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
Died	28 January 1992 (aged 77) Gelsenkirchen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/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)

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 Messerschmitt Bf 109 trainer.

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)[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 7./Zerstörergeschwader 26[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"[3][Note 1]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 26.[4]

References

Citations

1. Obermaier 1989, p. 129.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 169.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 216.
4. Scherzer 2007, p. 370.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.