Heinz "Negus" Marquardt was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.
11 Facts About Heinz Marquardt
1.
2.
Heinz Marquardt was born on 29 December 1922 in Braunsberg, present-day Braniewo in Poland, at the time in East Prussia a province of the Weimar Republic's Free State of Prussia.
3.
The next day, Heinz Marquardt claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down northeast of Warsaw.
4.
On 14 April 1945, Heinz Marquardt was credited with his 100th aerial victory.
5.
Heinz Marquardt was the 102nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
6.
On 1 May 1945 Heinz Marquardt became Jagdgeschwader 51s last casualty of the war when he was shot down by Royal Air Force Spitfires north of Berlin.
7.
Heinz Marquardt ordered his flight to cover the landing of the ground attack fighters while he and his wingman, Feldwebel Radlauer, attacked the Spitfires from below.
8.
Heinz Marquardt claimed one of the attackers but was shot down as well along with two other Fw 190s.
9.
Heinz Marquardt was initially reported as killed in action but he had bailed out injured and was taken to a hospital in Schwerin, where he was taken prisoner of war shortly after.
10.
Heinz Marquardt served with Jagdgeschwader 73 and Leichtes Kampfgeschwader 42.
11.
Heinz Marquardt retired on 30 September 1973, having risen to the rank of Oberstleutnant.