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Hans Joachim Marseille shortly after being
awarded his Oakleaves and Swords |
After my previous post on
Siegfreid Marseille. I thought I would post some information on his son Hans Joachim Marseille known as the "Star of Africa". He was a gifted pilot and often shot down three or four British aircraft per sortie.Marseille recieved the Knight's Cross as a Lieutenant on February 22, 1942 after 50 victories. He became the 97th recipient of the Oakleaves on June 6, 1942 as a Lieutenant after 75 victories. After amassing a score of 101 aerial victories he became the 12th awardee of the Oakleaves and Swords. Hitler awarded these to him personally at his headquarters. Reichsmarschall Goring also presented him with the combined Pilot/Observers Badge in Gold with Diamonds and a special gold ring with a lapis stone set with a Pilot's Badge. On September 2, 1942, Marseille became the 6th person to receive the Diamonds.
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Marseille's body on the military cot. Th impact of his
head against the aircraft's tail section can be clearly seen. |
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| Honor guard posted by his body |
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Merseille's Knights Cross Oakleaves Swords and diamonds.
Note damage to sword from aircraft impact. |
His fate however was not in the hands of the allies but an unfortunate accident. on September 30, 1942, Marseille took off on a solo mission over British lines. Not making contact with the enemy he turned back towrds his own lines when at 11:26 AM, an oil line broke in his BF 109-G2. With his cockpit filled with blinding acrid smoke. Marseille bailed out, but struck his head on the tail of the aircraft. He was immediately rendered unconscious and fell to the desert floor. His body was quickly recovered by German units in the vicinty of Sidi-Abd-El-Rahman, identified and prepared for burial. His decorations and identification were removed and the remains placed on a military cot and draped with a flag. An honor guard was posted prior to the services.
Where did you get the first picture please? Thanks for your answer
ReplyDeleteHi it came from an old magazine clipping dated aroung 1991. I can send you the scan if interested.
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