Alfred Heckmann

Infobox Military Person
name=Alfred Heckmann
born=birth date|1914|6|25|df=y
died=dda|1993|7|21|1914|6|25|df=y
placeofbirth=Bochum-Langendreer, Germany
nickname=Fred
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=
serviceyears=1940–1945
rank=Oberleutnant
Commander=3./JG 26 , 5./JG 26
unit=JG 3, JG 26, JV 44
battles=World War II
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*Operation Barbarossa
*Siege of Malta
*Operation Bodenplatte
awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Alfred Heckmann (25 June 1914 – 21 July 1993) was a "Luftwaffe" flying ace of World War II.

Biography

Alfred Heckmann was born 25 June 1914 at Bochum-Langendreer. in early 1940, Unteroffizier Heckmann was posted to 5 "Staffel", Jagdgeschwader 3. He gained his first victory in June 1940, when he shot down a French Morane MS 406 fighter over Abbeville. He added two Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. "Feldwebel" Heckmann then participated in the invasion of Russia and claimed another 24 victories up to October 1941, when the unit re-equipped with then new Bf 109 F-4. II./JG 3 were relocated to Sicily in January 1942, and Heckmann flew over Malta without adding to his total. II./JG 3 returned to the Eastern front in June 1942. In July Oberfeldwebel Heckmann claimed 17 Russian aircraft, including four Douglas Boston bombers shot down on 10 July. He was awarded the "Ritterkreuz" in September 1942.

In October 1942, Heckmann was transferred to 1./JG 26 on the Channel front. In winter 1943, he moved with I./JG 26 back to the Eastern front in an exchange with III./JG 54 who transferred to the West. In the 14 weeks the Gruppe was based in Russia Oberfeldwebel Heckmann claimed four victories; all Il-2 Stormovik's. In February 1943, Heckmann took up instructing duties with "Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe Ost".

He returned to 1.JG 26 in July before being appointed "Staffelkapitän" 3./JG 26 in January 1944. On 21 September, I./JG 26 attacked a formation of RAF C-47 Douglas Dakota transports over s’Hertogenbosch en route to supply the Allied aerial landings at Arnhem. Heckmann claimed 4 shot down.

On 1 January 1945, Heckmann led 23 Fw 190 D-9s of 3./JG 26 on Operation Bodenplatte, the attack on the Allied airfields in Holland and Belgium. On 27 March 1945, Heckmann was made Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 26. Heckmann’s stay was short as he was transferred to JV 44 at München-Reim on 14 April 1945, serving with the unt until the end of the war.

“Fred” Heckmann flew over 600 missions, claiming 71 victories. He recorded 54 victories over the Eastern front. Of his 17 victories recorded over the Western front, 3 were four-engine bombers.

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (11 August 1941)
* German Cross in Gold (9 April 1942)
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (19 September 1942)

References

*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe|work=Alfred Heckmann| url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/heckmann.html|accessdate=15 February| accessyear=2008
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: 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.

* http://www.acesofww2.com/germany/Germany.htm