Josef Haiböck

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Josef Haiböck
Nickname(s)"Pepsch"
Born28 February 1917
JG 3
Commands heldI./JG 3
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Josef Haiböck (28 February 1917 – 3 July 2002) was a general in the Austrian Air Force. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Haiböck joined the Austrian Austrian Armed Forces (Budensheer) in 1956 and retired in 1977 as a Generalmajor. During his career he was credited with 77 aerial victories in 604 missions.

World War II

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

Geschwader was commanded by Oberst Eduard Ritter von Schleich, 9. Staffel by Oberleutnant Gerhard Schöpfel, and III. Gruppe, to which the Staffel was subordinated, was led by Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg.[3] The Gruppe was based at Werl and patrolled western German border during the "Phoney War" without having contact with the enemy. On 1 November, III. Gruppe was ordered to Essen-Mülheim Airfield.[4]

Eastern Front

On 30 December 1942, Haiböck was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) fighting on the Eastern Front. There, he succeeded Oberleutnant Friedrich Bartels as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 52 commanded by Hauptmann Helmut Bennemann.[5]

Group commander

On 1 December 1943, Major Günther Rall, the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 52 was sent on home leave. During his absence, Haiböck temporarily was given command of the Gruppe until Rall's return on 30 January 1944.[6]

On 8 February 1944, Haiböck was transferred to take command of I. Gruppe of

Defense of the Reich. He replaced Hauptmann Joachim von Wehren who had temporarily led the Gruppe after Major Klaus Quaet-Faslem was killed on 30 January.[7][8] Command of 1. Staffel of JG 52 was passed to Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Plücker.[9] On 25 February, Haiböck made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 410377—factory number) following engine failure near Malsch, district of Karlsruhe. On the ground, he was then attacked by strafing American aircraft and seriously wounded.[10]

Later life and service

In 1956, Haiböck volunteered for military service in the Austrian Air Force, initially holding the rank auf Hauptmann.[11]

Following retirement from military service in 1977, Haiböck became the president of the Austrian Aero Club.[11] In 1986, he opposed the removal of the Alexander Löhr commemorative plaque from the Vienna the garrison church Stiftskirche. Löhr was one of the main creators of the Austrian Air Force and a convicted war criminal. The commemorative plaque had been donated by the Austrian Aero Club in 1955.[12][13]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick, Haiböck was credited with 77 aerial victories claimed in 604 combat missions. This figure includes 60 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further 16 victories over the Western Allies.[14] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 73 aerial victory claims, plus twelve further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 59 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 14 over the Western Allies.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 73652". 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.[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Haiböck 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 Unit Claim Date Time Type Location Unit
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[17]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 29 May 1940 18:10 Spitfire west of Dunkirk[18] 9./JG 26 3 8 June 1940 10:30 Hurricane northwest of Beauvais[18] 9./JG 26
2 31 May 1940 15:40 Spitfire Dunkirk[18] 9./JG 26
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[17]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
4 15 August 1940 20:25 Hurricane west of Folkestone[19] 9./JG 26 7 5 December 1940 12:15 Hurricane west of Hastings[20] Stab III./JG 26
4 28 August 1940 10:00 Defiant east of Canterbury[19]
Faversham
Stab III./JG 26
[Note 1]
5 December 1940 16:00~ Spitfire Stab III./JG 26
6 3 September 1940 11:05?[Note 2] Spitfire Rochester[22]
east of Southend
Stab III./JG 26
17 June 1941 20:00 Spitfire Saint-Omer[23] Stab III./JG 26
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[17]
Action at the Channel and over England — 22 June – 5 December 1941
8 7 August 1941 18:05 Spitfire Boulogne[24] Stab III./JG 26 9 27 September 1941 15:40 Spitfire 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Calais[25] 9./JG 26
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[17]
Western Front — 1 January – 29 October 1942
10?[Note 3] 12 April 1942 13:50 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Dover[21] 1./JG 26 13 9 May 1942 13:40 Spitfire 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Cassel[21] 1./JG 26
11 27 April 1942 12:14 Spitfire north of Saint-Omer[21] 1./JG 26
29 May 1942 08:30~ Spitfire middle of the English Channel[21] 1./JG 26
12 27 April 1942 12:14 Spitfire north of Saint-Omer[21] 1./JG 26 14 2 June 1942 10:55 Spitfire west of Baie de Somme[21] 1./JG 26
?[Note 1]
27 April 1942 13:45~ Spitfire over sea, north of Dunkirk[17] 1./JG 26
?[Note 1]
29 June 1942 16:48 Spitfire southwest of Dunkirk[17] 1./JG 26
5 May 1942 15:30~ Spitfire[21] 1./JG 26 15 8 November 1942 12:30 Spitfire 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Gravelines[26] 1./JG 26
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 52 –[17]
Eastern Front — 30 December 1942 – 3 February 1943
16 29 January 1943 09:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 73652[27]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Kursk
1./JG 52 17 29 January 1943 10:30 Il-2 PQ 62273[27] 1./JG 52
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 52 –[15]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
18 28 February 1943 09:19 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 40422[28]
east of Poltava
1./JG 52 47 22 August 1943 08:50 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70873[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Krasnyi Lyman
1./JG 52
19 28 February 1943 09:21 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 40483[28]
east of Poltava
1./JG 52 48 24 August 1943 12:05 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 79114[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Barvinkove
1./JG 52
20 19 March 1943 14:30 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 71871[28]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Bely Kolodez
1./JG 52 49 24 August 1943 14:37 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70796[29]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Izium
1./JG 52
21 19 March 1943 09:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75422[30]
northeast of Novorossiysk
1./JG 52 50 25 August 1943 17:21 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 79123, southwest of Dolynska[29]
vicinity of Dolynska
1./JG 52
22 26 April 1943 17:27?[Note 5] P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86744[30]
vicinity of Trojzkaja
1./JG 52 51 26 August 1943 17:45 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70799[29]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Izium
1./JG 52
23 27 April 1943 18:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85111, Krymskaya[30]
vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski
1./JG 52 52 9 September 1943 17:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85144[29]
vicinity of Abinsk
1./JG 52
24 27 April 1943 18:07 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85113, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Krymskaya[30] 1./JG 52 53 14 September 1943 15:40 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 76882[29]
vicinity of Kesselerowo
1./JG 52
25 5 July 1943 09:20 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61321[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Krasnyi Lyman
1./JG 52 54 14 September 1943 15:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 76766[29]
south of Bolschoj Rasnokol
1./JG 52
26 5 July 1943 18:30 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 61624, southeast of Belgorod[31]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Belgorod
1./JG 52 55 18 September 1943 10:14 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76563[29]
over sea, north of Temryuk
1./JG 52
27 5 July 1943 18:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 61621, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Belgorod[31]
12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Belgorod
1./JG 52 56 19 September 1943 15:33 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76792[32]
south of Starotitarovskaya
1./JG 52
28 9 July 1943 10:58 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 62786, east of Belgorod[31]
20 km (12 mi) south of Oboyan
1./JG 52 57 20 September 1943 12:32 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76872[32]
south of Kolonka
1./JG 52
29 18 July 1943 15:16 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88262[33]
vicinity of Jalisawehino
1./JG 52 58 21 September 1943 15:32 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76812[32]
west of Kalabatka
1./JG 52
30 19 July 1943 16:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88267, east of Marinowka[33]
vicinity of Jalisawehino
1./JG 52 59 23 September 1943 17:15 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 76734[32]
southwest of Kurtschanskaja
1./JG 52
31 20 July 1943 18:26 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 88294[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino
1./JG 52 60 24 September 1943 09:59 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 66864[32]
vicinity of Wennlowka
1./JG 52
32 22 July 1943 15:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 88259[33]
vicinity of Dmitrijewka
1./JG 52
[Note 6]
24 September 1943
Il-2[32] 1./JG 52
33 1 August 1943 11:16 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 88252, southwest of Stepanowka[35]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kuteinikowo
1./JG 52 61 2 October 1943 15:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76771[32]
vicinity of Kossa Goljak
1./JG 52
34 7 August 1943 15:16 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61595, north of Leskij[35]
30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Belgorod
1./JG 52 62 3 October 1943 15:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 66662[32]
west of Saporoshskaja
1./JG 52
35 7 August 1943 17:41 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 61326[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Krasnyi Lyman
1./JG 52 63 7 October 1943 08:16 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 66684[36]
over sea, north of Tamanj
1./JG 52
36 7 August 1943 17:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 35 Ost 61477[35]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod
1./JG 52 64 13 October 1943 15:45?[Note 7] La-5 PQ 34 Ost 58212[36]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Zaporizhzhia
1./JG 52
37 8 August 1943 05:55 La-5?[Note 8] PQ 34 Ost 80824[35]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Starobelsk
1./JG 52 65 22 October 1943 11:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 58734
Bolschoj Tokmak
1./JG 52
38 11 August 1943 09:07 La-5?[Note 8] PQ 35 Ost 61592, north of Leskij[35]
30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Belgorod
1./JG 52 66 23 October 1943 11:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39662, 16 km (9.9 mi) east of Pjatichatki[37] 1./JG 52
39 11 August 1943 09:17 Yak-1?[Note 9] PQ 35 Ost 51721[35]
north of Krasnokutsk
1./JG 52 67 24 October 1943 07:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58692[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-northwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
1./JG 52
40 14 August 1943 11:17 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 51738[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bogoduchow
1./JG 52 68 28 October 1943 09:23 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 48834[37]
vicinity of Beloserka
1./JG 52
41 16 August 1943 11:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 70769[35]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Izium
1./JG 52 69 29 October 1943 11:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 47471[37]
5 km (3.1 mi) north of Ivanovka
1./JG 52
42 17 August 1943 14:07 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70766[35]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Izium
1./JG 52 70 12 November 1943 07:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66814[38]
vicinity of Krotkow
1./JG 52
43 17 August 1943 17:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88221, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Rerowka[35] 1./JG 52 71 12 November 1943 10:48 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66592, 1 km (0.62 mi) south of Kerch[38]
southeast of Kerch
1./JG 52
44 18 August 1943 18:39 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88227[35]
west of Stepanowka
1./JG 52 72 28 November 1943 10:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 39331[38]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Mironowka
1./JG 52
45 20 August 1943 11:03 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 88291[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino
1./JG 52
7 December 1943
Yak-9 vicinity of Kryvyi Rih[39] Stab III./JG 52
46 20 August 1943 16:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88299, south-southeast of Kalinowka[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino
1./JG 52 73 19 December 1943
LaGG-3 west of Bolshaya Belozerka[39]
Bol-Bilanka
Stab III./JG 52
21 August 1943
Yak-1 vicinity of Mius[29] 1./JG 52
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 52 –[34]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 February 1944
[Note 10]
3 January 1944
Yak-1 Kryvyi Rih[34] Stab III./JG 52
[Note 10]
30 January 1944
P-39 Kropyvnytskyi[34] Stab III./JG 52
74 6 January 1944 11:30 P-39?[Note 11] northeast of
Nowgorod[40]
Stab III./JG 52
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[34]
Defense of the Reich — 8 – 25 February 1944
75?[Note 3] 24 February 1944
P-47[41] vicinity of Cochem/Mosel Stab I./JG 3

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. ^ a b c This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[20][21]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:10.[17]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[15]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:27.[17]
  6. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[34]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:15.[34]
  8. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-1.[34]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.[34]
  10. ^ a b This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Barbas.[40]
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin Il-2.[34]
  12. ^ According to Scherzer as Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" [for his achievements as Staffelkapitän in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52].[44]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 6, 14.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 128.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2001, pp. 166, 204.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 204.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 423.
  6. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 279.
  7. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 404.
  8. ^ Prien, Stemmer & Bock 2018, p. 273.
  9. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 187.
  10. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, pp. 256, 416.
  11. ^ a b c Berger & Habisohn 2003, p. 57.
  12. ^ Pitsch 2004, p. 26.
  13. ^ Hufschmied et al. 2021, p. 420.
  14. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  15. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 470–471.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 470.
  18. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2000, p. 228.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 336.
  20. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 340.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2004, p. 352.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 337.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 341.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 548.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 550.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 353.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2012, p. 289.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  31. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 286.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 290.
  33. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 287.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 471.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2012, p. 288.
  36. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
  37. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
  38. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 293.
  39. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.
  40. ^ a b Barbas 2010, p. 373.
  41. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 445.
  42. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 161.
  43. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 211.
  44. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 361.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by
Hauptmann Joachim von Wehren
Commander of I./JG 3
8 February 1944 – 25 February 1944
Succeeded by
Major Dr. Langer