Marquardt, Heinz “Negus”, born 29-12-1922 in Braunsberg 
in East Prussia. A proficient glider pilot pre-war, he joined the Luftwaffe 
on 01-04-1940. Flieger Marquardt underwent three months of basic military training at Neukuhren in East Prussia before commencing his flying training with Schule / Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 31 at Heiligenbeil on 01-07-1940. On 26-06-1941, he was posted to Jagdfliegervorschule 1, based at Kamenz. Marquart was posted to Jagfliegerschule 5, based at Villacoublay North in France, on 15-09-1941. From 01-02-1942, he was undertaking fighter instructor duties and operating with the Einsatzstaffel of JFS 5 in support of Jagdgeschwader 2 
and Jagdgeschwader 26 
in the defence of France over the Channel front. On 01-08-1943, Marquardt was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 51 
, the “Mölders” squadron
based on the Eastern front. Unteroffizier Marquardt was assigned to 11./JG 51, under Major Karl Rammelt 
, based at that time at Timminitschi, where he gained his initial combat experiences flying as wing man to Hauptmann Adolf Borchers 
(132 victories, RK). Major Karl Rammelt died old age 84 on 13-05-2009 and Adolf Borchers died age 82 on 09-02-1996 in Oberstaufen. Marquardt gained his first victory, a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft, shot down on 2 October. On 29-04-1944, he shot down three Russian R-5 reconnaisance biplanes to record his 10th through 12th victories. Marquardt shot down three Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft on 8 June (20-22). Marquardt was transferred to 10./JG 51 on 17-06-1944. In August, he recorded 21 victories to take his victory total to 55. On 15 August 10./JG 51 was redesignated 13./JG 51. His 60th victory was achieved on 5 September. Marquardt was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold 
on 10-09-1944. In October 1944, 13./JG 51 under Leutnant Peter Kalden (69 victories, RK, POW 11 March 1945) claimed 81 victories, of which Marquardt claimed 25, including eight victories on 7 October (64-71). Oberfeldwebel Marquardt was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 18-11-1944 for 89 victories.
In early December 1944, Marquardt was temporarily assigned to the recently formed 15./JG 51. He returned to 13./JG 51 on 01-04-1945. Marquardt claimed 23 victories in April, several while flying Fw 190 D-9 “White 11” 
, including his 100th on 14 April and four enemy aircraft shot down on each of the days 18 April (106-109) and 24 April. Marquardt with his wingman, Feldwebel Heinz Radlauer, 
led a formation of six Fw 190 D-9 fighters as top cover for 12 Fw 190 F-8 ground-attack aircraft that were due to land at Schwerin airfield on 01-05-1945. Having taken-off from Neu Redlin, the formation was flying over Lake Schwerin when it was intercepted by six Spitfire XIV of 41 Squadron RAF. 
In the subsequent aerial combat Marquardt shot down a Spitfire for his 121st, and last, victory but then he was shot down, and was initially reported as killed in action but he had bailed out injured. This had been the last of eight occasions on which he had been shot down during his combat career. He landed in the grounds of a hospital where he was able to receive immediate medical attention. A week later, still hospitalised, the war ended and Marquardt became an American prisoner of war. He was transferred to a hospital at Göppingen, near Stuttgart, from where he was discharged 23-08-1945. In 1947, Marquardt left Germany for Switzerland, where he became a flying instructor. He joined the Bundesluftwaffe, with the rank of Leutnant, on its formation in 1956. Over the next 13 years, he fulfilled various posts, including that of Staffelkapitän of Jagdgeschwader “Steinhoff” 73 
. He retired on 30-09-1973, having risen to the rank of Oberstleutnant. From February 1974 until October 1983, he worked for Condor 
, a subsidiary airline of Lufthansa. He lived in retirement in Hammersbach’s suburb Marköbel.
Death and burial ground of Marquardt, Heinz “Negus”
He died there, age 80 on 19-12-2003, and he is buried on the Neuen Friedhof. Lindenstrasse in Hammersbach’s suburb Marköbel. My friend Wolfgang Linke, a war grave researcher like me, from Frankfurt am Main, find out his burial ground and kindly sent me the grave photos.
Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster: robhopmans@outlook.com
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