1. Gerhard Homuth was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace.
18 Facts About Gerhard Homuth
1. 2.
Gerhard Homuth scored all but two of his 63 victories against the Western Allies whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, and was one of the top scoring aces in the North African campaign.
3.
Gerhard Homuth joined the military service in the Reichsmarine before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1935.
4.
In October 1939, Gerhard Homuth was posted Jagdgeschwader 27.
5.
Gerhard Homuth claimed his first aerial victory on 11 May 1940 during the Battle of France.
6.
In late 1942, Gerhard Homuth fell ill and was taken off operational flying.
7.
On 1 August 1943, Homuth was given command of I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 which was fighting on Eastern Front.
8.
Gerhard Homuth was born 20 September 1914 in Kiel, at the time in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.
9.
Gerhard Homuth joined the Reichsmarine before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1935.
10.
Gerhard Homuth was transferred and served as adjutant to Riegel, supporting him in the creation of the Gruppe.
11.
The next day, Gerhard Homuth claimed a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down.
12.
On this mission, Gerhard Homuth claimed two Spitfire fighters shot down near Swanage.
13.
Staffel, Gerhard Homuth was given the order to attack the airfield at Laibach where they came under heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire.
14.
Gerhard Homuth claimed his first aerial victory over North Africa on 1 May 1941.
15.
On 9 February 1942, Gerhard Homuth claimed his 40th aerial victory over a Hurricane fighter near Al Adm.
16.
In February 1943, Gerhard Homuth was posted to the Luftwaffe Command in Sofia where he led the training Bulgarian fighter pilots.
17.
On 1 August 1943, Homuth was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54.
18.
Gerhard Homuth failed to return from this mission and was posted missing in action.