Walter Schuck

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Walter Schuck
Born 20 July 1920 (1920-07-20) (age 87)

Walter Schuck
Nickname Sohndel
Place of birth Frankenholz, Saarland
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1937-1945
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit JG 5, JG 7
Commands held 10./JG 5, 3./JG 7
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

Walter Schuck (born 20 July 1920 in Frankenholz, Saarland) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945. Serving with Jagdgeschwader 5 on the Arctic front and Jagdgeschwader 7 in North Western Europe, he claimed 206 enemy aircraft shot down in over 500 combat missions plus up to another 30 unconfirmed victories[1]. He claimed eight confirmed victories with the Me 262[2].

Schuck's father, a coal miner and veteran of World War I, repeatedly gave the advice to take every opportunity to avoid service in the infantry. Subsequently and due to the lack of other job opportunities, Schuck voluntarily joined the Luftwaffe at the age of 16.[3]

Contents

[edit] The Arctic Front

After a spell with Jagdgeschwader 3 in October 1940, when I./JG 3 was tasked to give top cover to Adolf Hitler en route to Belgium, which wasn't known at the time[4]. Schuck was posted to 7 staffel, Jagdgeschwader 5, in April 1942. Flying on the Arctic Front, by April 1943 he had claimed 54 victories against the Soviets. In April 1944 he was awarded the Ritterkreuz[5] with his score 84 kills. On 15 June 1944 he claimed his 100th victory on a day when he shot down 6 aircraft. Two days later he had his most successful day, claiming 12 victories in twenty-four hours, a feat never surpassed in JG 5. In August, he became commander of 10 staffel, JG 5. His new responsibility of Staffelkapitän did not come easy to Schuck. In the beginning discipline in 10./JG 5 deteriorated to the point that Geschwaderkommodore Heinrich Ehrler had to have a serious discussion with Schuck before Schuck managed to reinstore the necessary military discipline[6]. A few days after claiming his 171st aerial victory, Schuck was wounded by glass splinters that struck his cheek and nose. A splinter penetrated his jaw and got stuck in one of his teeth. To remove this splinter required surgery. While in the hospital, recovering from this operation, Schuck received notice that he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves[5][7].

[edit] Me 262

After leaving JG 5 Oberleutnant Schuck was trained on the Messerschmitt Me 262 Jet fighter and in early March 1945 was asked by Geschwaderkommodore Theodor Weissenberger to join JG 7. Conversion to the Me 262 was very informal. Schuck spent hours standing next to the runway observing takeoff and landing procedures. His maiden flight on the Me 262 was on 20 March 1945. 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 m, flight control informed them about enemy fighters in the vicinity. Schuck immediately took course for the enemy formation and spotted three aircraft, one P-38 Lightning and two P-51 Mustang fighters. In the resulting combat Schuck shot down the two Mustang fighters, the P-38 Lightning escaped. After Hans Waldmann was killed Theodor Weissenberger appointed him Staffelkapitän of the third Staffel on 26 March[8]. On 10 April 1945 he shot down four B-17 Flying Fortress. Schuck visually identified two of the bombers. One of the bombers was the "Henn's Revenge" of the 303. Bomber Group the other was the "Moonlight Mission" of the 457. Bomber Group.[9] Shortly afterwards his Me 262 was hit by a P-51 Mustang of the fighter escort, piloted by Joseph Anthony Peterburs of the 55th Fighter Squadron, Schuck having to bale out. Schuck sprained both ankles upon landing and the war ended before he had recovered.[10]

[edit] Awards

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Toliver & Constable, page 373
  2. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
  3. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 11
  4. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 23
  5. ^ a b Fellgiebel
  6. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 164, 165
  7. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 174, 175
  8. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 204
  9. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 212, 213
  10. ^ Walter Schuck, Abschuss! page 214

[edit] References

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Morgan, Hugh and Weal, John, German Jet Aces of World War 2. Orsprey Publishing Limited, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-634-5.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • Robert Bailey ASAA. Walter Schuck. Retrieved on 25 March 2007.
  • Schuck, Walter, Abschuss! Von der Me 109 zur Me 262 Erinnerungen an die Luftkämpfe beim Jagdgeschwader 5 und 7. Helios Verlags- und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft, 2007. ISBN 978-3-938208-44-1.
  • Toliver, Raymond F. and Constable, Trevor J., Das waren die Deutschen Jagdflieger-Asse 1939-1945. Motorbuch Verlag, 1998. ISBN 3-87943-193-0.
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