Helmut Haugk


Helmut Haugk 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, Haugk was shot down and wounded when in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 during combat with Royal Air Force 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.

Awards and decorations