An Service Record of Heavily Decorated Reconnaissance Pilot Lieutenant Fritz Eckebrecht

This is an information sheet of Leutnant Fritz Eckebrecht. He was born on May 8th, 1912 in Berlin, and went to school to become a stonemason. However, he worked as a general employee before being drafted into the Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Pilot School in Hildesheim on November 26th, 1939. He got married prior, on October 12, 1935, to his wife Irmgard Eckebrecht. He received his pilot’s licence on May 15, 1040, and received further training in Gas Protection in Paris in February 1941, Skiing in January 1942, and further training with the MG81 in February 1942. Eckebrecht was promoted from Leutnant to Oberleutnant on November 1, 1942. He was heavily decorated for his service in the Luftwaffe, having received the German Cross in Gold on April 17, 1943, the Front Fighter's Clasp for Reconnaissance Pilots Gold Grade on February 14, 1944, as well as the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on November 9th, 1944. He received multiple injuries from enemy fire to his right hand (between the second and third finger) and to his left thigh on June 22, 1942, and spent time in the field hospital in Simferopol between June 22 and June 30th, 1942. He was moved to a hospital in Tempelhof, where he stayed from July 3, 1942 until September 30, 1942. It is likely that he was released from service following his release from the hospital. However, but from this record it is clear that, before his release, he flew multiple missions in Belgium, France, reconnaissance flights and emergency rescue flights, aerial protection flights of mine clearing boats, as well as select missions on the eastern front. Measuring 296 mm x 213 mm, with heavy wear and damage to the page from extended use, with multiple attempts having been made to repair this report. In overall fine condition.