Joachim Helbig

Infobox Military Person
name=Joachim Helbig
nickname="Jochen"
born=birth date|1915|9|10|df=y
died=death date and age|1985|10|5|1915|9|10|df=y


placeofbirth=Börln in Torgau-Oschatz
placeofdeath=on vacation in Spain
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1935-1945
rank=Oberst
commands=I./LG 1, LG 1
unit=
battles=World War II
*Polish campaign
*Operation Weserübung
*Battle of the Netherlands
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=Manager at a Brewery

Oberst Joachim Helbig (born 10 September, 1915 in Börln, Torgau-Oschatz; killed in car accident on 5 October, 1985 while on vacation in Spain) was a bomber pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Military career

Joachim Helbig volunteered for military service in 1935 and initially served one year with the "Artillerieregiment" 4 in Dresden. In the fall of 1936 he was transferred to the "Kampfflieerschule" in Lechfeld. After completing his training as an observer and aerial gunner in April 1937 he was posted with "Kampfgeschwader" 152 in Schwerin. He later transferred to Lehrgeschwader 1 where he started his pilot training.Berger 1999, p. 120.]

Invasion of Poland

Leutnant Helbig was still an observer in a He 111 Kampfliegeraufklärung (bomber reconnaissance) at the outbreak of World War II. On the third day of the Polish campaign Helbig shot down a Polish reconnaissance machine. The next day he was injured in a motorcycle accident which refrained him from seeing further combat in this campain. [Kurowski 1996, p. 34.] He later in October 1939 participated in a number of missions against British shipping in the North Sea and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class.

Invasion of Norway

By the time the Operation Weserübung began, Helbig had completed his pilot training. He flew missions in support of the German ground forces, particularly in the Narvik area. For these missions the He 111s took off from Aalborg in Denmark and landed at a training field at Trondheim-Vernes on the return flight from Narvik. Among the attacks carried out by Helbig were several low-level strikes against British positions, and in the course of one such sortie his flight engineer was severely wounded and the left engine of his aircraft was shot out by flak. [Kurowski 1996, p. 36.]

Western campaign

When the campaign against Holland, Belgium, and France began in May 1940, Helbig was "Staffelkapitän" of 4./LG 1, which was equipped with the Ju 88. Over Dunkirk Helbig's aircraft was intercepted by enemy fighters. One engine was shot out and three members of the crew suffered various degree of injuries including Helbig. For these actions he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class. Following the defeat of France he received an early promotion to "Hauptmann". [Kurowski 1996, p. 37.]

Battle of Britain

On 15 August 1940 Helbig and his "Staffel" consisting of nine Ju 88 took off Orleans at 4.45 PM with the primary target RAF Worthy Down. Over the English coast the German formation consisting of Ju88s from LG 1, Ju 87s from StG 1 escorted by elements of ZG 2, JG 27 and JG 53 were intercepted by British fighters. This mission turned out to be disastrous for 4. Staffel. Only Joachim Helbig managed to return his heavily damaged aircraft back to friendly territory. [Kurowski 1996, p. 39.]

As the Battle of Britain progressed, Joachim Helbig developed into a specialist in attacking industrial targets. As a result of his success during more than 100 combat missions he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. By the time Helbig received the coveted decoration he had flown 122 combat missions. [Kurowski 1996, p. 40.]

Helbig's success in surviving seemingly hopeless situations was due to his excellent crew, which included "Oberfeldwebel" Franz Schlund, who on 30 August 1941 became the first Luftwaffe radio operator to be awarded the Knight's Cross. Schlund's ability to drive off the attacking fighter force was instrumental in a mission against the Warrington Propeller Works located north of Liverpool. Further missions included the attack and destruction of the Eastham lock and the attack on the pilot training airfield at Penrose. [Kurowski 1996, pp. 40–43.]

North African and Mediterranean campaign

4. "Staffel" LG 1 was ordered to attack the British ships in the port of Piraeus on the night of Good Friday 1941. During this moonlight mission Helbig dive-bombed and sank a troop transport ship, most likely the "Ellenis", which was also used as a hospital ship by Greek forces. [Kurowski 1996, p. 44.]

On 11 May 1942 at about 6 PM "Hauptmann" Helbig took of from Heraklion with seven aircraft of I. "Gruppe" LG 1. Together with the experienced veterans "Oberleutnant" Iro Ilk, "Oberleutnant" Backhaus, "Leutnant" Gerhard Brenner and "Oberfeldwebel" Otto Leupert. They spotted the British destroyers HMS "Jervis", HMS "Kipling", HMS "Jackal" and HMS "Lively" commanded by Captain A.L. Poland, accompanied by Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers operating as long-range fighters.Kurowski 1996, p. 48.]

The seven Ju 88 attacked the destroyers from the already setting sun. In the space of ten minutes they sank three of the vessels. Helbig had selected the "Kipling" as his target. His bombs struck the destroyer amidships, destroying her. The "Jackal" was hit several times. Attempts were made to tow the crippled vessel to a friendly port, however the next day it sank, scuttled by "Jervis".

Awards

* Narvik Shield
* Wound Badge in Silver
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "400"
* Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds
* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
* "Afrika" and "Kreta" Cuffband
* Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (24 November 1940)
** Oak Leaves (16 January 1942)
** Swords (28 September 1942)
* Mentioned two times in the Wehrmachtbericht on 13 May 1942 and 28 May 1944

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

References

;Specific;General

*cite web | title=das-ritterkreuz.de|work=Joachim Helbig|url=http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=2262&searchword=helbig|accessdate=7 June| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Joachim Helbig|url=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/H/HelbigJ.htm|accessdate=7 June| accessyear=2007
* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Kurowski, Franz. "Luftwaffe Aces". Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., 1996. ISBN 0-921991-31-2.
* "Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943" (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
* "Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945" (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.