Bernhard Vechtel | |
---|---|
Born | Vohren near Warendorf | 31 July 1920
Died | 21 August 1975 Speyer | (aged 55)
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ | Luftwaffe |
Rank | Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) |
Unit | JG 51 |
Commands held | 14./JG 51 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Bernhard Vechtel (31 July 1920 – 21 August 1975) was a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Vechtel was credited with 108 aerial victories in a total of 860 combat missions, all on the Eastern Front.[1]
Vechtel was born on 31 July 1920 in Vohren, present-day part of Warendorf, at the time in the Province of Westphalia in the Weimar Republic. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on 2 May 1942.[3] There, he was assigned to the 10. Staffel (10th squadron) which was subordinated to the IV. Gruppe (4th group) of JG 51. At the time, 10. Staffel was headed by Leutnant Horst Haase while IV. Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Johann Knauth and based at an airfield in Vyazma on the Eastern Front.[4] During May, the Gruppe was briefly withdrawn from combat for a period of maintenance and equipment overhaul at Smolensk. They were then sent to Dugino where it was tasked with providing fighter cover over the left flank of Army Group Center in vicinity of the 9th Army.[5]
On 30 July 1942, the Soviet Kalinin Front launched the First Rzhev–Sychyovka Offensive Operation with the objective to crush the Rzhev salient held by the 9th Army.[6] Vechtel claimed his first aerial victory on 2 August 1942 over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft northeast of Rzhev.[7][8]
He claimed JG 51s 8000th aerial victory of the war on 1 May 1944. He was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 3 January 1944, the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 28 January 1944, and later received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July 1944.[9] 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.[10] On 1 September, Vechtel was shot down and wounded by anti-aircraft artillery in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 163631—factory number) 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) northwest of Wyszków.[11]
On 11 December 1944, Vechtel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 14. Staffel of JG 51, also a squadron of IV. Gruppe. He replaced Oberleutnant Horst Walther who was transferred. At the time, the Gruppe was commanded by Major Heinz Lange and was based at Modlin.[12][13] Soviet forces launched the Vistula–Oder Offensive on 12 January 1945. Two days later, Soviet forces reached Modlin, forcing VI. Gruppe to move to Danzig-Langfuhr, present-day Wrzeszcz, Poland.[14] On 25 March 1945, Vechtel was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 99th Luftwaffe pilot to have shot down 100 aircraft.[15] On 1 May, JG 51 received the order to relocate to Flensburg in northern Germany. Some of the pilots decided for themselves that the war was lost and deserted, including Vechtel. On 2 May, he refused to fly to Flensburg and led a Schwarm close to his hometown Warendorf near Münster. There, he arrived with two other pilots, a third pilot was shot down and captured by British forces.[16]
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Vechtel was credited with 108 aerial victories.[17] Spick also lists Vechtel with 108 aerial victories claimed in 860 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and also state that he claimed 108 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front. However, not all of his claims can be verified through the archives.[18]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47682". 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 km2). 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.[19]
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
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This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
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Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[7] Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 | |||||||||
1 | 2 August 1942 | 09:52 | Il-2 | PQ 47682[8] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Rzhev |
4 | 6 December 1942 | 09:22 | Il-2 | PQ 07732[20] |
2 | 3 September 1942 | 14:36 | MiG-3 | east of Sychyovka[21] | 5 | 16 December 1942 | 08:15 | MiG-3 | 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Velikiye Luki[22] |
3 | 3 December 1942 | 13:05 | MiG-3 | 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Tuleblja[21] 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Velikiye Luki |
6 | 17 December 1942 | 11:45 | Il-2 | 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Ischewosew[22] |
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[23] Eastern Front — 4 February – 28 October 1943 | |||||||||
7 | 18 March 1943 | 15:45 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 45522[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Utrikowo |
25 | 21 September 1943 | 09:01 | Yak-9 | northeast of Nowo Stepjanka[25] |
8 | 7 May 1943 | 04:25 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 63279[26] 20 km (12 mi) south of Zalegoshch |
26 | 24 September 1943 | 13:28 | Yak-9 | northwest of Kremenchuk[25] |
9 | 7 May 1943 | 04:29 | MiG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 63281[26] 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Zalegoshch |
27 | 24 September 1943 | 13:30 | Yak-9 | west of Khmilnyk[25] |
10 | 8 June 1943 | 19:16 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64843[26] 20 km (12 mi) south of Mtsensk |
28 | 26 September 1943 | 13:25 | Yak-1 | south of Wassilijewka[25] |
11 | 8 June 1943 | 19:19 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 64853[26] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mtsensk |
29 | 27 September 1943 | 10:32 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | south of Gorodajewka[25] |
12 | 2 August 1943 | 08:32 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 53453[27] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Kromy |
30 | 27 September 1943 | 10:33 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northeast of Ssusslowka[25] |
13 | 2 August 1943 | 08:39 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 35 Ost 53474[27] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kromy |
31 | 27 September 1943 | 14:30 | Pe-2 | west of Schulgowka[25] |
14 | 2 August 1943 | 12:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 53654[28] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kromy |
32 | 29 September 1943 | 11:55 | Yak-1 | west of Sloschenkowo[25] |
15 | 7 August 1943 | 11:40 | P-40 | west of Peschkowa[28] | 33 | 29 September 1943 | 12:10 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | north of Waldorf[25] |
16 | 15 August 1943 | 05:05 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 60152[29] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kharkiv |
34 | 4 October 1943 | 06:55 | Yak-1 | east of Tarassowka[30] |
17 | 16 August 1943 | 18:25 | La-5 | east of Kulakovka[29] | 35 | 6 October 1943 | 12:46 | Yak-9 | southwest of Schulgowka[30] |
18 | 17 August 1943 | 05:06 | Yak-1 | east of Gurinowka[29] | 36 | 7 October 1943 | 15:03 | P-39 | west of Orlik[30] |
19 | 19 August 1943 | 15:00 | La-5 | southeast of Dergatschevka[29] | 37 | 12 October 1943 | 08:15 | Yak-9 | north of Lake Sennitza[30] |
20 | 19 August 1943 | 15:05 | La-5 | southwest of Ulitschewka[29] | 38 | 21 October 1943 | 08:55 | Yak-9 | northeast of Sselenoye[30] |
21 | 21 August 1943 | 16:25 | Il-2 | south of Guty[29] | 39 | 22 October 1943 | 08:55 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | southwest of Sybkoye[30] |
22 | 1 September 1943 | 12:10 | Yak-9 | north of Borodino[29] | 40 | 26 October 1943 | 14:38 | P-39 | northwest of Chervonaya Znamenka[30] |
23 | 1 September 1943 | 18:11 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | northeast of Berniki[29] | 41 | 28 October 1943 | 06:23 | P-39 | southwest of Michailovka[30] |
24 | 20 September 1943 | 06:39 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | southeast of Igun[25] | |||||
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[23] Eastern Front — 29 October 1943 – 22 November 1943 | |||||||||
42 | 29 October 1943 | 11:06 | Pe-2 | northeast of Pogelnastoje[31] | 46 | 20 November 1943 | 11:34 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | west of Salbachowka[31] |
43 | 30 October 1943 | 12:28 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | west of Annowka[31] | 47 | 20 November 1943 | 13:05 | Yak-9 | southwest of Huliaipole[31] |
44 | 5 November 1943 | 13:51 | La-5 | Rameropol[31] | 48 | 22 November 1943 | 12:30 | P-39 | 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Sybkoje[31] |
45 | 20 November 1943 | 11:30 | Yak-1 | southeast of Mirnaja[31] | 49 | 22 November 1943 | 12:40 | P-39 | 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Trudowka[31] |
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[32] Eastern Front — 28 November 1943 – 31 May 1944 | |||||||||
50 | 28 November 1943 | 11:12 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | Petrowka[31] | 65 | 30 April 1944 | 08:56 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 50543[33] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Berezhany |
51 | 30 November 1943 | 08:25 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 34 Ost 49796[31] 55 km (34 mi) north of Nikopol |
66 | 1 May 1944 | 10:02 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 24 Ost 59315[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Kolomea |
52 | 30 November 1943 | 08:27 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 34 Ost 49815[31] 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Dnepropetrovsk |
67 | 1 May 1944 | 10:06 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 59318[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Kolomea |
53 | 27 February 1944 | 09:38 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 14567[34] vicinity of Krasnopillia |
68 | 3 May 1944 | 09:07 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 59358[35] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Kolomea |
54 | 27 March 1944 | 10:55 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 05693[34] vicinity of Gorki |
69 | 3 May 1944 | 18:35?[Note 3] | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59378[35] vicinity of Kolomea |
55 | 9 April 1944 | 18:22 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 50763[33] 45 km (28 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
70 | 4 May 1944 | 18:54?[Note 4] | Yak-9?[Note 4] | PQ 25 Ost 50474[35] vicinity of Ternopil |
56 | 10 April 1944 | 11:48 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 50734[33] 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
71 | 5 May 1944 | 11:18?[Note 5] | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 50563[35] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
57 | 15 April 1944 | 16:24 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 50522[33] 25 km (16 mi) east of Berezhany |
72 | 5 May 1944 | 18:31?[Note 6] | Yak-1 | PQ 25 Ost 50562[35] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
58 | 18 April 1944 | 11:55 | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59151[33] 40 km (25 mi) north-northeast of Kolomea |
73 | 15 May 1944 | 18:47 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50431[35] |
59 | 19 April 1944 | 16:42 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 59122[33] 40 km (25 mi) east of Stanislau |
74 | 24 May 1944 | 05:44 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 50616[35] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Ternopil |
60 | 22 April 1944 | 16:42?[Note 7] | Yak-1?[Note 7] | PQ 25 Ost 50871[33] 25 km (16 mi) south of Ternopil |
75 | 28 May 1944 | 06:34 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 50534[35] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Ternopil |
61 | 23 April 1944 | 10:57 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 50582[33] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Berezhany |
76 | 29 May 1944 | 06:47 | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59376[35] vicinity of Kolomea |
62 | 27 April 1944 | 15:52 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 24 Ost 59311[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Kolomea |
77 | 31 May 1944 | 11:16?[Note 8] | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 59375[35] vicinity of Kolomea |
63 | 27 April 1944 | 18:22 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 24 Ost 59314[33] 20 km (12 mi) north of Kolomea |
78 | 31 May 1944 | 14:32 | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 49498[35] 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kolomea |
64 | 30 April 1944 | 08:54 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 40661[33] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Berezhany |
79 | 31 May 1944 | 14:43 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 59375[35] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kolomea |
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[36] Eastern Front — August 1944 | |||||||||
80 | 13 August 1944 | 16:32 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 25644[37] 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Łomża |
82 | 13 August 1944 | 18:01 | Yak-9 | PQ 24 Ost 24625[37] 45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Białystok |
81 | 13 August 1944 | 16:33 | La-5 | PQ 24 Ost 24627[37] 45 km (28 mi) north-northwest of Białystok |
|||||
– 14. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[36] Eastern Front — August 1944 – May 1945 | |||||||||
83 | 15 August 1944 | 18:13 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 25491[37] 25 km (16 mi) east of Trakehnen |
88 | 22 August 1944 | 10:37 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 36215[37] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Schaulen |
84 | 15 August 1944 | 18:25 | La-5 | 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Marijampolė | 89 | 24 August 1944 | 08:53 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 37543[37] 55 km (34 mi) north-northwest of Schaulen |
85 | 17 August 1944 | 11:12 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 36374[37] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Nemakščiai |
90 | 24 August 1944 | 11:22 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 37385[37] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Mitau |
86 | 17 August 1944 | 11:13 | Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] | PQ 25 Ost 36375[37] 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Nemakščiai |
91 | 24 August 1944 | 15:22 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 27665[37] 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Telsche |
87 | 17 August 1944 | 16:35 | Yak-9 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nemakščiai | |||||
According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 92 to 99 were not documented.[36] The author Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock state that the aerial victory records of IV. Gruppe dated later than November 1944 are incomplete.[38] | |||||||||
100 | 25 March 1945 | —
|
unknown | ||||||
According to Mathews and Foreman, aerial victories 101 to 108 were not documented.[36] |