Werner Lucas
Encyclopedia
Werner Georg Emil Lucas (27 December 1917 – 24 October 1943) was a Luftwaffe
fighter pilot, born on December 27, 1917 in north Berlin, Germany. He was a highly decorated 'ace
' with some 106 aircraft claimed destroyed in total, including one four engined bomber ('viermot') whilst in the Western theatre of war.
, receiving the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet
on 2 October 1941 (date from original Goblet); the German Cross
in Gold on 27 March 1942; and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on 19 September 1942, as a Feldwebel
with 57 air victories.
He was appointed Leutnant in November 1942 and held the rank of Hauptmann
(Staffelkapitän
) at the time of his death in October 1943. 105 of his claims were made against the Soviet Air Force in 1941-43 while serving on the Eastern front
with Jagdgeschwader 3
.
Whilst with JG 3 flying from Schiphol, Holland, he was killed in combat with a Spitfire
possibly escorting USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on 24 October 1943, and crashed in the city centre of Leiden Holland. Whether on purpose or by chance, his Me 109-G
(Werknummer 27080 —factory number— 'White 7') crashed exactly in the courtyard of a hospital on the Hooigracht, thus taking no other people with him than his 106 kills.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter pilot, born on December 27, 1917 in north Berlin, Germany. He was a highly decorated 'ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
' with some 106 aircraft claimed destroyed in total, including one four engined bomber ('viermot') whilst in the Western theatre of war.
World War II
He joined 4./JG 3 'Udet' on 8 Februar 1941 as an UnteroffizierUnteroffizier
Unteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
, receiving the Luftwaffe Honour Goblet
Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
The Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
on 2 October 1941 (date from original Goblet); the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 27 March 1942; and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 19 September 1942, as a Feldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
with 57 air victories.
He was appointed Leutnant in November 1942 and held the rank of Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
(Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
) at the time of his death in October 1943. 105 of his claims were made against the Soviet Air Force in 1941-43 while serving on the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
with Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The Geschwader operated on all the German fronts in the European Theatre of World War II. It was named after Ernst Udet in 1942.-Campaign in the West :...
.
Whilst with JG 3 flying from Schiphol, Holland, he was killed in combat with a Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
possibly escorting USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on 24 October 1943, and crashed in the city centre of Leiden Holland. Whether on purpose or by chance, his Me 109-G
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
(Werknummer 27080 —factory number— 'White 7') crashed exactly in the courtyard of a hospital on the Hooigracht, thus taking no other people with him than his 106 kills.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(2 October 1941) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 27 March 1942 FeldwebelFeldwebelFeldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
in the 4./JG 3 - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 19 September 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 4./JG 3 "Udet"