Helmut Haugk

Helmut Haugk (24 February 1914 – 28 January 1992) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Haugk claimed 18 aerial victories in more than 440 flights.

Helmut Haugk
Helmut Haugk
Born	24 February 1914 Gelsenkirchen, German Empire
Died	28 January 1992(1992-01-28) (aged 77) Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1937–45
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	ZG 26 ZG 101 ZG 76
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Greece Battle of Crete Battle of Malta North African Campaign Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Werner Haugk (brother)

On 29 September 1939, while serving with 3. Staffel of Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing), Haugk was shot down and wounded when in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 (Werknummer 481—factory number) during combat with Royal Air Force (RAF) Handley Page Hampden southeast of Heligoland.^[1]

His brother Leutnant Werner Haugk, who had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel after approximately 300 combat missions on 8 August 1944, was shot down and killed in action on 18 October 1944 near Aalborg, Denmark by British fighters while flying a Bf 109 trainer.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for twelve aerial victory claims over the Western Allies, including one heavy bomber.^[2]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 7. Staffel of Zerstörergeschwader 26 –[3] Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1	14 May 1903	13:05	Spitfire	north of Buzancy	3	27 May 1940	15:15	Hawk 75	southeast of Reims
2	3 June 1940	15:10	Hawk 75	southeast of Reims
– 7. Staffel of Zerstörergeschwader 26 –[3] Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 10 July – 31 October 1940
4	10 July 1940	15:04	Spitfire[4]	southeast of Dover	6	28 September 1940	15:45	Spitfire	south of Southampton
5	26 September 1940	17:23	Hurricane	south of Southampton

Awards and decorations

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (13 October 1939)
  • 1st Class (23 May 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (1 March 1941)^[5]
• German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 7./Zerstörergeschwader 26^[6]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"^{[7][Note 1]}

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 26.^[8]