1. Joachim Helbig was a German bomber pilot during World War II.
17 Facts About Joachim Helbig
1. 2.
Joachim Helbig joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, and served almost all of his career with Demonstration Wing 1.
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Joachim Helbig was then transferred to the Mediterranean theatre where he bombed Malta, the British Mediterranean Fleet and flew in support of the Afrika Korps.
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Joachim Helbig received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in late 1942 for the support of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's 1942 summer offensive.
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Joachim Helbig was then banned from further combat flying and was assigned to the staff of the General of Bombers, the senior officer responsible for the Luftwaffe's bomber force.
6.
In early 1945, LG 1 was transferred to the Eastern Front and Joachim Helbig was tasked to destroy the bridges over the Oder.
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Joachim Helbig surrendered to the American forces at the end of the war in May After the war, Helbig pursued a civilian career; he died in 1985.
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Joachim Helbig was born on 10 September 1915 in Dahlen, Saxony.
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Joachim Helbig volunteered for military service on 1 April 1935 and initially served one year with an artillery regiment.
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Joachim Helbig was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class following the campaign.
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Joachim Helbig took part in the April 1940 invasion of Norway.
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Joachim Helbig was forced to jettison his bombs before reaching the target and return to base, flying on a single engine with wounded crewmen aboard.
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On 16 January 1942, Joachim Helbig became the 64th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves after having completed 210 combat missions.
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Joachim Helbig's aircraft sank Kipling at while Jackal later had to be scuttled.
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In January 1943, Joachim Helbig was transferred to the staff of the General der Kampfflieger.
16.
When his Geschwader was transferred to Italy to operate against the Allied beachheads at Anzio and Nettuno in Italy after the landings there on 22 January 1944, Joachim Helbig was appointed as the commander of all bomber units in Italy.
17.
Joachim Helbig formed a combined ground support and reconnaissance battle group as part of the Luftwaffe's operations against the Allied bombing campaign on 10 September 1944.