View source for Franz Eckerle

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{short description|German aerobatics pilot and World War II fighter pilot}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Franz Eckerle
|image=Franz Eckerle.jpg
|caption=Eckerle as a ''Hauptmann''
|birth_date= 24 April 1912
|death_date={{Death date and age|1942|2|14|1912|4|24|df=yes}}
|birth_place=[[Baden-Baden]], Germany
|death_place=[[missing in action]] near [[Velikiye Luki]]
|allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|branch=[[Luftwaffe]]
|serviceyears=1935–1942
|rank=''[[Hauptmann]]'' (captain)
|unit=[[JG 135]], [[JG 76]], [[JG 54]]
|commands=3./[[JG 138]], 3./[[JG 76]], 6./[[JG 54]]<br />I./[[JG 54]]
|battles=[[World War II]]
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
|laterwork=[[Aerobatics]] pilot
}}

'''Franz Eckerle''' (24 April 1912 – 14 February 1942) was a German [[Luftwaffe]] [[military aviation|military aviator]] and [[aerobatics]] pilot. As a [[fighter ace]] during [[World War II]], he was credited with 59 aerial victories, four over the [[Allies of World War II|Western Allies]] and 55 on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. A flying ace or fighter ace is a [[military aviation|military aviator]] credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.{{sfn|Spick|1996|pp=3–4}}

Born in [[Baden-Baden]], Eckerle grew up in the [[German Empire]], the [[Weimar Republic]] and [[Nazi Germany]]. Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1935. Following further training, he was posted to [[Jagdgeschwader 135|''Jagdgeschwader'' 135]]. In 1938 and 1939, Eckerle competed in the German Aeronautical Nationals. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving with [[Jagdgeschwader 76|''Jagdgeschwader'' 76]] and claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 during the [[Battle of France]]. Following further aerial victories claimed during the [[Battle of Britain]] and [[Operation Barbarossa]], the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Eckerle was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 18 September 1941. In January 1942, Eckerle was appointed ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' (group commander) of I. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (1st group) of [[Jagdgeschwader 54|''Jagdgeschwader'' 54]]. Following aerial combat on 14 February 1942, he went [[missing in action]], presumed [[killed in action]], near [[Schlüsselburg]]. Posthumously, Eckerle was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.

==Early life and career==
Eckerle was born on 24 April 1912 in [[Baden-Baden]], at the time in the [[Grand Duchy of Baden]] of the [[German Empire]].{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=49}} Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service of the [[Luftwaffe]] on 1 April 1935. On 1 April 1937, Eckerle was promoted to ''[[Leutnant]]'' (second lieutenant) and posted to the I. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (1st group) of [[Jagdgeschwader 135|''Jagdgeschwader'' 135]] (JG&nbsp;135—135th Fighter Wing) based in [[Bad Aibling]].{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=384}} The ''Gruppe'' had just been created on 15 March and was commanded by ''Major'' [[Max Ibel]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=208}}

In 1938, flying a [[Klemm Kl 35]], Eckerle took fourth place in 10th German Aeronautical Nationals in [[Nuremberg]].{{sfn|Garbers|10. German Nationals}} The following year, flying a [[Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister]], he took second place at the 11th German Aeronautical Nationals in [[Frankfurt]].{{sfn|Garbers|11. German Nationals}}{{sfn|Rößler|2000|p=270}}

Following the ''[[Anschluss]]'', Austria's annexation into [[Nazi Germany]] on 12 March 1938, Eckerle was posted to I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 138|''Jagdgeschwader'' 138]] (JG&nbsp;138—138th Fighter Wing) stationed in [[Vienna International Airport|Wien-Schwechat]] also referred to as the "''Wiener-Jagdgruppe''" ("Vienna fighter group"). There, he was appointed ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' (squadron leader) of 3. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel]]'' (3rd squadron) of JG&nbsp;138 in 1939.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=384}} On 1 May 1939, his unit I./JG&nbsp;138 was re-designated I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 76|''Jagdgeschwader'' 76]] (I./JG&nbsp;76—1st group of the 76th Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=263}}

==World War II==
World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]]. In preparation of the invasion, I. ''Gruppe'' of JG&nbsp;76 had been moved to an airfield at [[Izbicko|Stubendorf]], present-day Izbicko in Poland, in mid-August 1939 and supported the German advance on the central and southern sectors of the front.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=445}} On 14 September, I. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to its home airfield at Wien-Aspern where it arrived on 26 September.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=445}} On 26 October, the ''[[Stab (Luftwaffe designation)|Gruppenstab]]'' (headquarters unit) and 1. ''Staffel'' were ordered to [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt Rhein-Main]] where it was united again with 2. and 3. ''Staffel'' on 2 November. From Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the ''Gruppe'' flew fighter protection during the "[[Phoney War]]" for the Frankfurt, [[Rhine]] and [[Territory of the Saar Basin|Saar]] region. In April 1940, I. ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield at [[Mainz-Finthen Airport|Mainz-Finthen]], originally named ''Fliegerhorst'' Ober-Olm. The ''Gruppe'' stayed at Ober-Olm until the [[Battle of France]] began.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=438}} Supporting the German crossing of the [[Meuse]], Eckerle claimed his first and only aerial victory over a [[Supermarine Spitfire]] fighter on 15 May during the [[Battle of Sedan (1940)|Battle of Sedan]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|pp=370, 376}}

On 26 June 1940, I. ''Gruppe'' of JG&nbsp;76 was moved to the airfield at [[Waalhaven]] in the Netherlands and subordinated to [[Jagdgeschwader 54|''Jagdgeschwader'' 54]] (JG&nbsp;54—54th Fighter Wing). There, the ''Gruppe'' was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area. On 5 July, I./JG&nbsp;76 was officially integrated into JG&nbsp;54 and was renamed to II./JG&nbsp;54 and 3./JG&nbsp;76 became 6./JG&nbsp;54.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=304}} On 25 August, II. ''Gruppe'' of JG&nbsp;54 was placed under the command of ''Hauptmann'' [[Dietrich Hrabak]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=310}}

===War against the Soviet Union===
Following the surrender of the [[Royal Yugoslav Army]] on 17 April 1941, while stationed at an airfield at [[Zemun]] near [[Belgrade]], the ''[[Wing (military aviation unit)|Geschwader]]'' received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf&nbsp;109-Es so they could receive the new Bf&nbsp;109-F variant. Transition training was completed at [[Słupsk-Redzikowo Airport|Airfield Stolp-Reitz]] in [[Pomerania]]. Following intensive training, the ''Geschwader'' was moved to airfields in [[Eastern Prussia]]. On 18 June, II. ''Gruppe'' relocated to [[Pionersky, Kaliningrad Oblast|Neukuhren]], present-day Pionersky, and then to [[Yasnaya Polyana, Kaliningrad Oblast|Trakehnen]], present-day Yasnaya Polyana, on 20 June. The [[Wehrmacht]] launched [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. ''Gruppe'' supporting [[Army Group North]] in its strategic goal towards [[Leningrad]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=212}} Prior, Eckerle was promoted to ''[[Hauptmann]]'' (captain) on 1 June 1941.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=385}}

On the first day of the invasion, II. ''Gruppe'' flew multiple missions in support of German bombers attacking Soviet airfields near [[Kaunas|Kowno]], present-day Kaunas. That day, Eckerle claimed a [[Tupolev SB]] bomber shot down.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|pp=212, 228}} This was his fifth aerial victory in total.{{sfn|Weal|2007|pp=7–8}} On 25 June, the ''Gruppe'' followed the German advance and relocated to an airfield at Kowno. Two days later they moved to [[Daugavpils|Dünaburg]], present-day Daugavpils. On 28 June, the [[8th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|8th Panzer Division]] had established a bridgehead across the [[Daugava]]. Operating from Dünaburg, Eckerle claimed three [[Ilyushin DB-3]] bombers shot down on 30 June over the bridgehead.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|pp=212, 214, 229}} Following his 30th aerial victory, Eckerle was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 18 September. The presentation was made by ''General der Flieger'' [[Helmuth Förster]], commanding general of the [[1st Air Corps (Germany)|I. ''Fliegerkorps'']] (1st Air Corps).{{sfn|Held|Trautloft|Bob|1994|p=97}}

In early November, the ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] for a period of rest and replenishment where they were based at airfields in [[Dallgow-Döberitz|Döberitz]], and later at [[Uetersen Airfield|Uetersen]]. By 20 December, the ''Gruppe'' had received 40 [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]&nbsp;A fighter aircraft. The order for conversion to the Fw&nbsp;190 was recanted and ordered to Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, where they received 40 Bf&nbsp;109-F-4 aircraft.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=209}} During this period, Eckerle was transferred to the ''Gruppenstab'' of I. ''Gruppe'' of JG&nbsp;54. Command of 6. ''Staffel'' was then passed to ''Hauptmann'' Carl Sattig.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=216}}

===Group commander and death===
On 5 January 1942, Eckerle was appointed ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' (group commander) of I. ''Gruppe'' of JG&nbsp;54. He succeeded ''Hauptmann'' [[Erich von Selle]] who was transferred. The ''Gruppe'' was based at [[Gatchina|Krasnogvardeysk]], present-day Gatchina and fought in the aerial battles of the [[Siege of Leningrad]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=195}} On 7 January, the Soviet [[Volkhov Front]] attacked German forces at [[Volkhov (river)|Volkhov river]] while the Soviet [[Northwestern Front]] attacked south of [[Lake Ilmen]] in what became the [[Battle of Lyuban]]. That day, Soviet bombers attacked [[Siversky (air base)|Ziverskaya Airfield]], defending against this attack, Eckerle shot down one aircraft.{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2001|p=61}} Over thex days, the ''Gruppe'' again flew missions in support of the [[German Army (1935–1945)|''Heer'']] (army) along the Volkhov in the combat area southeast of Leningrad near [[Tosno]]. On 13 January, Eckerle was credited with shooting down a SB-2 bomber followed by two [[Polikarpov I-16]] fighters shot down on 19 January.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=180, 199}}

Eckerle was forced to make an emergency landing in his [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]&nbsp;F-4 (''Werknummer'' 9728—factory number) behind Soviet lines near Woronowo, southeast of [[Schlüsselburg]], on 14 February 1942.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=203}} He was posted as [[missing in action]] and presumed killed. He was posthumously honored with the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub}}) on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.{{sfn|Weal|2007|p=24}} Eckerle was succeeded by ''Hauptmann'' [[Hans Philipp]] as commander of I. ''Gruppe''.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=118}} According to Soviet sources, Eckerle was shot down near Turyshkino, located approximately {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} southeast of [[Mga]]. He was likely shot down by ''Mladshiy Leytenant'' Petrukhin, ''Mladshiy Leytenant'' Markov, and ''Serzhant'' Savosin from 71 IAP (Fighter Aviation Regiment—''Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk'') of the KBF (''Krasnoznamyonnyy Baltiyskiy Flot''), the air force of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet.{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2001|p=67}} Page states that he was shot near [[Velikiye Luki]].{{sfn|Page|2020|p=100}}

==Summary of career==
===Aerial victory claims===
According to US historian [[David T. Zabecki]], Eckerle was credited with 59 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1618}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the [[German Federal Archives]] and found documentation for 59 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed. This number includes 55 on the Eastern Front and four on the Western Front.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|pp=259–261}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="10" | Chronicle of aerial victories
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align: left;" |
{{legend2|#faecc8|This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
|-
!scope="col" | Claim
!scope="col" | Date
!scope="col" | Time
!scope="col" width="100px" | Type
!scope="col" | Location
!scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim
!scope="col" | Date
!scope="col" | Time
!scope="col" width="100px" | Type
!scope="col" | Location
|-
! colspan="10" | – 3. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 76 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=260}}<br /><small>Battle of France – 10 May – 25 June 1940</small>
|-
| 1
| 15 May 1940
| 12:00
| [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|p=376}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="10" | – 6. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=260}}<br /><small>At the Channel and over England – 26 June 1940 – 29 March 1941</small>
|-
| 2
| 30 July 1940
| 20:04
| [[Bristol Blenheim|Blenheim]]
| [[Vlissingen]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=313}}
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 4
| 9 November 1940
| 11:45
| Spitfire
| {{Convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Deal, Kent|Deal]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=316}}
|-
| 3
| 1 August 1940
| 16:50
| Blenheim
| {{Convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} off [[Haamstede]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=313}}
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="10" | – 6. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=260}}<br /><small>Operation Barbarossa – 22 June – 5 December 1941</small>
|-
| 5
| 22 June 1941
| 17:30
| [[Tupolev SB|SB-2]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=228}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22
| 25 July 1941
| 07:55
| [[Ilyushin DB-3|DB-3]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
|-
| 6
| 30 June 1941
| 06:50
| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=229}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 23
| 10 August 1941
| 04:10
| [[Polikarpov I-16|I-16]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=234}}
|
|-
| 7
| 30 June 1941
| 06:51
| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=229}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 24
| 12 August 1941
| 12:35
| I-18 ([[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1|MiG-1]]){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=234}}
|
|-
| 8
| 30 June 1941
| 12:32
| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=229}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25
| 12 August 1941
| 17:45
| [[Polikarpov I-153|I-153]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|
|-
| 9
| 2 July 1941
| 20:30
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 26
| 14 August 1941
| 11:15
| I-16
| east of Petrovskoye{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|-
| 10
| 2 July 1941
| 20:32
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 27
| 18 August 1941
| 12:15
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|
|-
| 11
| 2 July 1941
| 20:40
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 28
| 22 August 1941
| 19:18
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|
|-
| 12
| 6 July 1941
| 04:05
| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 29
| 22 August 1941
| 19:21
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|
|-
| 13
| 7 July 1941
| 06:46
| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 30
| 23 August 1941
| 18:50
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=235}}
|
|-
| 14
| 7 July 1941
| 15:50
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=231}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 31
| 3 September 1941
| 11:30
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 15
| 17 July 1945
| 09:35
| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=232}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 32
| 8 September 1941
| 13:30
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 16
| 19 July 1941
| 20:45
| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 33
| 8 September 1941
| 13:40
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 17
| 19 July 1941
| 20:46
| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 34
| 15 September 1941
| 17:20
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 18
| 22 July 1941
| 09:56
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 35
| 17 September 1941
| 13:45
| low wing monoplane{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 19
| 22 July 1941
| 18:15
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 36
| 19 September 1941
| 07:07
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 20
| 23 July 1941
| 03:25
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 37
| 19 September 1941
| 07:09
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=237}}
|
|-
| 21
| 23 July 1941
| 03:26
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=233}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 38
| 14 October 1941
| 15:30
| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=239}}
|
|-
! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|pp=260–261}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 6 December 1941 – 14 February 1942</small>
|-
| 39
| 1 January 1942
| 10:35
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 50
| 28 January 1942
| 12:06
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
|-
| 40
| 1 January 1942
| 10:42
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 51
| 30 January 1942
| 11:11
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
|-
| 41
| 1 January 1942
| 14:08
| I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | 52?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=260}}|group="Note"}}
| 2 February 1942
| 14:44
| I-16
| {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-southwest of [[Narva]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|-
| 42
| 7 January 1942
| 14:50
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 53
| 3 February 1942
| 09:25
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|
|-
| 43
| 13 January 1942
| 08:53
| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 54
| 3 February 1942
| 09:45
| I-18 (Mig-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|
|-
| 44
| 19 January 1942
| 11:05
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 55
| 5 February 1942
| 15:37
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|
|-
| 45
| 19 January 1942
| 11:10
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}|group="Note"}}
| 6 February 1942
| 11:25
| MiG-1{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=260}}
|
|-
| 46
| 21 January 1942
| 09:30
| [[Ilyushin Il-2|Il-2]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 56
| 7 February 1942
| 09:15
| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|
|-
| 47
| 26 January 1942
| 13:22
| I-18 (MiG-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 57
| 7 February 1942
| 13:00
| style="background:#faecc8" | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a [[Polikarpov Po-2]] also U-2.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=261}}|group="Note"}}
|
|-
| 48
| 28 January 1942
| 09:03
| I-180 ([[Yakovlev Yak-7|Yak-7]]){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 58
| 7 February 1942
| 15:42
| Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
|
|-
| 49
| 28 January 1942
| 09:06
| I-180 (Yak-7){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=199}}
|
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 59
| 14 February 1942
| 14:25
| I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=200}}
| vicinity of Woronovo
|}

===Awards===
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939)
** 2nd Class (13 September 1939){{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=139}}
** 1st Class (11 August 1940){{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=139}}
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
** Knight's Cross on 18 September 1941 as ''[[Hauptmann]]'' and ''[[Staffelkapitän]] '' of the 1./''Jagdgeschwader'' 54{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=287}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=168}}
** 82nd Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 as ''Hauptmann'' and ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the I./''Jagdgeschwader'' 54{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=287}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=59}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|25em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
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  |trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches
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}}
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}}
* {{cite web
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  |trans-title=Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940
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  |edition=4th
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  |publisher=Friedrichshaller Rundblick
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}}
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  |trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K
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  |year=2014
  |isbn=978-1-59884-981-3
}}
{{Refend}}

{{Subject bar
| portal1=Aviation
| portal2=Biography
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eckerle, Franz}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1940s missing person cases]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Baden-Baden]]
[[Category:People from the Grand Duchy of Baden]]
[[Category:Luftwaffe pilots]]
[[Category:Aerobatic pilots]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:German World War II flying aces]]
[[Category:Missing in action of World War II]]
[[Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II]]


[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]