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Bätcher, Hansgeorg

Date of birth:
January 13th, 1914 (Finsterwalde/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
April 23rd, 2003 (Uelzen/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 27th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 15th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 23rd, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 3rd, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 8th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 24th, 1941
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 100, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
July 2nd, 1942

Award 71/28.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän, 1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 100, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
December 21st, 1942
Awarded for his actions on the eastern front. During 1941 he flew 75 combat missions in this theatre, including 10 night raids against Moscow. Among his more noteworthy successes included the destruction of an ammunition train on the 20.09.1941 and his scoring a direct hit on a factory in the Gorki auto works with an SC 1800 on the night of the 04./05.11.1941.

He and his unit were later involved in air missions over the Crimea in the time period February-June 1942. In this time Bätcher flew 206 sorties, including 122 to Sevastopol. He achieved notable successes against both fortifications and shipping. On the 20.02.1942 he sunk a merchant ship with 2000 GRT, and on the 23.02.1942 he struck a tanker with 7500 GRT in the Kertsch harbour. This deprived the Soviet forces on Kertsch from new fuel supplies for 5 days.

He and his crew later flew missions in support of the German advance on Stalingrad. On the 26.10.1942 Bätcher became the first bomber pilot to reach 400 bomber sorties flown, and he was finally recommended for the Knight’s Cross after his total had reached 444.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major (Squadron Leader)
Unit:
Kommandeur, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
March 24th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded for continuing to fly successful combat missions on the Eastern front. By this time he had brought his personal mission total to 655.

434th Award.

Sources

Photo