Friedrich Wachowiak

Who was Friedrich Wachowiak?

Friedrich Wachowiak was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Wachowiak served with Jagdgeschwader 52 and Jagdgeschwader 3 and gained his first victories against the Royal Air Force in 1940. At the end of 1941 he received his 20th victory and the 40th was in March 1942. His first Soviet victory was on 1 May 1942. On 7 May 1942 he reported his 62nd and on 29 November 1942 the 86th victory. 1943/1944 he was temporary a fighter flight trainer and came back to the front in Mai 1944 with the JG 52 over Normandy.

Wachowiak was killed in action on 16 July 1944 on the Normandy invasion front during aerial combat with a Spitfire by Ecouche, as Leutnant and Flugzeugführer III/JG 3 "Udet".

The exact number of aerial victories Wachowiak was credited with is not exactly known. He was credited with at least 86 victories on the Eastern Front. His mother testified that he had claimed about 120 victories, while his comrades stated that he shot down about 140 aircraft.