GERMAN FIGHTER ACE HANS-JOACHIM MARSEILLE The Life Story of the "Star of Africa" FRANZ KUROWSKI Translated from the German by Don Cox Schiffer Military History Atglen, PA Dust Jacket Artwork by Jerry Crandall, Sedona, AZ Artwork courtesy of Eagle Editions Ltd. Prints available through Eagle Editons Ltd., P.O. Box 1830, Sedona, AZ 86339 THE STAR OF AFRICA - Hans-Joachim Marseille Bf 109 F-2 Trop "Jochen" Marseille was considered by some of his contemporaries to be the most talented pilot in the Luftwaffe. General Adolf Galland even referred to him as the "unequaled virtuoso of all fighter pilots." After a shaky beginning, enlisting at the age of eighteen and with discipline problems, he achieved seven victories in the Battle of Britain but was in turn shot down four times. In April 1941, he was sent to Africa to fly with I./JG 27. Marseille soon developed his shooting ability and in conjunction with his fearless flying, became the "Star of Africa." With a reputation of being a rebel to military discipline and a ladies' man, plus his uncanny exploits as a fighter pilot, he became a national hero to the German people. His accom- plishments have become legend. On 1 September 1942, he shot down seventeen British fighters on three missions, eight aircraft in ten minutes. Many times he had multiple victories, eventually to become the most successful Luftwaffe pilot to fly against Western opponents. He was then awarded Germany's highest honor, the Diamonds to the Knight's Cross with Swords and Oak Leaves. Flying a new Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 on 30 September 1942, the engine developed serious problems and the cockpit began to fill with smoke. After struggling, Marseille jet- tisoned the canopy and managed to get out but was struck by the tail section and his parachute never opened. Book Design by Robert Biondi Translated from the German by Don Cox. Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 77 Lower Valley Road Atglen, PA 19310 Please write for a free catalog. This book may be purchased from the publisher. Please include $2.95 postage. Try your bookstore first. Contents Preface 7 Chapter I Early Years 9 Chapter II The North African Theater 23 Chapter III With JG 27 to Africa 29 Chapter IV JG 27 in Africa 47 Chapter V Luftwaffe Operations in the Summer of 1941 61 Chapter VI Desert Interval 97 Chapter VII JG 27 During the Winter of 1941/1942 105 Chapter VIII Rommel's New Offensive 123 Chapter IX The Star of Africa 165 Chapter X At Home 175 Chapter XI A Star Rises - & Falls 189 Afterword 216 Appendixes: Appendix I: Hans-Joachim Marseille, Life Chronology 220 Appendix II: Holders of the Knight's Cross of JG 27 in Africa 222 Appendix III: JG 27, Duty Positions from April 1941 to May 1943 223 Appendix IV: JG 27 Pilots with 10 or More Victories 224 Appendix V: Brief Data for Aircraft in Africa 225 Appendix VI: The Thirty Top British Fighter Pilots in Africa 226 Appendix VII: Luftwaffe in Africa, Air Order of Battle as of 1 October 1942 227 Appendix VIII: Italian Air Force in Africa, Air Order of Battle as of 1 October 1942 228 Appendix IX: Western Desert Air Force, Air Order of Battle as of 1 October 1942 229 Appendix X: Abbreviations 230 Sources & Acknowledgements 231 PREFACE T he British Middle Eastern Army had gone on the coun- teroffensive prior to the end of 1940. Cyrenaica was torn from Italy after heavy fighting. By the beginning of March 1941 Englishmen, both black and white, had pushed beyond the El Agheila oasis at the edge of the Great Sirte and stood on the soil of Tripolitania. Their goal was the capital of Libya, Tripoli; their dream was Italy's eradication from the African continent. But it was not to be. Catching the British by surprise, on March 24th a small band of German-Italian troops began to check the advances of the British Middle Eastern Army. Units of the recently landed Deutsches Afrikakorps carried out the first counter- attacks. Three weeks later Cyrenaica was free of enemy forces, a large concentration of enemy troops found themselves iso- lated in Tobruk, and both German and Italian troops were in Egypt. This engagement will forever remain a page of honor in the annals of Germany's military history. For with vastly inferior forces an enemy was beaten back, an enemy justifi- ably proud of its experiences and decades-long tradition of desert warfare. To be sure, England made an attempt to reestablish her prestige as 1941 turned into 1942. However, she was not able to overshadow the victory of the Deutsches Afrikakorps. Beginning in March and with nearly a half million men - Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, Africans, Czechs, Poles and Englishmen - she threw everything the Empire could muster in the way of people, material, weapons and pilots in a relentless struggle against the standing German and Italian units. In this hour the German soldier showed that he had not only learned to fight on the offensive, but to fight with the highest sense of soldierly duty while on the defensive as well. Striking with a dogged tenacity, his trusted Italian brother-at-arms stood at his side. The last word on the African Front has yet to be spoken. Therefore, the final verdict is still not in. Nor is a military- historical perspective of the events in this secondary com- bat theater on the African continent possible at this time. It remains a matter for the future. Rommel 1944 CHAPTER I EARLY YEARS Foundations P olitical chaos reigned in Berlin on the 13th of De- cember 1919, a year following Germany's defeat in the First World War. Nevertheless, both Frau Char- lotte Marseille and her husband, Major Siegfried Marseille, were happy. A son had been born to them, whom they named Hans-Joachim. Hans-Joachim was a weak child at first; at one point he nearly died from a severe case of influenza. As a result of the reduction of the Reichsheer to 100,000 men, Siegfried Marseille left the army and began service with the Berliner Polizei starting on March 27, 1920, thus ensur- ing that his family would have no worries. With one excep- tion: both parents were filled with consternation over the fact that Hans-Joachim was three years old before he was able to walk properly. An hour before Hans-Joachim would be delivered into the world at home a wall hook came loose in the next room. A glass case tipped over, bringing a crystal vase, bowls and glasses crashing to the floor. The expectant mother saw it as a good omen, for as they say "broken dishes bring luck." Frau Charlotte comments on Hans-Joachim as an infant and baby: "The boy already possessed an independent spirit, even before he could walk. He screamed to make the walls shudder. One time, when we were moving into a larger and prettier apartment, I was carrying him in my arms. I stood in the entry way in order to oversee the movers and give them instructions on where to put each piece. Jochen was screaming like a stuck pig." "One of the strong movers, carrying a dresser on his back, mentioned as he passed by/The little one has the mouth of Fritz Ebert. He, too, will someday be a great man." (Friedrich Ebert was given the Reich chancellorship by Reichskanzler 9