Hrdlicka, Franz.

Hrdlicka, Franz, born 05-10-1920 in Maxdorf near Brno, in Czechoslovakia, joined the Luftwaffe  after the outbreak of World War II. As a Leutnant he joined 5./JG 77 Jagdgeschwader, nickname “Herz As” , under command of Oberstleutnant Eitel Roediger von Manteuffel in Herz, passed combat baptism of the Balkans, followed by the fight with the British over Crete, Mai 1942, (see Bruno Bräuer)

     (see Graf Hans von Blücher). Eitel Roediger von Manteuffel survived the war and died 31-07- 1984 in Wiesbaden, age 84. In Russia, after the first few years to seven victories, at September 1941 awarded with both the Iron Crosses , then seriously wounded  during an emergency landing, the same happened again a year later when the next front in the deployment of August 1942. Yet, thanks to an increase in its score to 27 victories received in September 1942 the Luftwaffe honor goblet, by Hermann Goering (did you know), along with promotion to Leutnant and given command of a squadron. In spring 1943 he led to its 5^th defensive combat squadron of Tunisia against Allied air superiority forces. After nine more victories awarded the German Cross in Gold , 12-07-1943, followed by more fighting over the Italian front. In September 1944 transferred to the realm of defense and fighting against heavy bombers.

Death and burial ground of Hrdlicka, Franz.

 He was shot down on 27-09-1944 by a fighter escort and injured  in a parachute jump. For 44 victories 18-10-1944 awarded the Knight’s Cross. Transferred to 1./Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen, nicknamed “Richthofengeschwader” under command of Oberstleutnant Kurt Bühligen  two months later with the rank of captain took command of 1^st Gruppe, where he succeeded Major Walter Matoni , who died age 70, on 26-06-1988, in Frankfurt. Kurt Bühligen also survived the war and died 11-08-1985, aged 6, in Nidda, Hesse.  After 5 years of fighting and 45 aerial victories, recognized found Hrdlicka 25-03-1945 in Hesse Betzenrodou over his death. From this period have been reported numerous successes of the air battles that have been processed for official recognition, so that Hrdlicka is associated with up to 96 kills. That would explain why it still considered 04.1945 dub posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross branch. Their grant has not occurred. The machine with the remains of the pilot, age 24, was discovered in 1951 in an inaccessible area. Franz Hrdlicka is buried with his wife Anna, who died age 94, ion 01-11-1987, at the Neuer Friedhof of Tützing, a few steps from the grave of Erich Ludendorff

the WWI General.