Kurt Lasse

Kurt Lasse
Born17 February 1918
Rawitsch
Died8 October 1941(1941-10-08) (aged 23)
over the Isthmus of Perekop
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branch Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1941
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 77
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Lasse (17 February 1918 – 8 October 1941) was a German Luftwaffe ace and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. On 8 October 1941, Lasse was killed in action in a mid-air collision with his wingman over Isthmus of Perekop. During his career he was credited with 39 aerial victories, 1 on the Western Front and 38 on the Eastern Front.

Career

Lasse was born on 17 February 1918 in Rawitsch in the Province of Posen within the German Empire, present-day Rawicz, Poland.[1]

On 25 March 1940, Lasse was posted to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdggruppe 186 (II./186—186th Fighter Group).[2] This group, also known as the Trägerjagdgruppe (Carrier Fighter Group), was destined to be stationed on the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin which was never completed. II./186 (T) initially consisted of two squadrons, 4./186 (T) equipped with the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber,[Note 1] and 6./186 (T).[3]

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Following the decision by Adolf Hitler to halt work on the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin,[4] II./186 (T) was redesignated and became the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).[5] In consequence, Lasse's Staffel 6./186 (T) became the 9. Staffel of JG 77 which was headed by Oberleutnant Lorenz Weber.[6] A week later, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from this theater of operations and relocated to Döberitz where it was tasked with fighter protection of Berlin.[7] In November, JG 77 was ordered to the English Channel to continue fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the aftermath of the Battle of Britain.[8] 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on 30 November.[9]

In preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, III. Gruppe of JG 77 was moved to Deta in western Romania on 4 April 1941.[10] On 16 April, III. Gruppe had relocated to an airfield at Korinos. Two days later, Lasser claimed his first aerial victory when elements of 9. Staffel intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim bombers from the Royal Air Force No. 11 Squadron. Two Blenheim bombers were claimed shot down, including one by Lasse.[11] On 19 April, the Gruppe reached Larissa. That day, Lasse was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 77. He replace Oberleutnant Armin Schmidt was killed in action.[12][13]

Eastern Front

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. Gruppe was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South). III. Gruppe arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.[14] Four days later, III. Gruppe moved to Roman.[15] That evening, the pilots and ground crews were briefed of the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union, which opened the Eastern Front.[16]

Engaged in aerial combat with Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighters, Lasse was killed in a mid-air collision with his wingman, Feldwebel Robert Helmer, on 8 October 1941. While Helmer nursed his damaged aircraft back, Lasse's Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 8475—factory number) crashed near Armiansk.[17] Command of 9. Staffel was then passed on to Hauptmann Arthur Brutzer.[18] Posthumously, Lasse was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 3 May 1942.[19]

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 39 aerial victory claims, claimed in over 300 combat missions. This figure includes one aerial victory over the Western Allies and 38 on the Eastern Front.[20]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 3742". 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 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[21]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[22]
Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941
1 18 April 1941 12:33 Blenheim[23]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[20]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941
?[Note 2] 22 June 1941 19:46 I-153 21 6 September 1941 09:12 I-16[25]
2 23 June 1941 15:33 I-153[24] 22 6 September 1941 13:25 I-16[25]
3 23 June 1941 15:48 ZKB-19[24]?[Note 3] 23 7 September 1941 13:50 DB-3[25]
4 23 June 1941 15:57?[Note 4] ZKB-19[24]?[Note 4] 24 7 September 1941 13:53 DB-3[25]
5?[Note 5] 23 June 1941 18:45 SB-2[24] 25 7 September 1941 13:55 DB-3[25]
6 2 July 1941 17:38 DB-3[27] 26 16 September 1941 07:42 MiG-3[25]
7 5 July 1941 16:48 ZKB-19[27]?[Note 3] 27 16 September 1941 10:35 DB-3[25]
8 8 July 1941 18:22 MiG-3[28] 28 16 September 1941 10:39 DB-3[25]
9 8 July 1941 18:27?[Note 6] MiG-3[28] 29 18 September 1941 17:15 DB-3[25]
10 10 July 1941 17:46 I-16[28] 30 19 September 1941 13:17 unknown[25]
11 11 July 1941 16:36 I-16[28] 31 20 September 1941 07:30 MiG-3[25]
12 4 August 1941 16:37 R-10 (Seversky)[29] 32 21 September 1941 10:46 I-153[30]
13 17 August 1941 18:56 I-16[29] 33 21 September 1941 10:52 I-16[30]
14 22 August 1941 11:05 I-15[31] 34 25 September 1941 13:05 I-16[30]
15 22 August 1941 14:18 I-15[31] 35 28 September 1941 12:25 Il-2[30]
16 27 August 1941 10:45 MiG-3[31] 36 29 September 1941 14:45 Il-2[30]
17 27 August 1941 10:47 MiG-3[31] 37 30 September 1941 14:47 MiG-3[30]
18 27 August 1941 10:52 MiG-3[31] 38 1 October 1941 16:46 I-16[30]
19 31 August 1941 16:32 SB-2[31] 39 2 October 1941 11:56 I-16[30]
20 31 August 1941 17:02 SB-3 PQ 3742[31]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ The suffix 'T' denotes Träger (carrier) in German use.
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[24]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin DB-3.[26]
  4. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:57 as an Ilyushin DB-3.[26]
  5. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[26]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:24.[26]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 154.
  2. ^ Prien 1992, p. 157.
  3. ^ Prien 1992, p. 48.
  4. ^ Whitley 1985, p. 30.
  5. ^ Prien 1992, p. 242.
  6. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2376.
  7. ^ Prien 1992, p. 246.
  8. ^ Prien 1992, p. 437.
  9. ^ Prien 1992, p. 446.
  10. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 482–483, 487.
  11. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 522, 524.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 288.
  13. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 526–527.
  14. ^ Prien 1993, p. 628.
  15. ^ Prien 1993, p. 630.
  16. ^ Prien 1993, p. 632.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, pp. 351, 377.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 358.
  19. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 183.
  20. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 722–723.
  21. ^ Planquadrat.
  22. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 722.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 293.
  24. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003b, p. 362.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2003b, p. 370.
  26. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 723.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 363.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 364.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 367.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003b, p. 371.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003b, p. 368.
  32. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 285.
  33. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 495.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-19-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1995). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-29-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • 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.
  • Whitley, M.J. (1985). Warship 33: Graf Zeppelin, Part 2. Vol. IX. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-984-9.

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