Werner Lucas
German World War II fighter pilot / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
Werner Lucas | |
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Born | (1917-12-27)27 December 1917 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
Died | 24 October 1943(1943-10-24) (aged 25) Leiden, German-occupied Netherlands |
Buried | Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1938–43 |
Rank | Hauptmann (captain) |
Unit | JG 3 |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
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.