Erich Mix
Encyclopedia
Erich Mix was a German politician, member of the Nazi Party, later a member of the FDP
and Flying ace
during World War II
.
Mix fought as an infantryman in the World War I
before he trained as a fighter pilot and posted to the Saxon jasta 54, where, as an Unteroffizer from June 1918 until the end of the war, he scored 3 aerial victories (plus one unconfirmed balloon) of Jasta 54's total of 22 victories, for which he was awarded both Classes of the Iron Cross
.
After the war, he studied law at the University of Greifswald and made a career as a leading administrative official. In 1934, he became Mayor of Tilsit (1934 to 1937), later of Wiesbaden
(1 April 1937 to 1945 and again from 25 February 1954 to 25 February 1960). In the following year, he started flying again, training as an observer and as a fighter pilot in 1937.
Serving as technical officer with I./JG 53 at the outbreak of World War II, Mix claimed 3 French Morane
fighters over Saargemund on 21 September 1939, and four more on 22 November 1939 over Saarbrücken
.
Now commanding III./JG 2, three more Moranes were claimed on 21 May 1940, although Mix was shot down and forced to land in a field near Roye
on 21 May in Bf 109E-3 W.Nr.1526.
After being hospitalized, Mix returned to III./JG 2 on 19 June. He left France with his unit and relocated to Frankfurt/Rhein-Main on 1 July. On 27 July, the unit returned to Évreux-West until 4 August. Mix claimed a Hawker Hurricane
on 4 September. Mix remained Gruppenkommandeur
of III./JG 2 until 24 September 1940, when he became one of the older commanders dismissed by a frustrated Goering in favour of the younger, up-and-coming aces of 1940; in Mix's case, Major Helmut Wick
. Mix's final claim was a Bristol Blenheim
over den Haag in July 1941, while commanding JG 1.
During World War II
, he thus claimed 8 (potentially 13) aerial victories.
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
and Flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Mix fought as an infantryman in the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
before he trained as a fighter pilot and posted to the Saxon jasta 54, where, as an Unteroffizer from June 1918 until the end of the war, he scored 3 aerial victories (plus one unconfirmed balloon) of Jasta 54's total of 22 victories, for which he was awarded both Classes of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
.
After the war, he studied law at the University of Greifswald and made a career as a leading administrative official. In 1934, he became Mayor of Tilsit (1934 to 1937), later of Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
(1 April 1937 to 1945 and again from 25 February 1954 to 25 February 1960). In the following year, he started flying again, training as an observer and as a fighter pilot in 1937.
Serving as technical officer with I./JG 53 at the outbreak of World War II, Mix claimed 3 French Morane
Morane
Morane may refer to:* Morane, an uninhabited atoll in French Polynesia* Morane-Borel, a French aircraft manufacturer* Morane-Saulnier, a French aircraft manufacturer* Bob Morane, a fictitious character of novelist Henri Vernes...
fighters over Saargemund on 21 September 1939, and four more on 22 November 1939 over Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
.
Now commanding III./JG 2, three more Moranes were claimed on 21 May 1940, although Mix was shot down and forced to land in a field near Roye
Roye
Roye is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Roye, Haute-Saône, in the Haute-Saône département* Roye, Somme, in the Somme département* Roye-sur-Matz, in the Oise département-People:...
on 21 May in Bf 109E-3 W.Nr.1526.
After being hospitalized, Mix returned to III./JG 2 on 19 June. He left France with his unit and relocated to Frankfurt/Rhein-Main on 1 July. On 27 July, the unit returned to Évreux-West until 4 August. Mix claimed a Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
on 4 September. Mix remained Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of III./JG 2 until 24 September 1940, when he became one of the older commanders dismissed by a frustrated Goering in favour of the younger, up-and-coming aces of 1940; in Mix's case, Major Helmut Wick
Helmut Wick
Major Helmut Paul Emil Wick was a German Luftwaffe ace and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
. Mix's final claim was a Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
over den Haag in July 1941, while commanding JG 1.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he thus claimed 8 (potentially 13) aerial victories.