28 FlightJournal.com
Fighter Group sitting back and allowing
Hubert Zemke to claim all the victories. In
the months to come, this dysfunction became
even more pronounced, eventually leading to
the temporary collapse of I./JG 27. Without
Marseille’s efforts, 3./JG 27 was the second-
worst-performing squadron in the Wing, with
just one kill; only 8./JG 27 scored fewer.
Like Babe Ruth pointing to centerfield
calling his famous homerun in game 3 of the
1932 World Series, a physically exhausted
Marseille also kept his promise to his
squadron to score his “homerun,” victory100, on Wednesday, June 17. Afterward,
having to be physically helped from his
cockpit and unable to light a cigarette because
of his shaking hands, Marseille was again
whisked away the following day for another
much-needed leave. In addition to rest,
the newly crowned “Star of Africa” would
be the center of public admiration, parties,
interviews, and magazine photo shoots.
Likewise, his military accomplishments
were recognized, by his being awarded the
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern from
Adolf Hitler on June 28 as well as the Medaglia
d’Oro from Benito Mussolini on August 13.
In short, the summer of 1942 found Hans-
Joachim Marseille as the most popular man
in Germany.June 18, 1942–August 30, 1942
This was a controversial period for Marseille,
leaving many questions unanswered. Did
he go AWOL while in Italy and then try to
defect? At a high-powered gala in Berlin,
did he overhear detailed plans of the “Final
Solution”? Did this have a significant impact
on his attitude upon his arrival back in the
desert? The answers to these questions are,
“yes,” “maybe, yes,” and “definitely.” In
dealing with his fame, refusing increased
pressure to join the Nazi Party, and con-
fronting the truth about the evil regime he
could no longer support, the ultra-sensitive
Marseille was forced to shoulder a lot of
emotional baggage.
In Egypt, without Marseille leading his
men, 3./JG 27 was clearly not “cutting it.”
Although 1./JG 27 accounted for 97 victories,
without Marseille, 3./JG 27 accounted for a
dismal 6 victories (2%) of the Wing’s 294—
fewer than one victory per week and fewer
than any squadron. Both this period and
Marseille’s final month in combat highlight
the inherent problems with having a single
pilot doing all of a squadron’s “heavy lifting.”August 31, 1942–September 30, 1942
This was undoubtedly Marseille’s high-water
mark. One can argue that no other fighter
pilot has ever had a more dominant month
of combat. In 31 days, Marseille claimed
an astounding 57 victories. On August 31,
he downed 3 aircraft and then 5 more on
September 2. On the 3rd, 6; on the 5th, 4; on
the 6th, 4; 2 each on the 7th and 11th; and 7
each on the 15th and 26th. On September 3,
Marseille was the fourth man to be awarded
the Diamonds to his Knight’s Cross.
His biggest day, though not without con-
troversy, occurred on September 1. Between
0826 and 0839, he downed 3 Hurricanes and
1 Spitfire. At 1020, he took off on a Stuka
escort sortie when, between 1055 and 1105,
he downed 8 Curtiss P-40s. And finally on
his third sortie, Marseille downed another
5 Hurricanes between 1747 and 1753. He
claimed 17 victories in one day and all within
a total of 29 minutes!
Any historian must look at Marseille’s
57 victories, notwithstanding the likelihood
of slight overclaiming, as one of the most
remarkable feats in aviation history. Although
Marseille achieved dozens of noteworthy
accomplishments during his relatively brief
combat career, these 31 days alone rewroteTHE BEST WW II FIGHTER PILOT?
Dubbed “The Star of Africa,”
Marseille spent as much
time on leave recuperating
and receiving awards as
he did in theater. Here, he
receives the Ritterkreuz
mit Eichenlaub und
Schwertern from the
head Nazi himself. (Photo
courtesy of EN-Archive)