Erich Handke
Erich Handke | |
|---|---|
| File:Erich Handke.jpg | |
| Born | 2 November 1920 Darmstadt |
| Died | 11 November 1987 (aged 67) Neckargemünd |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank | Oberfeldwebel |
| Unit | NJG 1 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Erich Handke (2 November 1920 – 11 November 1987) was a highly decorated Luftwaffe Oberfeldwebel during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). During his career he participated in 129 missions as a radio operator.
He served as a radio operator with Feldwebel Georg Kraft, Oberleutnant Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (121 victories), and Major Martin Drewes (43 victories) all who were decorated with the Oak Leaves or higher. With Kraft, who was shot down and killed in action by Wing Commander Bob Braham on the night of 17/18 August 1943, he had claimed 14 aerial victories.
During his service Handke formed part of the most successful night fighter crew with Schnaufer, who shot down more aircraft at night than any other aviator in the history of aerial warfare.[1][2] Handke's role in the night fighter was to guide the pilot, by means of airborne radar, to the bomber. Handke was already an experienced radar operator before he joined Schnaufer. Radar did not guarantee success and required a high-level of skill to allow the pilot to engage a target.[3][4][5] The radar, and it's operator, were critical to the success of night fighter pilots: without such operators, interception was a matter of luck.[6]
Awards and decorations[edit]
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 17 January 1944 as Unteroffizier and radio operator[7]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 29 March 1944 as Unteroffizier in the 12./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[8]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and Bordfunker (radio operator) in the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[9][Note 1]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as radio/wireless operator in the Stab III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.[10]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
- Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. Janes Publishing, London. ISBN 0-354-01247-9
- Boiten, Theo (1997). Nachtjagd: the night fighter versus bomber war over the Third Reich, 1939–45. London: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-86126-086-4. Search this book on
- Bowman, Martin (2016). German Night Fighters Versus Bomber Command 1943–1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-4738-4979-2. Search this book on
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. Unknown parameter
|trans_title=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) Search this book on - Hinchliffe, Peter (1999). Schnaufer: Ace of Diamonds. Brimscombe Port, UK: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-1690-8. Search this book on
- Mackay, Ron. Messerschmitt Bf 110. Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-313-9
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. Unknown parameter
|trans_title=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) Search this book on - Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. Unknown parameter
|trans_title=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) Search this book on - Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. Unknown parameter
|trans_title=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) Search this book on
External links[edit]
Template:Knight's Cross recipients of NJG 1
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