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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Haugk claimed 18 aerial victories in more than 440 flights.

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.

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.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 7. Staffel of Zerstörergeschwader 26 –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 1 14 May 1940 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 –Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 10 July – 31 October 1940 4 10 July 1940 15:04 Spitfire 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) German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 7./Zerstörergeschwader 26 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"