Hermann Habich

Hermann Habich
Born 15 August 1895
Plättig, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Died Post World War II
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Lieutenant
Unit Feldflieger Abteilung 47, Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215, Jagdstaffel 49
Awards Iron Cross First and Second Class, Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order
Other work Served in World War II

Leutnant Hermann Habich (1895–?) Iron Cross, Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order was one of the original pilots in the German Air Service, having earned his brevet two months before World War I began. He is noted for having killed French aviation pioneer Roland Garros. Habich scored seven victories in all, becoming a flying ace.

Early life

Hermann Habich was born in Plättig, the Grand Duchy of Baden, the German Empire on 15 August 1895. He was a pioneer aviator, having gained his license, number 697, before the start of World War I, on 17 March 1914.[1]

World War I

Habich was one of the early German military fliers, joining Feldflieger Abteilung 47 performing aerial reconnaissance as an Unteroffizier in late 1914. He then transferred to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215 for artillery reconnaissance and ranging duties. He was awarded the Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order by his native Baden on 5 February 1915, followed by both classes of the Iron Cross; his First Class Iron Cross was awarded 18 March 1916. In August 1916, he was promoted to Offizierstellvertreter and applied for duty in a fighter squadron. On 8 January 1918, he joined Jagdstaffel 49 in France. By this time, as a Leutnant, he was senior enough to sometimes assume command as the deputy commander. He finally scored his first air-to-air victory on 27 March 1918. By war’s end, he had destroyed five more enemy aircraft and an observation balloon.[1]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location
1 27 March 1918 @ 1100 hours Albatros D.III or Albatros D.V Airco DH.4 Ser. No. A7767 Destroyed Bapaume, France
2 2 September 1918 @ 1320 hours Albatros Breguet 14 Destroyed Between Châlons-en-Champagne and Suippes, France
3 7 September 1918 @ 1135 hours Albatros SPAD Destroyed Saint-Hilaire, France
4 26 September 1918 @ 1540 hours Albatros Observation balloon Destroyed Minaucourt-le-Mesnil-lès-Hurlus, France
5 30 September 1918 @ 1820 hours Albatros SPAD Destroyed Maure, France
6 5 October 1918 @ 1106 hours Albatros SPAD, Roland Garros[2] Destroyed Somme-Py, France
7 6 October 1918 @ 0830 hours Albatros Brequet 14 Destroyed Somme-Py, France[3][1]

Post World War I

Habich remained in aviation after World War I, becoming a flight instructor. He returned to service in World War II, commanding a night operations unit in Russia.[1]

Legacy

Habich is widely credited with being the aviator who shot down and killed Roland Garros.[2]

References

  • Franks, Norman; Frank Bailey;Russell Guest (1993) Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  • Guttman, Jon (2002). SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-316-0

Endnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Franks, et al., p. 122.
  2. 1 2 Guttman, p. 20.
  3. ↑ Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/habich.php Retrieved 18 January 2012.


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