Hermann Buchner

Hermann Buchner earned his fame as a Schlachtflieger, and he carried out 611 ground-attacks with SchG 1 between 1942 and 1944. In early November 1944, he arrived at Lechfeld to commence training on the Me 262 jet fighter with Erprobungskommando 262. Three weeks later Buchner had his first encounter with Mustang fighters with an Me 262, although this resulted in no loss to either side. On November 26, Buchner scored his first "jet victory" against a U.S. 7 PG F-5 (Lightning) reconnaissance aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Irvin J. Rickey, who survived. The impact of the Me 262 cannon shells was so great that Rickey believed that he had sustained a direct AAA hit. In December 1944, Buchner was posted to Hauptmann Georg-Peter Eder's 9./JG 7. Due to a controverse with Eder's successor, Oberleutnant Günther Wegmann, Buchner was shifted to 10./JG 7 at Berlin-Oranienburg in mid-March 1945. This Staffel was headed by 130-victory ace Leutnant Franz Schall. Buchner next claimed a B-24 on March 25 and an RAF Lancaster on March 31, 1945. But the Allied overwhelming numerical superiority was too much even for the Me 262s. On April 8, Buchner's plane was shot ablaze by a strafing Mustang while landing. Next day, more than a hundred Luftwaffe aircraft, including a large number of Me 262s were destroyed in airbase raids. On April 10, twenty-seven out of fifty-five Me 262s that had been dispatched against U.S. heavy bombers were shot down. Buchner would fly no more with the Me 262. Totally 58 confirmed victories.

Asisbiz database list of 36 aerial victories for Hermann Buchner

Units: 8./Sch.G1, II./St.G2, 4./SG1 redesig 6./SG2 (10/43), SG154, 2./Kdo Nowotny (10/44), 10./JG7 (2/45)

Awards: RK(7/20/44), DK-G(10/17/43), EP(10/2/42), EK 1 & 2, Wnd Bdg, Dive Bmbr w/Pend & Assault Oper.Clasps

Known Aircraft: Ju 87, Bf 109E, Fw 190, Me 262A-1a WNr 501221 'Yellow 3' in JG-7(Yellow also)

Remarks: POW 21 April, 1945 after being shot down by flak in 'Yellow 3', force landing by a rail line by Klötze. A former Ground Attack pilot, he flew 631 missions (Crimea & Romania), was shot down five times, wounded twice, and destroyed 46 tanks, etc. 46 victories in the Fw 190 in the East. Twelve jet victories. His first known Soviet victory, a LaGG-3 on 13 September, 1942. An R-5 on 24 October, 1943, while in 6/SG-2. A Boston and a U-2 on 28 October, 1943. Twelve 4 engine bombers with the Me 262.One known bomber victory, while in 6/SG-2, a B-17 in the Bucharest area on 23 June, 1944. A P-47 W of Rheine on 29 October, 1944. A P-51 4 km N of Legden, SE of Ahaus, on 1 November, 1944. His 53rd victory, a P-51 near Stendal on 22 February, 1945. His 54th, a B-17(HSS) NW of Hamburg on 20 March, 1945. His 55th, a B-17 in the Cottbus area on 22 March, 1945. His 56th, a B-17 S of Berlin on 24 March, 1945. His 57th, a B-24 S of Hamburg on 25 March, 1945. His 58th, and last victory, a Lancaster on 31 March, 1945. Nominated for the EL. Survived the war. Last Flugbuch entry, '3/45'. Buchner was featured on the History Channel as Me 262 pilot. Deceased 1 December, 2005. Photo.

Date Pilot Name Unit EA Type Height Time Location
Friday, June 23, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 B-17 Fortress 6000m 09:50 6km 24 Ost S/65134
Friday, June 23, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 B-17 Fortress 6000m 09:50 24 Ost N/65134 (Ploesti)
Sunday, October 29, 1944 Hermann Buchner 2./Kdo./Nowotny P-47 Thunderbolt 2000m 16:26 West of Rheine
Wednesday, November 01, 1944 Hermann Buchner 2./Kdo./Nowotny P-51 Mustang   13:55 4km N Legden SE Ahaus
Thursday, November 02, 1944 Hermann Buchner 2./Kdo./Nowotny P-47 Thunderbolt 9000m 12:15 Bielefeld
Thursday, November 02, 1944 Hermann Buchner 2./Kdo./Nowotny B-24 Liberator 8000m 12:38 Munster
Thursday, November 23, 1944 Hermann Buchner 2./Kdo./Nowotny P-38 Lightning   11:33  
Sunday, November 26, 1944 Hermann Buchner 1./Kdo./Nowotny P-38 Lightning   12:09  
Sunday, October 24, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 R-5 30m 12:00 39 38
Thursday, October 28, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 A-20 Boston 2000m 06:30 29 47
Thursday, October 28, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 U-2 5m 08:35 39 38
Friday, October 29, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 P-39 Aircobra   15:00  
Saturday, November 06, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-5 1000m 14:40 01 75
Saturday, November 06, 1943 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-5 1000m 14:45 01 75
Saturday, February 12, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Yak-9 800m 08:40 6664
Friday, February 25, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 P-39 Aircobra 1500m 11:23 47 771
Thursday, March 02, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Yak-9 300m 09:40 46 364
Tuesday, May 30, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Yak-9 1800m 14:55 78 671
Tuesday, May 30, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 100m 15:05 78 674
Tuesday, May 30, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 300m 15:08 48 674
Wednesday, May 31, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 P-39 Aircobra 800m 06:40 78 672
Wednesday, May 31, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 300m 14:53 78 821
Thursday, June 01, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 P-39 Aircobra 2500m 13:30 78 812
Sunday, June 04, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Yak-9 20m 08:55 78 463
Sunday, June 04, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 200m 15:00 78 594
Monday, June 05, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 700m 13:50 78 672
Monday, June 05, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 100m 13:53 78 672
Monday, June 05, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 1000m 16:48 78 673
Monday, June 05, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 Il-2 Sturmovik m.H. 400m 16:50 78 674
Friday, June 23, 1944 Hermann Buchner 6./SG2 B-17 Fortress II 6000m 09:50 65 134
Thursday, February 22, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 P-51 Mustang   - bei Stendal
Tuesday, March 20, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 B-17 HSS   - NW Hamburg
Thursday, March 22, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 B-17 Fortress   12:45 Raum Cottbus-Bautzen-Dresden
Saturday, March 24, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 B-17 Fortress   12:00 S. Berlin
Sunday, March 25, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 B-24 Liberator   10:45 S. Hamburg
Saturday, March 31, 1945 Hermann Buchner Stab III./JG7 Lancaster   - -

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