Allegiance Nazi Germany Died January 7, 1995, Germany Years of service 1939–1945 Service/branch Luftwaffe | Rank Leutnant Unit Jagdgeschwader 54 Name Hans-Joachim Kroschinski | |
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Born 11 May 1920
Saalfeld in East Prussia, Germany (now Poland) ( 1920-05-11 ) Battles/wars World War II
Eastern Front Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Eastern Front, World War II | ||
Hans-Joachim Kroschinski (11 May 1920 – 7 January 1995) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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Career
Serving with 2./JG 54 Kroschinski gained his first known Soviet victory, a MiG-3 on 5 August 1942. He had a total of four by the end of 1942. On 21 December 1944 while flying Fw 190 A-9 (W.Nr.380360) "Yellow 6", he shot down five Pe-2 bombers, but was then seriously wounded by return fire from other Pe-2s over Frauenburg.
He bailed out of his Fw-190 but as a result of his wounds lost both eyes and his right leg.
Feldwebel Hans-Joachim Kroschinski was credited with at least 76 victories, all recorded over the Eastern Front in 360 missions, including 240 low level attacks. Included in his total is 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks, 2 tanks, a Gun Boat on Lake Ladoga, and 2 MTB's in the Finnish Bay.