kolomyia | 37 | 1 August 1944 | 06:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35321 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Marijampolė |
| 12 | 2 May 1944 | 05:44 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 40261 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Zolochiv | 38 | 1 August 1944 | 10:48 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 35314 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Marijampolė |
| 13 | 2 May 1944 | 05:45 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 50141 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Zolochiv | 39 | 1 August 1944 | 10:58 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35347 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Marijampolė |
| 14 | 10 May 1944 | 07:10 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59287 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Kolomyia | 40 | 2 August 1944 | 08:00 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 25429 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
| 15 | 10 May 1944 | 07:11 | R-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59264 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Kolomyia | 41 | 2 August 1944 | 08:02 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 25438 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
| 16 | 18 May 1944 | 08:20 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 50474 vicinity of Ternopil | 42 | 4 August 1944 | 07:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36599 30 km (19 mi) west of Kėdainiai |
| 17 | 23 May 1944 | 11:09 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50386 25 km (16 mi) west of Ternopil | 43 | 5 August 1944 | 08:08 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36731 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
| 18 | 28 May 1944 | 06:35 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50512 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Berezhany | 44 | 5 August 1944 | 08:10 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36729 30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Kėdainiai |
| 19 | 8 June 1944 | 11:20 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 50183 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Brody | 45 | 7 August 1944 | 13:30 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 25433 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Blumenfeld |
| 20 | 8 June 1944 | 11:23 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 50164 25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Brody | 46 | 8 August 1944 | 11:05 | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 36544 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nemakščiai |
| 21 | 8 June 1944 | 11:30 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 50168 25 km (16 mi) east of Zolochiv | 47 | 8 August 1944 | 11:10 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 36575 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
| 22 | 17 June 1944 | 13:21 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50882 55 km (34 mi) south-southeast of Ternopil | 48 | 8 August 1944 | 11:12 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 36573 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Nemakščiai |
| 23 | 4 July 1944 | 20:55 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 65661 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna | 49 | 9 August 1944 | 11:56 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35388 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Marijampolė |
| 24 | 4 July 1944 | 20:57 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 65623 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna | 50 | 9 August 1944 | 14:51 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 35334 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Marijampolė |
| 25 | 4 July 1944 | 20:58 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 65622 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Maladzyechna | 51 | 9 August 1944 | 14:54 | Il-2 m.H.? | PQ 25 Ost 25466 20 km (12 mi) west of Marijampolė |
| 26 | 4 July 1944 | 20:59 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 65625 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Maladzyechna | 52 | 14 August 1944 | 10:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 24619 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Łomża |
| – 13. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – ||||||||||
| 53 | 16 August 1944 | 17:22 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 26627 vicinity of Nemakščiai | 72? | 13 October 1944 | 09:26 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 03639 |
| 54 | 17 August 1944 | 10:51 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 26631 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Nemakščiai | 73 | 13 October 1944 | 12:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13511 20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw |
| 55 | 17 August 1944 | 10:54 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 26635 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Nemakščiai | 74 | 13 October 1944 | 15:26 | Boston? | PQ 25 Ost 13517 20 km (12 mi) north of Warsaw |
| 56 | 29 August 1944 | 09:56 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13523 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw | 75 | 15 October 1944 | 11:42 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13573, Jabłonna 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw |
| 57 | 1 September 1944 | 13:44 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13519 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Warsaw | 76 | 15 October 1944 | 11:46 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13546 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Warsaw |
| 58 | 4 September 1944 | 17:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13259 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Ostrołęka | 77 | 17 October 1944 | 14:52 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13341 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
| 59 | 4 September 1944 | 17:21 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 13219 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Ostrów | 78 | 17 October 1944 | 14:53? | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03446 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
| 60 | 4 September 1944 | 17:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13245 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Ostrów | 79 | 19 October 1944 | 10:12 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13344 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
| 61 | 5 September 1944 | 18:42 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 13344 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk | 80 | 19 October 1944 | 10:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13347 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
| 62 | 11 September 1944 | 15:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13722 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Warsaw | 81 | 19 October 1944 | 10:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13378 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk |
| 63 | 15 September 1944 | 12:26 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 03699 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Warsaw | 82 | 21 October 1944 | 15:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13316 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
| 64♠ | 7 October 1944 | 12:54 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 13373 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin | 83 | 23 October 1944 | 09:25 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 03493 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Warsaw |
| 65♠ | 7 October 1944 | 12:58 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 13348 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin | 84♠ | 24 October 1944 | 08:40 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 03469 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin |
| 66♠ | 7 October 1944 | 13:04 | Boston | PQ 25 Ost 13555 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin | 85♠ | 24 October 1944 | 11:18 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03498 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Warsaw |
| 67♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:10 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03461 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Modlin | 86♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:52 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 13171 30 km (19 mi) east of Ciechanów |
| 68♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:11 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03465 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk | 87♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:54 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 13147 30 km (19 mi) east of Ciechanów |
| 69♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03469 20 km (12 mi) east of Nasielsk | 88♠ | 24 October 1944 | 13:57 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 25 Ost 13142 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
| 70♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:16 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 03463 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nasielsk | 89 | 25 October 1944 | 12:23 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 13177 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nasielsk |
| 71♠ | 7 October 1944 | 16:17 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 03567 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Warsaw | | | | | |
| According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 89 to 98 were not documented. The author Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that the aerial victory records of IV. Gruppe dated later than November 1944 are incomplete. ||||||||||
| 99 | 14 April 1945 | 09:00+ | Yak-3 | | 108 | 18 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 100 | 14 April 1945 | 09:00+ | Yak-3 | | 109 | 18 April 1945 | — | Il-2 | |
| 101 | 15 April 1945 | — | P-39 | | | 24 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 102 | 15 April 1945 | — | P-39 | | | 24 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 103 | 15 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | | | 24 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 104 | 16 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | | | 24 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 105 | 16 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | | | 27 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | |
| 106 | 18 April 1945 | — | Il-2 | | 120 | 29 April 1945 | — | Il-2 | |
| 107 | 18 April 1945 | — | Yak-3 | | 121 | 1 May 1945 | — | Spitfire | Lake Schwerin |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (26 July 1944)
* German Cross in Gold on 10 September 1944 as Oberfeldwebel in the 10./Jagdgeschwader 51
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 13./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"