Franz Eckerle

Franz Eckerle (24 April 1912 – 14 February 1942) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and aerobatics pilot.

As a fighter ace during World War II, he was credited with 59 aerial victories, four over the Western Allies and 55 on the Eastern Front.

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Born in Baden-Baden, Eckerle grew up in the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

Eckerle was born on 24 April 1912 in Baden-Baden, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Baden of the German Empire.

Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1935.

Following further training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 135.

Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935.

On 1 April 1937, Eckerle was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and posted to the I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 135 (JG 135—135th Fighter Wing) based in Bad Aibling.

The Gruppe had just been created on 15 March and was commanded by Major Max Ibel.

In 1938 and 1939, Eckerle competed in the German Aeronautical Nationals.

In 1938, flying a Klemm Kl 35, Eckerle took fourth place in 10th German Aeronautical Nationals in Nuremberg.

Following the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, Eckerle was posted to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing) stationed in Wien-Schwechat also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group").

There, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3.

Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 138 in 1939.

On 1 May 1939, his unit I./JG 138 was re-designated I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (I./JG 76—1st group of the 76th Fighter Wing).

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

In preparation of the invasion, I. Gruppe of JG 76 had been moved to an airfield at Stubendorf, present-day Izbicko in Poland, in mid-August 1939 and supported the German advance on the central and southern sectors of the front.

On 14 September, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to its home airfield at Wien-Aspern where it arrived on 26 September.

On 26 October, the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit) and 1.

Staffel were ordered to Frankfurt Rhein-Main where it was united again with 2.

and 3.

Staffel on 2 November.

From Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" for the Frankfurt, Rhine and Saar region.

At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving with Jagdgeschwader 76 and claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 during the Battle of France.

In April 1940, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mainz-Finthen, originally named Fliegerhorst Ober-Olm.

The Gruppe stayed at Ober-Olm until the Battle of France began.

Supporting the German crossing of the Meuse, Eckerle claimed his first and only aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire fighter on 15 May during the Battle of Sedan.

On 26 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 76 was moved to the airfield at Waalhaven in the Netherlands and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).

There, the Gruppe was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area.

On 5 July, I./JG 76 was officially integrated into JG 54 and was renamed to II./JG 54 and 3./JG 76 became 6./JG 54.

On 25 August, II.

Gruppe of JG 54 was placed under the command of Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak.

Following further aerial victories claimed during the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 September 1941.

Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, while stationed at an airfield at Zemun near Belgrade, the Geschwader received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf 109-Es so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant.

Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania.

In January 1942, Eckerle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54.

Following aerial combat on 14 February 1942, he went missing in action, presumed killed in action, near Schlüsselburg.

Posthumously, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.

The following year, flying a Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister, he took second place at the 11th German Aeronautical Nationals in Frankfurt.