Photo of Flieger Tartsch ca. 1940/41
Born:
22 December 1921 in Hackelspring
Units:
15.10.40-28.02.41 Fliegerausbildungsregiment 42, 2. Kompanie
01.03.41-16.11.41 SchülerkompanieOfficer Lehrgang ???
17.11.41-28.02.42 Jagdflieger-Vorschule 2, 3. Staffel Lachen-Speyerdorf/Pfalz
01.03.42-10.09.42 Jagdgruppe Drontheim
11.09.42-17.11.42 Jagdfliegerschule 3, 2. Staffel
18.11.42-21.21.42 Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe West
22.12.42-08.06.44 III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"
Rank:
00.00.00 Flieger
01.03.41 Fahnenjunker
01.03.41 Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
01.06.41 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
01.10.41 Fähnrich
01.02.42 Oberfähnrich
01.02.42 Leutnant
17.03.44
Awards:
00.00.00 Reichsjugend Sportabzeichen (National Youth Sports Badge)
15.06.40 Segelflugzeugführer "C" (Civil Gliding Proficiency Certificate "C")
15.11.41 Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Pilots Badge)
21.01.43 Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class)
01.02.43 Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwartz (Wound Badge in Black)*
24.04.43 Frontflug-Spange für Jäger in Bronze (Operational flying clasp in Bronze for fighters)*
03.06.43 Eiserne Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st Class)
08.06.44 Frontflug-Spange für Jäger in Silber (Operational flying clasp in Silver for fighters)
* Awards confirmed from copies of Tartsch's Soldbuch
Under Construction
History:
1940
4 March 40
Hans-Ulrich Tartsch volunteers for the German Armed Forces and receives his Wehrpas from recruiting office Berlin X.
Photo from Tartsch's Wehrpas ca.1940
15 June 40
Flieger Tartsch receives his Civil Gliding Proficiency Certificate "C" (three gulls) from the NSFK.
Flieger Tartsch's completion certificate for the NSFK Gliding Proficiency Certificate "C" ca. June 1940
1941
1942
22 December 42
Leutnant Tartsch is posted to his first operational unit that being 8 staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richtofen", the staffel was part of III Gruppe and at the time of his posting was temporarily based at Brest-Guipavas flying Fw 190A.
30 December 42
On this day all of III./J.G. 2 took part in a scramble to intercept VIII Bomber Command’s 27th mission. 1st Bomb Wing B-17s attacked the U-boat pens at Lorient. They were over the target at 11:38, and three B-17s were lost.
Four FW 190s from the Stab III./J.G. 2 took off to intercept, and Oblt. Mayer downed one of the B-17s in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/48/4/7 from 6,000 m at 11:42 (57). Lt. Fritz Rösle flew his third mission, but had no success.
Nine FW 190s of 7./J.G. 2 scrambled towards midday to intercept American bombers. On his 302nd mission, Fw. Knappe of 7./J.G. 2 shot down one of the B-17s at 11:45 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/45/2/1 from 5,000 m. Lt. George-Peter Eder got his first victory with 7./J.G. 2 at 11:55, a B-17 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/48/5/7 at 5,000 m (12). Other unsuccessful 7./J.G. 2 pilots taking part were Oblt. Hohagen on his 362nd mission, Lt. Holzapfel on his twelfth mission, Uffz. Löhse, and Obgefr. Kreuzer on his fourth mission. Uffz. Karl Löhse of 7./J.G. 2 was shot down by bomber’s gunners at 11:50 in the sea in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/4864 in FW 190 A-4 W.Nr 0142 470 ‘White 12 + I’. He was posted missing.
8./J.G. 2 pilots claimed three victories in the combat. Fw. Ebert downed a B-17 at 13:17 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/48/5/7 from 5,900 m (5). Uffz. Friedrich May claimed a B-17 at 13:30 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/59/3/5 from 1,000 m (5). The third B-17 was shot down by Lt. Hans-Ulrich Tartsch, who got his victory in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/59/1/8 from 1,000 m at 13:38 (1). (1st victory).
There were also two victories claimed by 9./J.G. 2. The Staffelkapitän, Oblt. Schnell claimed a B-17 at 11:52 west of the Île de Groix from 5,000 m (74). Lt. Bruno Eder was the other 9./J.G. 2 claimant, getting his victory at 11:56 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/48/5/7 from 5,900 m (1).
Later in the afternoon 8./J.G. 2 claimed two more B-17s shot down. Lt. Wilhelm Godt claimed the first at 19:36 in Pl.Qu. 14 West N/59/1/8 from 1,000 m (1). Lt. Hans-Joachim Schmidt claimed the second two minutes later in the same location from 1,500 m (1).
1943
21 January 43
In recognition of his first aerial victory Leutnant Tartsch receives the Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class).
1 May 43
17 May 43
1944
11 April 44
Leutnant Tartsch is appointed Stäffelführer of 10th Staffel Jagdgeschwader 2.
24 April 44
8 June 44
On the afternoon of the 8th, Fw 190's of 10th Staffel were in the air providing air support for the German defensive postions battling the British north of Caen. Leutnant Tartsch fails to return from his mission over the Normandy beachhead and is posted missing in action. Tartsch most likely fell victim to RAF fighters from 885 Squadron or Spitfires of the 2nd TAF. On the same day Tartsch is awarded, posthumously ?, the Frontflug-Spange für Jäger in Silber (Operational flying clasp in Silver for fighters).
Victory Claims:
Date
|
Rank
|
Unit
|
Cl #
|
Aircraft
|
Place
|
Time
|
Opponent
|
Conf.
|
1-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.12.42
|
Leutnant
|
8./ JG2
|
1
|
B-17
|
14 West N/59/1/8
|
13:38
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
01.05.43
|
Leutnant
|
8./ JG2
|
2
|
B-17
|
6965/14 West 20km north of Brest
|
12:55
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
17.05.43
|
Leutnant
|
8./ JG2
|
3
|
B-17
|
4938/14 West
42 km north/east Morlaix
|
12:42
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
16.03.44
|
Leutnant
|
12./ JG2
|
4
|
P-47
|
W St Dizier
|
10:43
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
10.04.44
|
Leutnant
|
10./ JG2
|
5
|
B-24
|
04 Ost N/0961
|
11:25
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
24.04.44
|
Leutnant
|
10./ JG2
|
6
|
B-17
|
35km WNW Charleville
|
17:40
|
USAAF
|
Yes
|
|