Walter Schuck

Schuck claimed his first victory on 15 May 1942, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3.[20] On 5 June 1942, he claimed four Soviet fighters shot down. Schuck was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 14 June 1940.[21] The presentation was made by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff on account of his II. and III. Gruppe visit at Pechenga on 19 June.[22] By April 1943, Schuck had claimed 34 victories against the Soviets. In July 1942, a new 9. Staffel was created from elements of 7. and 8. Staffel. The former 9. Staffel was renamed to 10. Staffel thus becoming a squadron of IV. Gruppe. Schuck was promoted to Feldwebel (staff sergeant) on 1 December 1942.[23] At 06:03 and 06:05 on 19 March 1943, claimed his 27th and 28th aerial victory over two Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighters flying at an altitude of 6,000 meters (20,000 ft).[24] On 24 June 1943, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).[23]

Emblem of JG 5 "Eismeer"

On 3 September 1943, 9. Staffel was scrambled to fend off an inbound attack on Pechenga airfield. Parts of 9. Staffel encountered a flight of five Hawker Hurricane fighters approximately 18 kilometres (11 miles) east of Murmashi. During this encountered, three Hurricanes were claimed shot down, including two by Schuck.[25] At 14:25 on 12 September 1943, Schuck and his wingman Unteroffizier Hermann Amend encountered a flight of P-40s in the vicinity of Murmashi. In this engagement, Schuck claimed two victories. Later that day at 17:02, Schuck claimed another P-40 destroyed, taking his total to 46 aerial victories.[26]

JG 5 flew multiple missions from Pechenga and Kirkenes in protection of a German convoy on 14 September. At 17:03, a Rotte of Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2s sighted and reported an enemy formation consisting of Douglas A-20 Havoc, also known as "Boston" bombers, Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft, as well as Bell P-39 Airacobra and Hurricane fighters. At 18:15, 9. Staffel was scrambled at Pechenga and 5. Staffel at Svartnes. A bit later further Bf 109s from 4., 7. and 5. Staffel took off. The Germans intercepted the Soviet formation east of Ekkerøy over the Varangerfjord. In this aerial engagement, Schuck claimed the destruction of three P-39s and one Il-2.[27] These four claims took his number of aerial victories to 50 and earned him a congratulation note from Generaloberst (Colonel General) Hans-Jürgen Stumpff, at the time commander-in-chief of Luftflotte 5.[28] Schuck was promoted to Oberfeldwebel (senior staff sergeant) on 1 October 1943.[23]

In 1944, III. Gruppe flew its first mission in force on 29 January. That day, all three Staffeln took off at 11:40 and encountered a number of Yakovlev Yak-7 fighters from 122 IAD PVO (Istrebitel'naya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya Protivo-Vozdushnaya Oborona—Fighter Aviation Division of the Home Air Defense) south of Murmashi. During this encounter, III. Gruppe pilots filed four claims including two claims by Schuck. However, Soviet records only account for the loss of one aircraft.[29] On 17 March, III. Gruppe was again tasked with providing a fighter escort for an inbound German convoy. In the timeframe 10:49 to 11:13, III. Gruppe claimed 17 aerial victories, including four by Schuck.[30] At 15:17 that day, III. Gruppe was scrambled again and Schuck claimed three further aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time.[31]

Area of operations.

At 05:40 on 7 April, Schuck and his wingman Feldwebel Josef Bößenecker take off from Pechenga, providing escort for a westbound convoy. On this mission, Schuck claimed the destruction of three P-40s and an Il-2 approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) west of the northern tip of the Rybachy Peninsula. Later that day, Schuck flew another convoy escort mission and claimed a P-39 shot down at 10:18 and another P-39 at 10:21, bringing his total to 84 aerial victories.[32] On evening of the next day, Schuck received a phone call from General der Flieger (General of the Aviators) Josef Kammhuber, successor of Generaloberst Stumpff as commander-in chief Luftflotte 5, who informed him that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).[33]

Parts of III. Gruppe were ordered to relocate from Pechenga to Svartnes at 17:17 on 25 May 1944. At 21:00, 19 Bf 109s under the leadership of Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) Major (Major) Heinrich Ehrler were scrambled from Svartnes to fend of approximately 80 Soviet aircraft attacking a German convoy. During this encounter, III. Gruppe claimed 33 aerial victories, including twenty "Boston" bombers, eight P-40s and five P-39s. However, Soviet records only account for five losses that day. The first aerial victory was credited to Schuck who claimed a "Boston" at 21:32 followed by five further claims, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement. The next day, Ehrler again led 19 Bf 109s from III. Gruppe in defense of the German convoy. This time the Germans reported combat with approximately 100 Soviet aircraft and claimed 40 aerial victories, among them four by Schuck. Again, Soviet records do not match this figure, they document the loss of nine aircraft.[34]

On 15 June 1944, he claimed his 100th victory on a day when he shot down 6 aircraft, another "ace-in-a-day" achievement. He was the 78th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[35] On 15 June 1944, as a German convoy is entering the Pechenga Bay, 7. Staffel was consistently tasked with providing fighter protection over the ships. At 19:10, the Germans were scrambled and had combat with twelve Il-2s, eight P-40s, ten P-39s and nine Yak-7s. Schuck reported the destruction of four P-40s, taking his total number of aerial victories to 101. According to the Soviet archives, none of the aircraft attacking Liinakhamari that evening failed to return.[36] Two days later, he had his most successful day, claiming 12 aerial victories in 24 hours period.[37] On 17 June 1944, III. Gruppe was still busy flying convoy escort missions. At 07:30, III. Gruppe took off to its largest aerial battle. That day, the Soviet Air Forces attacked with 227 aircraft. In two separate engagements, German pilots claimed 66 aerial victories. On the morning mission, the Germans claimed 36 Soviet aircraft shot down. That evening, they claimed 30 further aerial victories. These 66 claims are offset by twelve documented Soviet losses.[38] The next day at 04:30, a reconnaissance aircraft was reported over the Zapadnaya Litsa River. Schuck and Leutnant Werner Gayko were scrambled and sighted a single Supermarine Spitfire taking pictures of the Kirkenes harbor.[37] Diving down from 9,000 metres (30,000 feet) to 7,500 m (24,600 ft), Schuck closed the range to 30 metres (98 feet) before firing five rounds with his 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon and thirty rounds from his MG 131 machine gun. This short burst shot down Senior Lieutenant I. J. Popowitsch from 3./118 RAP (Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment) who managed to bail out wounded. This aerial victory was Schuck's 12th claim in a 24-hour period and his 113th in total. For these 12 claims, Schuck received a case of Champagne from General der Flieger Kammhuber.[39]

In August 1944, Schuck became Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel of JG 5. This career advancement was triggered on 1 August when Major Ehrler replaced Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Scholz as Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 5. Scholz had been given the position of Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen. In consequence, Oberleutnant Dörr succeeded Ehrler as Gruppenkommandeur of III. Gruppe and Schuck was given command of 7. Staffel, which was then redesignated to 10. Staffel on 6 August.[40] His new responsibility of Staffelkapitän did not come easily to Schuck, and discipline in 10./JG 5 deteriorated to the point that Geschwaderkommodore Ehrler intervened with Schuck, before Schuck managed to restore the necessary military discipline.[41]

On 23 August, Schuck again became an "ace-in-a-day", among these five claims his 150th aerial victory.[42] On 16 September 1944, III. Gruppe defended against a Soviet attack of approximately 40 aircraft on the airfields at Pechenga and Kirkenes. The Germans were scrambled at 11:50 and Schuck claimed two Soviet aircraft shot down. During this engagement, his friend Jakob Norz was killed in action.[43] Later that afternoon, Schuck claimed another aerial victory with Feldwebel David Wollmann as his wingman.[44] On 27 September, Schuck led 10. Staffel against an attack on Vadsø. Approximately 100 Soviet aircraft were incepted by 9., 10., 11., 13. and 15. Staffel. In this aerial combat, German pilots claimed 25 aerial victories including three by Schuck. The Soviet records only document the loss of five P-39 fighters and one Boston bomber.[45]

On 29 September, Schuck was wounded in combat with an Il-2 aircraft at the Pechenga airfield. His aircraft was hit in the cockpit and glass splinters that struck his cheek and nose. A splinter penetrated his jaw and got stuck in one of his teeth.[46] To remove this splinter he required surgery. While in the hospital recovering from this operation, Schuck received notice that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).[47] The presentation of the Oak Leaves was made on 7 November 1944 at the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM—Ministry of Aviation) in Berlin by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. Schuck received this award together with twelve other soldiers on this day, among them were the Fallschirmjäger Generalmajor Heinz Trettner, Oberstleutnant Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte, and the ground attack and bomber pilots Hauptmann Franz Kieslich and Hauptmann Diether Lukesch. Schuck was the only fighter pilot so honored on this day.[48]

Schuck was promoted to Oberleutnant on 10 November with a rank age (RDA—Rangdienstalter) dated back to 1 July 1944.[49] On New Year's Day 1945, Theodor Weissenberger married his teenage love Cilly Vogel. Best man at his wedding was Schuck.[50] Schuck returns to his unit on 10 January 1945 following a period of convalescence and vacation.[51] On 16 February, twelve Royal Air Force North American P-51 Mustang fighters from No. 65 Squadron and ten De Havilland Mosquito fast bombers from No. 143, No. 235, No. 248 and No. 333 Squadron attacked German shipping in Norangsfjorden. At 14:30, 10. and 11. Staffel of JG 5 were scrambled at Gossa. Aerial combat occurred in the vicinity of the ships. During this encounter, Schuck claimed two P-51s shot down, his 197th and 198th victory. These two claims were his last victories with JG 5, three days later he was transferred.[52]

Me 262 A, circa 1944

After leaving JG 5, Schuck was trained on the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter and joined Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) on 5 March 1945. On 20 March 1945, he made his maiden flight on the Me 262.[53] After a few more familiarizing flights on the Me 262, Schuck and another pilot took off on 24 March 1945 to familiarize themselves with the high altitude characteristics of the aircraft. Cruising at an altitude of 10,000 meters (33,000 ft), flight control informed them of enemy fighters in the vicinity. Schuck immediately set course for the enemy formation and spotted a Lockheed P-38 Lightning F-5 reconnaissance aircraft escorted by two P-51 fighters of the United States Strategic Air Forces (USAAF). In the resulting combat, Schuck shot down the two P-51 fighters and the P-38 was claimed by his wingman.[54][55][Note 3] The two P-51s were flown by Flight Officer James T. Mitchell Jr. from 302d Fighter Squadron and Flight Officer Arnett W. Starks Jr. 301st Fighter Squadron, both pilots were captured and taken prisoner of war.[57]

After Hans Waldmann was killed in a flying accident on 18 March 1945, Weissenberger appointed Schuck Staffelkapitän of the 3. Staffel on 26 March replacing Oberleutnant Walter Wagner, who had briefly led 3. Staffel.[58] On 28 March, the USAAF targeted Berlin, Stendal and Hanover. That day, Schuck claimed another P-51 shot down, taking his total number of aerial victories to 201.[59] On 7 April, Schuck shot down a P-38 F-5 reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Captain William T. Heily from the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron of the USAAF Ninth Air Force.[60][Note 4]

On 10 April 1945, the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted airfields, transportation hubs, and various military infrastructures at Oranienburg, Rechlin, Neuruppin, Stendal, Brandenburg-Briest, Zerbst, Burg, Parchim and Wittenberge. In total 1,232 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers, escorted by approximately 900 fighters, were committed to this attack.[62] That day, Schuck led seven Me 262s from 3. Staffel and in the timeframe from 14:30 to 14:38 claimed four B-17s shot down in the vicinity of Oranienburg, taking his total to 206 aerial victories.[63] One of the bombers was "Henn's Revenge" of the 303rd Bombardment Group, and another was "Moonlight Mission" of the 457th Bombardment Group.[64] Shortly afterwards, his Me 262 was hit by a P-51 of the fighter escort, piloted by Lt. Joseph Anthony Peterburs of the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group Schuck having to bail out. Schuck sprained both ankles upon landing and the war ended before he recovered.[65]

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 181 aerial victory claims, plus nine further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 171 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 10 on the Western Front, including four four-engined bombers and 8 victories with the Me 262 jet fighter.[69]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 3087". 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 (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[70]

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen (20 July 1940)[16]
• Wound Badge in Black
• Order of the Cross of Liberty
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd class (19 May 1942)[112]
  • 1st class (14 June 1942)[21]
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 23 March 1943 after 28 aerial victories[113][114][Note 22]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "500"
  • in Gold on 26 January 1943 as Feldwebel[116]
• German Cross in Gold on 24 June 1943 as Feldwebel in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5[117]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 8 April 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 5[118][119]
  • 616th Oak Leaves on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5[118][120]