Leutnant Hermann Habich (1895–?) was one of the original pilots in the Imperial German Air Service, having earned his brevet two months before World War I began. He is noted for having killed French aviation pioneer Roland Garros. Habich scored seven victories in all, becoming a flying ace. He joined the Luftwaffe in the 1930s and served in World War II.
Hermann Habich | |
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Born | 15 August 1895 Plättig, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire |
Died | Post World War II |
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Unit | Feldflieger Abteilung 47; Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215; Jagdstaffel 49 |
Awards | Iron Cross First and Second Class; Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order |
Other work | Served in World War II |
Habich was born in Plättig, the Grand Duchy of Baden, the German Empire on 15 August 1895. He was a pioneer aviator, having gained his license, number 697, before the start of World War I, on 17 March 1914.[1]
Habich was one of the early German military pilots, joining Feldflieger Abteilung 47 performing aerial reconnaissance as an Unteroffizier in late 1914. He then transferred to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 215 for artillery reconnaissance and ranging duties. He was awarded the Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order by his native Baden on 5 February 1915, followed by both classes of the Iron Cross; his First Class Iron Cross was awarded 18 March 1916. In August 1916, he was promoted to Offizierstellvertreter and applied for duty in a fighter squadron. On 8 January 1918, he joined Jagdstaffel 49 in France. By this time, as a Leutnant, he was senior enough to sometimes assume command as the deputy commander. He scored his first air-to-air victory on 27 March 1918. By war’s end, he had destroyed five more enemy aircraft and an observation balloon.[1]
Habich is widely credited with being the aviator who shot down and killed French flying ace Roland Garros.[2]
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location |
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1 | 27 March 1918 @ 1100 hours | Albatros D.III or Albatros D.V | Airco DH.4 Ser. No. A7767 | Destroyed | Bapaume, France |
2 | 2 September 1918 @ 1320 hours | Albatros | Breguet 14 | Destroyed | Between Châlons-en-Champagne and Suippes, France |
3 | 7 September 1918 @ 1135 hours | Albatros | SPAD | Destroyed | Saint-Hilaire, France |
4 | 26 September 1918 @ 1540 hours | Albatros | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Minaucourt-le-Mesnil-lès-Hurlus, France |
5 | 30 September 1918 @ 1820 hours | Albatros | SPAD | Destroyed | Maure, France |
6 | 5 October 1918 @ 1106 hours | Albatros | SPAD, Roland Garros[2] | Destroyed | Somme-Py, France |
7 | 6 October 1918 @ 0830 hours | Albatros | Brequet 14 | Destroyed | Somme-Py, France[3][1] |
By the 1930s, Habich worked as a military pilot and flight instructor in the Luftwaffe. He served on the Eastern Front commanding a Nachtschlachtgruppe in 1944.[1]