Erich Handke

Erich Handke
Born	2 November 1920 Darmstadt
Died	11 November 1987 (aged 67) Neckargemünd
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Oberfeldwebel
Unit	NJG 1
Battles/wars	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich Handke (2 November 1920 – 11 November 1987) was a highly decorated Oberfeldwebel in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he participated in 129 missions as a radio operator. He served as a radio operator with Feldwebel Georg Kraft, Oberleutnant Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, and Major Martin Drewes all who were decorated with the Oak Leaves or higher. With Kraft, who was shot down and killed in action by Wing Commander Bob Braham on the night of 17/18 August 1943, he had claimed 14 aerial victories.

Awards and decorations

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 17 January 1944 as Unteroffizier and radio operator^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold on 29 March 1944 as Unteroffizier in the 12./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel and Bordfunker (radio operator) in the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1^{[3][Note 1]}

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as radio/wireless operator in the Stab III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.^[4]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall 2008, p. 94.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 163.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 212.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 364

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Luftwaffe 39-45