Hans-Joachim Jabs

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Hans-Joachim Jabs
November 14, 1917-October 26, 2003

Place of birth	Lübeck
Allegiance	Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–1945
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	ZG76 and NJG1
Commands	Nachtjagdgeschwader I
Battles/wars	Germany Defense / Battle of Britain
Awards	Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Other work	businessman

Hans-Joachim Jabs (14 November 1917 - 26 October 2003) was both a day and night fighter ace. He flew with Luftwaffe during the second world war. 50 victories^[1] were scored. Jabs flew variants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer heavy day fighter and night fighter.

Born in Lübeck in 1917, Jabs joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. Originally trained as a Bf 109 pilot, Jabs was posted to Zerstörergeschwader 76 in March 1940.

A member of II/ZG 76, Jabs operated over France in mid 1940, claiming four French aircraft and RAF fighters. He then flew over the British Isles during the Battle of Britain. Despite the vulnerability of the Bf 110 against the more nimble RAF aircraft, and the heavy losses incurred, Jabs claimed eight Spitfires and four Hurricanes destroyed. By the end of the year Jabs was one of the top scoring Zestorer pilots, with 16 victories.

In 1941 the majority of the Bf 110 units were withdrawn from daylight fighting, and Jabs was transferred to night fighting and Reich Defence. Retrained by October 1941 Jabs joined Nachtgeschwader three stationed near Hamburg protecting the port and Kriegsmarine installations. Opportunities for scoring remained elusive however, with just one more kill by June 1942. In November 1942 he transferred to IV/NJG 1. By January 1944 he had 45 kills to his credit, and in March 1944 became NJG 1 Geschwaderkommadore.

On 29 April 1944 his BF 110-G night fighter was caught on a daylight air test by a flight of Spitfires from 132 Squadron, RAF, led by 15-kill ace Wing Commander Geoffrey Page. in a desperate dog fight Jabs managed to down two Spitfires before deliberately force landing and scrambling for cover before his aircraft was destroyed by strafing.

Hans-Joachim Jabs was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Einsernen Kreuzes) on 24 March 1944.

His wartime kill tally included 22 day kills and 28 night victories.

He became a businessman in Westphalia after the war.

[edit] References

Drewes, Martin. Sombras da noite. Rio de Janeiro: Adler Editora, 2002. ISBN 85-89015-02-5.
Raymond Toliver, Trevor Constable. Horrido! ( Bantam Books 1979)