Franz Eckerle was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and aerobatics pilot.
14 Facts About Franz Eckerle
1.
2.
In 1938 and 1939, Franz Eckerle competed in the German Aeronautical Nationals.
3.
In January 1942, Eckerle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54.
4.
Posthumously, Franz Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.
5.
Franz Eckerle was born on 24 April 1912 in Baden-Baden, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Baden of the German Empire.
6.
On 1 April 1937, Eckerle was promoted to Leutnant and posted to the I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 135 based in Bad Aibling.
7.
In 1938, flying a Klemm Kl 35, Franz Eckerle took fourth place in 10th German Aeronautical Nationals in Nuremberg.
8.
Prior, Franz Eckerle was promoted to Hauptmann on 1 June 1941.
9.
That day, Franz Eckerle claimed a Tupolev SB bomber shot down.
10.
Franz Eckerle succeeded Hauptmann Erich von Selle who was transferred.
11.
That day, Soviet bombers attacked Ziverskaya Airfield, defending against this attack, Franz Eckerle shot down one aircraft.
12.
Franz Eckerle was posted as missing in action and presumed killed.
13.
Franz Eckerle was posthumously honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.
14.
Franz Eckerle was likely shot down by Mladshiy Leytenant Petrukhin, Mladshiy Leytenant Markov, and Serzhant Savosin from 71 IAP of the KBF, the air force of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet.