Hans-Joachim Jabs

Infobox Military Person
name=Hans-Joachim Jabs
born=birth date|1917|11|14|df=y
died=death date and age|2003|10|26|1917|11|14|df=y
placeofbirth=Lübeck
placeofdeath=


caption=Hans-Joachim Jabs
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1936–1945
rank=Oberstleutnant
commands=Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
unit=ZG 76 and NJG 1
battles=World War II
*Defense of the Reich
*Battle of Britain
awards=Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
laterwork=businessman

Hans-Joachim Jabs (14 November 1917 - 26 October 2003) was both a day and night fighter ace [For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see "List of German World War II night fighter aces"] in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. 50 victories [28 victories at night] were scored. Jabs flew variants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer heavy day fighter and night fighter.

Biography

Born in Lübeck in 1917, Jabs joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. Originally trained as a Bf 109 pilot, Jabs was posted to "Zerstörergeschwader" 76 in March 1940.

A member of II/ZG 76, Jabs operated over France in mid 1940, claiming four French aircraft and RAF fighters. He then flew over the British Isles during the Battle of Britain. Despite the vulnerability of the Bf 110 against the more nimble Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft, and the heavy losses incurred, Jabs claimed eight Spitfires and four Hurricanes destroyed. By the end of the year Jabs was one of the top scoring Zestorer pilots, with 16 victories. In 1941 the majority of the Bf 110 units were withdrawn from daylight fighting, and Jabs was transferred to night fighting and Defense of the Reich. Retrained by October 1941 Jabs joined "Nachtgeschwader" three stationed near Hamburg protecting the port and Kriegsmarine installations. Opportunities for scoring remained elusive however, with just one more kill by June 1942. In November 1942 he transferred to IV/NJG 1. By January 1944 he had 45 kills to his credit, and in March 1944 became NJG 1 "Geschwaderkommodore".

On 29 April 1944 his BF 110-G night fighter was caught on a daylight air test by a flight of 6 Spitfires from No. 132 Squadron RAF, led by 15-kill ace Squadron Leader Geoffrey Page. The Spitfires came in at too high a speed and as one Spitfire overshot Jabs shot down the Spitfire flown by P/O R.B. Pullin, which went down in flames and the pilot killed. F/O J.J. Caulton then attacked Jabs head-on, though the heavy forward armament of the 110 took affect and the striken Spitfire glided around and belly-landed onto Deelen Air Base. Jabs then conducted a surprise forced landing, quickly scrambling for cover before his aircraft was destroyed by strafing.

Hans-Joachim Jabs was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ("Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Einsernen Kreuzes") on 24 March 1944.

His wartime kill tally included 22 day kills and 28 night victories.

He became a businessman in Westphalia after the war.

Awards

* German Cross in Gold (31 August 1943)
* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (1 October 1940)
** 430. Oak Leaves (24 March 1944)

References

* Drewes, Martin. "Sombras da noite". Rio de Janeiro: Adler Editora, 2002. ISBN 85-89015-02-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
* Raymond Toliver, Trevor Constable. "Horrido!" ( Bantam Books 1979)

External links

* [http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/ases/jabs.htm Luftwaffe 39-45] in portuguese
* [http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=fot_oeaf Of Enemies And Friends] An account of the the dog fight on 29 April 1944