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Joachim Helbig

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Joachim Helbig
The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a pilot's leather jacket with a fur collar, with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar.
Joachim Helbig
Born (1915-09-10)10 September 1915
Dahlen, Saxony
Died 5 October 1985(1985-10-05) (aged 70)
Malente
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service 1935–45
Rank Oberst
Commands held LG 1
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Joachim Helbig (10 September 1915 – 5 October 1985) was a German bomber pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Helbig participated in the Invasion of Poland, the Norwegian Campaign, the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in November 1940. He was then transferred to the Mediterranean theater where he bombed Malta, the British Mediterranean Fleet and flew in support of the Afrika Korps. Helbig became the 20th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in September 1942.

Helbig was then banned from further combat flying and worked on the staff of the Inspector of Combat Flight, the senior officer responsible for the Luftwaffe's bomber force. In August 1943 the ban was reversed and he was appointed wing commander of an air unit operating against the Allied forces in Italy. Helbing died in 1985.

Invasion of Western Europe; Battle of Britain[edit]

At the beginning of World War II in September 1939, Helbig was serving as an observer in the Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG1) of the Luftwaffe. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class following the invasion of Poland.[1] Helbig took part in the April 1940 invasion of Norway, the Battle of the Netherlands and the Battle of France, serving as squadron commander in LG 1. For his actions, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class.[2]

Following the defeat of France, Helbig's unit participated in the Battle of Britain. On 15 August 1940, Helbig and his squadron, consisting of nine Ju 88 bombers, took off from Orléans, with the primary target RAF Worthy Down. Over the English coast the German formation, consisting of more than 200 aircraft, was intercepted by British fighters from No. 10 Group RAF and No. 11 Group RAF totaling 170 fighter aircraft. This mission turned out to be disastrous for Helbig's unit; only he and his crew returned.[3][4] During the battle, Helbig reported[how?] that his damaged bomber was flying on one engine when he was intercepted by a Spitfire out-to-sea. According to Helbig, the RAF pilot did not fire, but instead flew alongside the crippled aircraft until the French coast was in sight, waved and flew away. Author Christer Bergström has suggested that perhaps this might have been[weasel words] Pilot Officer Richard Hardy from No. 234 Squadron RAF.[5] For his actions in the Battle of Britain, Helbig was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in November 1940.[6]

North African and Mediterranean campaign[edit]

A twin engine propeller powered aircraft in flight and viewed from the right side.
Junkers Ju 88 bomber similar to those flown by Helbig

The Gruppe flew to Sicily in early January 1941 and attacked targets in Malta as well as British ships in the Mediterranean. On one of these missions they badly damaged the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious on 16 January while she was docked for repairs in Grand Harbour. The unit was transferred to Bulgaria in early April in preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasions of Greece and Yugoslavia, where it participated in the bombing of Belgrade, Yugoslavia on 6 April.[7]

The unit remained in the Mediterranean for the rest of the year, bombing targets in Egypt and Libya. On 5 November Helbig became group commander of I./LG 1. The unit was redeployed to Fliegerführer Afrika from 10th Air Corps on 21 November and for five days assisted III./LG 1 in halting the British Operation Crusader. Helbig commanded the unit bombing the Sidi Barrani–Alexandria rail line on 3 and 4 December. On 10 December the unit flew interdiction operations against the British Army south of Tobruk. Thereafter, the unit deposited naval mines off the Libyan coast.[8][9]

While on patrol Crete on 11 May approximately 100 kilometers (62 mi) south of Crete, I./LG 1 bombers detected four British destroyers, Jervis, Kipling, Jackal and Lively. The first wave of 14 bombers from I./LG 1 attacked the destroyers later that afternoon and, despite the protection of escorting British aircraft, sank Lively and crippled Jackal. A second wave failed to find the destroyers, but the third wave of seven bombers, led by Helbig, attacked the destroyers with the setting sun behind them. Helbig's aircraft sank Kipling at 32°23′N 26°11′E / 32.39°N 26.19°E / 32.39; 26.19 while Jackal later had to be scuttled.[10][11] The attack was successful despite the presence of defending Bristol Beaufighters from No. 272 Squadron RAF.[12]

In June 1942, British commandos targeted Helbig's unit at their base in Heraklion, and succeeded in blowing up seven Ju 88 bombers.[13] On 28 September 1942 he was awarded the 20th Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.[6]

1943–45 career[edit]

In January 1943, Helbig was transferred to the staff of the Inspector of Combat Flight responsible for readiness, training and tactics of the German bomber force. In March 1943 he was appointed to the Inspector position; Helbig was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1 September.[14] He returned to LG 1 as its commander on 14 August.[15]

When his Geschwader was transferred to Italy to operate against the Allied beachheads at Anzio and Nettuno in Italy after the landings there (Operation Shingle) on 22 January 1944, Helbig was appointed as the commander of all bomber units in Italy. On the night of 23/24 January, a unit under his command sank the destroyer HMS Janus with a torpedo and severely damaged Jervis with a Henschel Hs 293 glider bomb at the cost of 11 aircraft.[16] The Corsica[clarification needed] operation was a success and these long-range operations destroyed 23 aircraft and damaged 90.[17]

After the war Helbing worked in a civilian profession. He died in 1985.[2]

Awards[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 265.
  2. ^ a b c Berger 1999, p. 120.
  3. ^ Bergström 2015, pp. 123–128.
  4. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 250–264.
  5. ^ Bergström 2015, p. 128.
  6. ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 378.
  7. ^ De Zeng, Stankey and Creek 2008, p. 360
  8. ^ Taghon, 2004a, p. 290; Weal 2009, p. 54.
  9. ^ De Zeng, Stankey and Creek 2008, pp. 354–55, 361.
  10. ^ Taghon 2004b, pp. 11–12.
  11. ^ De Zeng, Stankey and Creek 2008, pp. 355.
  12. ^ Goss 2007, p. 102.
  13. ^ Hooton 1997, p. 212.
  14. ^ Schumann 2007, p. 88.
  15. ^ Taghon 2004b, p. 231.
  16. ^ Langtree 2002, p. 168; Taghon 2004b, pp. 286–88
  17. ^ Hooton 1997, p. 240.
  18. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 229.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6. 
  • Bergström, Christer (2015). The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited. Casemate: Oxford. ISBN 978-1612-00347-4.
  • Bungay, Stephen (2000). The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. London: Aurom Press. ISBN 978-1-85410-801-2. 
  • De Zeng, H.L.; Stankey, D.G.; Creek, E.J (2008). Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945; A Reference Source, Volume 2. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-87-1. 
  • Goss, Chris (2007). Sea Eagles Volume Two: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942–45. Burgess Hill: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-9032-2356-7. 
  • Hafsten, Bjørn; Ulf Larsstuvold; Bjørn Olsen; Sten Stenersen (1991). Flyalarm – luftkrigen over Norge 1939–1945 (in Norwegian) (1st ed.). Oslo: Sem og Stenersen AS. ISBN 82-7046-058-3. 
  • Hooton, E. R. (1997). Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe. London: Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 978-1-85409-343-1. 
  • Langtree, Charles (2002). The Kelly's: British J, K, and N Class Destroyers of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-422-9. 
  • MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8. 
  • Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. McWhirter Twins, London. ISBN 978-0-901928-00-9
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Schumann, Ralf (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 des LG 1 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 of LG 1] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel (de). ISBN 978-3-86619-013-9. 
  • Shores, Christopher, Brian Cull and Maria Malizia (1992). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete: 1940–41. London: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-07-0.
  • Stockert, Peter (1996). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-7-3. 
  • Smith, Peter C (2011). The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka: A Complete History. London: Crecy Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-0-85979-156-4.
  • Taghon, Peter (2004a). Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1—Band 1—1936 – 1942 [The History of Lehrgeschwader 1—Volume 1—1936 – 1942] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-85-0. 
  • Taghon, Peter (2004b). Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1—Band 2—1942 – 1945 [The History of Lehrgeschwader 1—Volume 2—1942 – 1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nicke. ISBN 978-3-925480-88-1. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. 
  • Weal, John (2009). Junkers Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-888-4. 
Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Hans-Werner Freiherr von Buchholtz		 Geschwaderkommodore of Lehrgeschwader 1
14 August 1943 – 2 March 1945		 Succeeded by
Major Richard Czekay
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