Description

Hermann Buchner was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe military aviator during the World War II, a fighter ace listed with 58 enemy aircraft shot down. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. In total, Buchner is credited with 46 tank destroyed and 58 aerial victories, including 12 while flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter,[2] claimed in 631 combat missions. Following World War II, he became an officer in the Austrian Air Force.

Born in Salzburg, Buchner joined the Austrian Air Force in 1937 and subsequently transferred to the Luftwaffe following the Anschluss in 1938. Following service with various training units, he flew his first combat missions with Schlachtgeschwader 1 (SG 1—1st Ground Attack Wing) on the Eastern Front during the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula in 1942.

Following his 500th combat mission, at the time credited with 13 aerial victories, he was nominated for Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to him on 20 July 1944. In late 1944, he received training on the Me 262 jet fighter and was later posted to Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing).

In 1955, Buchner joined the Austrian Air Force, serving as an instructor and officer. He retired in 1979 and died on 1 December 2005 in Hörsching, Austria