Franz Hrdlicka

Hrdlicka was born on 15 October 1920 in Maxdorf in Mähren, now the suburb Dvorska of Brno in the Czech Republic. In late 1939, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=137}} Following flight training,{{refn|Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.{{sfn|Bergström|Antipov|Sundin|2003|p=17}}|group="Note"}} Hrdlicka was posted to the Ergänzungsgruppe (a training unit) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) based at Götzendorf an der Leitha in early 1940. He received further training with 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Merseburg, a supplementary training unit based at Merseburg. In May 1941, Hrdlicka was posted to 5. Staffel of JG 77.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=158}}

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. With II. Gruppe of JG 77 under command of Hauptmann Anton Mader, Hrdlicka participated in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which marked the beginning of the Eastern Front on 22 June 1941. JG 77, augmented by I.(J). Gruppe of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing) had the primary role in Operation Barbarossa of supporting the German advance as part of Army Group South.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=628}} On 24 June, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Bacău. Here on 6 July, Hrdlicka claimed his first aerial victory. That day, the Gruppe flew three combat missions east of the Prut river. On the midday missions, Hrdlicka claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter shot down.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|pp=307, 322, 325}}

On 22 September, Hrdlicka was injured when the tire of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 (Werknummer 5892—factory number) ruptured at Chaplynka.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=336}}{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=799}} On 19 October, II. Gruppe had reached Taganrog on the Sea of Azov. Here on 17 November, Hrdlicka claimed a Polikarpov I-153 shot down, his last aerial victory in 1941 and seventh in total.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|pp=322, 332}} II. Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations on 3 December 1941 and moved to Vienna-Aspern for reequipment with the Bf 109 F-4.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=869}}

On 11 March 1942, II. Gruppe began returning to the Eastern Front, at first to Proskuriv where it stayed for a few days and then to Sarabuz on the Crimea, arriving on 17 March 1942.{{sfn|Prien|1993|pp=930 941}} Here Hrdlicka claimed three aerial victories, an Ilyushin DB-3 on 17 March, an I-153 fighter two days later and an I-16 fighter on 24 March.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=290–293, 300}} On 1 May, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Fernheim, on the Sea of Azov, approximately {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} west-northwest of Kirovske.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=982}} In May, Hrdlicka was credited with two aerial victories, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter claimed on 8 May and a DB-3 bomber on 11 May.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=296–297}}

In June, Hrdlicka claimed one aerial victory and ten in July. On 6 August, Hrdlicka claimed a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber shot down but was then shot down and wounded in his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 7021) near the airfield at Kastornoje, approximately {{cvt|75|km}} west of Voronezh.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=301, 303, 305–309, 319}} On 7 November, II. Gruppe received orders from Generalmajor Alfred Bülowius, the commander of the 1. Flieger-Division (1st Air Division), to transfer to the North African theater of operations.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=1191}}

In early 1941, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW—Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) had sent an expeditionary force, to North Africa to support the Regio Esercito Italiano (Royal Italian Army) fighting in the North African Campaign. As intensity of combat increased, the OKW committed additional military forces to the Mediterranean theatre. First elements of JG 77 had already been committed to this theatre in February 1942.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1223}} The Axis defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 4 November 1942) and the 8 November 1942 Operation Torch landings had pushed the Axis out of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Libya into Tunisia. On 10 November 1942, Hrdlicka's II. Gruppe was also withdrawn from the Eastern Front for North Africa. On 5 December 1942, the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit), 4. and 6. Staffel arrived at Zazur, {{convert|15|km|abbr=off}} west of Tripoli, Libya. Reequipping the 5. Staffel with the Bf 109 G-2 took longer than expected, arriving at Zazur on 18 December.{{sfn|Prien|1994|pp=1358–1359, 1373}} Two days later, II. Gruppe flew its first combat air patrols. Led by Oberleutnant Anton Hackl, a flight of 5. Staffel encountered a formation of Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters in the area west of Tamet, Libya. In this encounter, , 5. Staffel claimed five aerial victories, including one by Hrdlicka.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1374}} The opponents were P-40s from 260 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF) which lost five aircraft that day.{{sfn|Shores|Massimello|Guest|2012|pp=477–478}}

In February 1943, Hrdlicka was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Hackl who had been wounded in combat on 4 February.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2011|pp=452, 460}} On 8 May, JG 77 evacuated from Tunisia to various airfields in Sicily while I. Gruppe was sent to Munich. The original intent was to give the Geschwader a period of rest.{{sfn|Prien|1994|pp=1558-1559}} On 11 May, II. Gruppe moved from Trapani to the Italian mainland at Foggia for replenishment.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1571}} After a month of rest, on 19 June 1943, the Gruppe went back to Trapani.{{sfn|Prien|1994|p=1591}} On 12 July, Hrdlicka was awarded the German Cross in Gold ({{lang|de|Deutsches Kreuz in Gold}}).{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=159}}

Following his 44th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 9 August 1944.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=159}} II. Gruppe flew its last combat mission in Italy on 6 September. Two days later the Gruppe began moving to Germany, arriving at Munich-Riem Airfield on 12 September, completing the transfer to Jüterbog Airfield on 14 September for Defence of the Reich operations.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2021|pp=367–368}}

On 27 September 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem, 26 Bf 109 fighters of {{lang|de|Gefechtsverband Michalski}}, named after Major Gerhard Michalski, flew a combat air patrol to Arnhem and Nijmegen, focusing on the area south of Driel to west of Elst. The Gefechtsverband was intercepted in the area of Kleve and Goch. In this encounter, 5. Staffel lost four pilots, either killed or missing in action, with two further pilots wounded.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2165}} Hrdlicka was shot down and wounded in combat with Supermarine Spitfire fighters near Arnhem.{{sfn|Weal|2000|p=116}} He managed to bail out from his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 162510) south of Bocholt.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|Balke|2020|p=39}}

On 18 December following a period of convalescence, Hrdlicka was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) based at Merzhausen.{{sfn|Weal|2000|p=116}} He succeeded Hauptmann Kurt Hoffmann who temporarily had led the Gruppe after its former commander, Major Walter Matoni had been injured on 5 December.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=176}}{{sfn|Manrho|Pütz|2010|p=59}} Hrdlicka led I. Gruppe during Operation Bodenplatte on 1 January 1945, an attempt at gaining air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge. Oberstleutnant Kurt Bühligen, the commanding officer of JG 2, had been informed of the operation on 5 December at a meeting held at the headquarters of the II. Jagdkorps (2nd Fighter Corps) commanded by Generalmajor Dietrich Peltz. A few days before Christmas, Bühlingen informed Hrdlicka and his other Gruppenkommandeure during a meeting at Nidda. JG 2 was to strike at Sint-Truiden Airfield. Hrdlicka briefed his Staffelkapitäne on 31 December.{{sfn|Manrho|Pütz|2010|pp=67–69}} Taking off at 08:00, Hrdlicka led a formation of more than 30 aircraft to the assembly point at Koblenz.{{sfn|Manrho|Pütz|2010|pp=74–76}} In the attack. I. Gruppe lost 18 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters and six more were damaged by ground fire and enemy aircraft. This represented 73 per cent of their force. Of the 15 pilots missing, six survived as prisoners of war, nine were killed in action.{{sfn|Girbig|1975|pp=115–117}}

Hrdlicka was shot down by United States Army Air Forces fighters and killed in action on 25 March 1945 near Betzenrod, now a suburb of Schotten, Hesse.{{sfn|Weal|2000|p=116}} His remains were recovered on 8 September 1951. He had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub}}) which was not approved.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=159}}{{sfn|Stockert|2011|p=222}}

According to the US historian David Zabecki, Hrdlicka was credited with 96 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1614}} Obermaier lists him with 60 aerial victories claimed in over 500 sorties.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=137}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he claimed at least 44 aerial victories. This figure includes 24 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and at least 20 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined heavy bombers.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=558–559}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 83194". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about {{Convert|360|sqmi}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|×|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|Planquadrat}}

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|pp=158–159}}
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1942 as Leutnant and pilot{{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=106}}
• German Cross in Gold on 12 July 1943 as Oberleutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 77{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=200}}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 August 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 77{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=236}}{{refn|According to Scherzer on 18 October 1944 as Staffelkapitän in the II./Jagdgeschwader 77.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=406}}|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Bergström

|first1=Christer

|author-link1=:sv:Christer Bergström

|last2=Antipov

|first2=Vlad

|last3=Sundin

|first3=Claes

|year=2003

|title=Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces

|location=Hamilton MT

|publisher=Eagle Editions

|isbn=978-0-9721060-4-7

}}

• {{Cite web

|last=Bergström

|first=Christer

|author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström

|work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat

|title=Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website

|url=http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|access-date=6 February 2024

|ref={{sfnRef|Planquadrat}}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|archive-date=22 December 2018

|url-status=dead

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Dixon

|first=Jeremy

|year=2023

|title=Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945

|location=Barnsley

|publisher=Pen and Sword Books

|isbn=978-1-39903-073-1

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Fellgiebel

|first=Walther-Peer

|author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

|year=2000

|origyear=1986

|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile

|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

|language=de

|location=Friedberg, Germany

|publisher=Podzun-Pallas

|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Girbig

|first=Werner

|year=1975

|title=Six Months to Oblivion: The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force Over the Western Front, 1944/45

|publisher=Schiffer Publishing

|isbn=978-0-88740-348-4

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Manrho

|first1=John

|last2=Pütz

|first2=Ron

|year=2010

|title=Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K931g607t1QC

|location=Mechanicsburg, PA

|publisher=Stackpole Books

|isbn=978-0-8117-0686-5

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Mathews

|first1=Andrew Johannes

|last2=Foreman

|first2=John

|year=2015

|title=Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L

|location=Walton on Thames

|publisher=Red Kite

|isbn=978-1-906592-19-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Obermaier

|first=Ernst

|year=1989

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945

|language=de

|location=Mainz, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Dieter Hoffmann

|isbn=978-3-87341-065-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Patzwall

|first1=Klaus D.

|last2=Scherzer

|first2=Veit

|year=2001

|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II

|trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2

|language=de

|location=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall

|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Patzwall

|first1=Klaus D.

|year=2008

|title=Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg

|trans-title=The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War

|language=de

|location=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall

|isbn=978-3-931533-08-3

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Prien

|first=Jochen

|year=1993

|title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942

|trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-22-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Prien

|first=Jochen

|year=1994

|title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 3—1942–1943

|trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 3—1942–1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-26-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Prien

|first=Jochen

|year=1995

|title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945

|trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-29-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2003

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-70-0

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2004

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-74-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2005

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6 December 1941 bis 30 April 1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-76-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2006

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1 May 1942 bis 3 February 1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-78-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2011

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31.12.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-00-0

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Bock

|first3=Winfried

|year=2018

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/IV—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/IV—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-19-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Bock

|first3=Winfried

|last4=Balke

|first4=Ulf

|year=2020

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/VI—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/VI—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-22-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Bock

|first3=Winfried

|last4=Balke

|first4=Ulf

|year=2021

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 14—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 15.9.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 14—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 15 September 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-24-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Scherzer

|first=Veit

|year=2007

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives

|language=de

|location=Jena, Germany

|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Shores

|first1=Christopher F.

|last2=Massimello

|first2=Giovanni

|last3=Guest

|first3=Russell

|year=2012

|title=A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945, Volume Two: North African Desert, February 1942 – March 1943

|location=London, UK

|publisher=Grub Street

|isbn=978-1-909166-12-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Stockert

|first=Peter

|year=2011

|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 9

|trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 9

|edition=2nd

|language=de

|location=Bad Friedrichshall, Germany

|publisher=Friedrichshaller Rundblick

|oclc=76072662

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2000

|title=Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"

|series=Aviation Elite Units

|volume=1

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84176-046-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|editor-last=Zabecki

|editor-first=David T.

|editor-link=David T. Zabecki

|title=Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History

|location=Santa Barbara, California

|publisher=ABC-Clio

|year=2014

|isbn=978-1-59884-981-3

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 77}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hrdlicka, Franz}}

Category:1914 births

Category:1983 deaths

Category:People from Děčín

Category:German Bohemian people

Category:Luftwaffe pilots

Category:German World War II flying aces

Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross

Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Category:Aviators killed by being shot down

Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II