Вернер Люкас: Немецкий аc Второй мировой войны

German World War II fighter pilot

Werner Georg Emil Lucas (27 December 1917 – 24 October 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 106 enemy aircraft shot down. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with one claim over the Western Front. Born in Berlin, Lucas volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1938. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in 1941. He claimed his first aerial victories in July 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 57th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1942. He was then appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 3 which he continued to lead on the Eastern Front. He claimed his 100th aerial victory on 21 July 1943. In October 1943, Lucas and his unit were transferred to the Western Front fighting in Defense of the Reich. In this theatre, Lucas claimed his 106th and last aerial victory before he was killed in action in aerial combat with Supermarine Spitfires on 24 October 1943.

Lucas was born on 27 December 1917 in Berlin of the German Empire. Following flight training, he was posted to the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 8 February 1941. World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time of his posting, II. Gruppe of JG 3 was based in Arques in northern France and fighting against the Royal Air Force. On 10 February 1941, II. Gruppe was ordered to return to Germany for a period of rest and reequipment. The unit arrived at Darmstadt Griesheim on 16 February where they received a complement of the new Messerschmitt Bf 109 F 2 fighter aircraft. On 25 April 1941, II. Gruppe began relocating back to the English Channel Front at Monchy Breton. The Gruppe completed relocation on 4 May and flew its first mission on 7 May 1941. On 1 June 1941, II. Gruppe began its relocation to the Eastern Front. The ground elements moved immediately while the air elements followed on 8 June. On that day, they flew to Saint Dizier and then to Böblingen. On the following day, they continued to Breslau Gandau, now Wrocław Airport in Poland, via Straubing.

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, II. Gruppe headed further east on 18 June. Following a stopover at Kraków, the unit was moved to Hostynne. At the start of the campaign, JG 3 under the command of Major (Major) Günther Lützow was subordinated to the V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps), under the command of General der Flieger (General of the Aviators) Robert Ritter von Greim, itself part of Luftflotte 4 (4th Air Fleet), under the command of Generaloberst (Colonel General) Alexander Löhr. These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) Gerd von Rundstedt's Army Group South, with the objective of capturing Ukraine and its capital Kiev. At 17:00 on 21 June 1941, the 5th Air Corps, based at Lipsko, briefed the various unit commanders of the upcoming attack. That evening, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe Lothar Keller informed his subordinates of the attack. The invasion of the Soviet Union began on 22 June 1941. II. Gruppe flew its first missions on the Eastern Front shortly before 04:00, flying low attacks against Soviet airfields in the vicinity of Lvov in Ukraine. At 06:30 the Gruppe fought its first aerial battles. 4. Staffel claimed three victories and the Gruppenstab four. In the beginning of July 1941, the front in the vicinity of the northern sector of Army Group South became increasingly fluid. This necessitated the relocation of II. Gruppe to Volodymyr Volynskyi. On 2 July, II. Gruppe claimed 23 aerial victories in the combat area west of Berdichev and Zhitomir, including the first aerial victory by Lucas. The rapid advance of German ground forces required II. Gruppe to move to Lutsk on 5 July, then to Dubno that evening and to Miropol on 10 July. That day, Lucas claimed three Tupolev TB 3 bombers shot down. He and his wingman, Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Franz Beyer, had encountered twelve TB 3s from 14 Tyazhyolyy Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionnyy (14 TBAP—14th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment). The two pilots claimed five of the bombers destroyed while Soviet records indicate that seven were lost. On 8 August 1941, Lucas became an "ace in a day" for the first time, shooting down five Soviet bombers in combat near the Dnieper river. On 31 October 1941, II. Gruppe flew its last combat mission over the northern Crimean combat zone and was ordered to retreat to Germany for a period of rest and refurbishment. On 1 December 1941, JG 3 was given the honorary name "Udet" following the suicide of World War I fighter pilot and Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Ernst Udet.

At Wiesbaden Erbenheim airfield, II. Gruppe was equipped with Bf 109 F 4 trop as the unit was to be deployed in the Mediterranean Theatre. After almost two months of rest, II. Gruppe was ordered to transfer to Sicily in early January 1942. Lucas was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 27 March 1942. II. Gruppe flew its last combat mission over Malta on 25 April 1942. On 27 April, II. Gruppe arrived at Plzeň where it was placed under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Kurt Brändle.

After three weeks of rest, II. Gruppe was moved to the southern sector of the Eastern Front and placed under control of VIII. Fliegerkorps (8th Air Corps) on the left wing of Army Group South. On 15 July, II. Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Millerovo. Flying from this airfield, Lucas claimed his 33rd and 34th aerial victory. On 27 July 1942, Lucas flew on a fighter escort mission for nine Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers and claimed his 39th and 40th aerial victory. The flight was intercepted by Yakovlev Yak 7 fighters from 434 Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk (434 IAP—434rd Fighter Aviation Regiment). In this encounter, Lucas claimed two Yakovlev fighters shot down. It is possible that his opponents were Mládshiy Leytenánt Kukushin and Serzhánt Smirnov, who both were shot down that day. On 20 August 1942, for the second time in his combat career, Lucas became an "ace in a day". On his first combat mission of the day, he claimed an Ilyushin Il 2 dive bomber destroyed, followed by four Petlyakov Pe 2 bombers within six minutes, taking his total to 52 aerial victories. On 19 September 1942, Lucas received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 57 air victories. In November 1942, Lucas was appointed Staffelkapitän of the 4. Staffel of JG 3. He thus succeeded Hauptmann Gerhard Wendt who was posted to a staff position with Luftflotte 4. In December, Lucas volunteered for the Platzschutzstaffel (airfield defence squadron) of the Pitomnik Airfield. The Staffel, largely made up from volunteers from I. and II. Gruppe of JG 3, was responsible for providing fighter escort to Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft and Heinkel He 111 bombers shuttling supplies for the encircled German forces fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad. On 21 July 1943, Lucas was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 47th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. During the Donbass Strategic Offensive, II. Gruppe supported the 6th Army on the Mius Front. On 31 July 1943, II. Gruppe claimed 17 aerial victories in this sector, including two by Lucas, his last two claims on the Eastern Front. On 2 August, the Gruppe was ordered to return to Germany.

The increasing daytime attacks of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force against targets in western Europe forced the Luftwaffe to transfer more and more fighter units from the Eastern Front back to Germany in Defense of the Reich. On 3 August 1943, II. Gruppes air elements arrived at Uetersen Airfield in northern Germany. On 20 October, the USAAF targeted Düren. II. Gruppe intercepted the bombers near Venlo but were fended off by the escorting Republic P 47 Thunderbolt fighters. Elements of II. Gruppe managed to reach the bombers on their return. Two Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress bombers were shot down, including one by Lucas. Whilst with JG 3 flying from Schiphol, he was killed in combat with Supermarine Spitfires, possibly escorting USAAF B 17 Flying Fortress bombers, on 24 October 1943. His Bf 109 G 6 (Werknummer 27080 —factory number) crashed in the city centre of Leiden, Netherlands. He on purpose, crashed his aircraft in the courtyard of a hospital on the Hooigracht, thus taking no other people with him than his 106 kills.

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lucas was credited with 106 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 105 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 104 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and a four engined bomber over the Western Allies. Victory claims were logged to a map reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47844". The Luftwaffe grid map (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 360 square miles (932 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size. Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 1 November 1941 1? 2 July 1941 06:20 I 16 south of Krylow 17 25 August 1941 05:45 Pe 2 Janzewo 2 10 July 1941 19:22 TB 3 east of Korostyshiv 18 30 August 1941 12:19 DB 3 southwest of Nowokosmosk 3 10 July 1941 19:30 TB 3 west of Maidanowka 19 30 August 1941 12:25 DB 3 south of Nikolajewskaja 4 10 July 1941 19:33 TB 3 Chromovka 20 2 September 1941 06:45 DB 3 Dumchailowka 5 26 July 1941 06:39 I 153 west of Chrebjonka 21 3 September 1941 13:38 V 11 (Il 2) west of Kobeljaki 6 26 July 1941 10:59 V 11 (Il 2) south of Germanowka 22 6 September 1941 18:25 SB 3 Koselschtschina 7 8 August 1941 13:40 DB 3 south of Gorodishche 23 7 September 1941 05:30 I 180 (Yak 7) west of Woskabojnia 8 9 August 1941 04:50 DB 3 east of Pawlitsch 24 13 September 1941 17:25? V 11 (Il 2) east of Balakliia 9 12 August 1941 07:45 DB 3 Knajschitschij 25 23 September 1941 16:35 I 153 northeast of Kotowka 10♠ 17 August 1941 09:07 DB 3 Boschedarowka 26 25 September 1941 07:23 I 26 (Yak 1) east of Kirkowka 11♠ 17 August 1941 09:08 DB 3 east of Adamowka 27 25 September 1941 14:45 DB 3 southeast of Senkow 12♠ 17 August 1941 09:15 DB 3 northeast of Tschumaki 28 28 September 1941 14:47 Pe 2 east of Nowokosmosk 13♠ 17 August 1941 17:50 SB 3 Raduschnaja 29 29 September 1941 10:25 I 180 (Yak 7) southeast of Pestschanoje 14♠ 17 August 1941 17:55 SB 3 Apostolove 30 8 October 1941 13:15 Pe 2 east of Mosalsk 15 21 August 1941 16:35 DB 3 southwest of Pismenaja 31 17 October 1941 09:15 I 26 (Yak 1) east of Kurulu Kiptschok 16 21 August 1941 16:43 DB 3 southeast of Iwkowka 32 18 October 1941 13:11 I 61 (MiG 3) Kadshanbak – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Eastern Front — 26 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 33 15 July 1942 15:15 DB 3 west of Naro Fominsk 54 13 September 1942 06:58 Pe 2 PQ 47844, Konopatja 34 15 July 1942 16:50 Pe 2 northeast of Millerovo 55 13 September 1942 07:03 Pe 2 PQ 47682, Konopatja 35 20 July 1942 11:59 Il 2 Olchowskij 56 15 September 1942 09:12 Il 2 PQ 47842, Rashdestoweno 36 21 July 1942 09:07 Il 2 south of Strachowskij 57 15 September 1942 14:44 Pe 2 east of Krestowo 37 23 July 1942 17:30 Il 2 northeast of Tschernschowskaja 58 23 September 1942 07:17 LaGG 3 west of Straschewitschi 38 26 July 1942 15:14 Pe 2 northwest of Dmitrijewka 59 15 October 1942 08:58 LaGG 3 PQ 38614, Paralesok 39 27 July 1942 16:02 Yak 1 south of Dubinskij 60 26 November 1942 12:17 Il 2 west of Beljin 40 27 July 1942 16:05 Yak 1 northwest of Marinowka 61 26 November 1942 12:19 Il 2 northwest of Beljin 41 4 August 1942 17:35 Pe 2 southwest of "Haltepunkt 75km" (stopping point 75 km) 62 30 November 1942 13:56 Il 2 southeast of Beljin 42 5 August 1942 04:30 Pe 2 west of Tschapurniki 63 3 December 1942 12:37 Il 2 west of Beljin 43 5 August 1942 04:35 MiG 1 west of Tschapurniki 64 17 December 1942 11:35 Pe 2 south of Kotluban train station 44 6 August 1942 14:40 R 5 north of Flodowitoje 65 17 December 1942 11:36 Pe 2 east of Gnilowskoje 45 7 August 1942 17:47 Pe 2 east of Klischewskij 66 19 December 1942 09:30 Il 2 west of Akimowskij 46 17 August 1942 05:20 Il 2 southwest of Prudkij 67 19 December 1942 09:50 Il 2 northwest of Dmitirjewka 47 19 August 1942 17:44 Il 2 east of Katschalinskaja 68 5 January 1943 07:10 La 5 PQ 19591, Krasno Snamenko 48♠ 20 August 1942 04:33 Il 2 east of Gratschij 69 5 January 1943 07:20 La 5 northwest of Prokowskij 49♠ 20 August 1942 04:40 Pe 2 west of Pitschugi 70 15 January 1943 13:00 PS 84? northwest of Kotluban train station 50♠ 20 August 1942 04:42 Pe 2 northeast of Warlamow 71 15 January 1943 13:04 PS 84? PQ 49183, west of Pitomnik 51♠ 20 August 1942 04:43 Pe 2 east of Arakanzew 72 15 January 1943 13:08 PS 84? southwest of Ssamofalowka 52♠ 20 August 1942 04:46 Pe 2 east of Pantschino 73 1 February 1943 11:55 Boston PQ 99833, west Korolewka 53 21 August 1942 17:45 Il 2 northeast of Dubowy Owrag – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Eastern Front — 4 February – 3 August 1943 74 10 February 1943 09:00 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 99454, Kuschilowka 90♠ 5 July 1943 09:15 Pe 2 PQ 35 Ost 61112, west of Dmitrijewka 75 20 April 1943 10:04 Boston PQ 34 Ost 75453, southwest of Noworossijsk 91♠ 5 July 1943 09:30 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61342, southwest of Tomarowka 76 20 April 1943 16:00 Boston, south of Noworossijsk PQ 34 Ost 75454 92♠ 5 July 1943 18:05 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61483, south southeast of Belgorod 77 20 April 1943 16:05 Boston PQ 34 Ost 75781, southwest of Noworossijsk 93 6 July 1943 17:13 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61661, west of Titowka 78 23 April 1943 17:04 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 75433, south of Noworossijsk 94 7 July 1943 04:30 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61362, Polonnaja 79 23 April 1943 17:08 LaGG 3 PQ 34 Ost 75497, south southeast of Karbadinka 95 7 July 1943 04:34 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61532, Pokaljannoje 80 6 May 1943 13:45 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 71153, north of Koschtschejewo 96 15 July 1943 14:45 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 61253, Schachowa 81 7 May 1943 16:30 La 5 PQ 34 Ost, southwest of Gretscheskoje 97 15 July 1943 14:50 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 71147, Kolomizewo 82 9 May 1943 08:57 La 5 PQ 34 Ost 75252, west southwest of Krymskaja 98 19 July 1943 12:20 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88422, Semenowskij 83 8 June 1943 11:12 LaGG 3 PQ 35 Ost 61213, southwest of Prochorowka 99 19 July 1943 18:20 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88233, east of Dmitrijewka 84 8 June 1943 11:22 La 5 PQ 35 Ost 61243, northeast of Lucki 100 21 July 1943 08:05 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88252, Sour Mglinskij 85 16 June 1943 03:35 Yak 1 PQ 35 Ost 60294, southeast of Annowka 101 21 July 1943 14:10 Yak 1 PQ 34 Ost 88211, south of Tschistjakowo 86 19 June 1943 15:57 Pe 2 PQ 35 Ost 61431, near Melechowo 102 22 July 1943 04:13 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88183, northeast of Kuteinikowo 87 21 June 1943 14:32 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 53462, northwest of Borissowka 103 30 July 1943 17:12 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88261, south of Marinowka 88♠ 5 July 1943 03:25 Il 2? PQ 35 Ost 60182, north of Skripaj 104 31 July 1943 11:00 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88264, east of Gregorjewka 89♠ 5 July 1943 04:05 Il 2 PQ 35 Ost 60334, Butowka 105 31 July 1943 11:13 Il 2 PQ 34 Ost 88283, east of Aleksejewka – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Defense of the Reich — 12 September – 24 October 1943 106 20 October 1943 14:45? B 17 PQ 05 Ost S/KN 9, south of Venray