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Jeckstat, Erich

Date of birth:
July 8th, 1919 (Kuiken Krs. Goldap/East Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:
October 11th, 1958 (Augsburg/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Flew a total of over 400 combat missions during WWII, 393 combat missions in 18 months.
He served with Kampfgeschwader 100, a Luftwaffe bomber wing, throughout the duration of the war. He rescued his Stfkpt Hptm Helmut Fritsche and crew when their He 111 was shot down some 500 km behind Russian lines.
His service record includes flying wounded soldiers out of Stalingrad following its encirclement by the Red Army, actions which saw him awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943. Jeckstat survived the war, but was killed in an automobile accident along his his parents-in-law on 11 October 1958 in Augsburg, Germany.

Career:
09.1941: assigned to I./KG 100
29.06.1942: Unteroffizier awarded the Ehrenpokal
14.12.1942: Uffz. in 1./KG 100, awarded the DKG
14.03.1943: Feldwebel in 1./KG 100, awarded Ritterkreuz for completing 393 combat missions and 41 supply flights to Stalingrad
05.1945: Leutnant

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier
Unit:
1./ KG 100
Awarded on:
June 29th, 1942

According to other source awarded on 23-6-1942.
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Unteroffizier
Unit:
1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 100, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
February 1st, 1943
Received because of good piloting during airbridge to stalingrad. Made 4 flights a day in very bad weather and high risk.

According to other source awarded on 9-12-1942.
According to Patzwall / Scherzer awarded on 14-12-1942.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Feldwebel (Sergeant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer, 1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 100, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
March 14th, 1943
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Awarded for his success as a bomber/transport pilot. He achieved notable results in missions against trains and industry far behind Soviet lines. He also flew a total of 51 supply sorties into the Stalingrad pocket.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
1./ KG 100
Awarded on:
November 28th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
1./ KG 100
Awarded on:
October 20th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 14th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 1st, 1942
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1942
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 25th, 1942
Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Gold mit Anhänger
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
1./ KG 100
with '500' pennant
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger und einzatszahl
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
1./ KG 100
Awarded on:
1942
Medaille

Sources

Photos