Günther Lützow
German World War II fighter pilot
Died when: 32 years 232 days (391 months)Star Sign: Virgo
Günther Lützow (4 September 1912 – 24 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe aviator and fighter ace credited with 110 enemy aircraft shot down in over 300 combat missions.
Apart from five victories during the Spanish Civil War, most of his claimed victories were over the Eastern Front in World War II.
He also claimed 20 victories over the Western Front, including two victories—one of which was a four-engined bomber—flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.
Born in Kiel, Lützow volunteered for military service in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic in 1931.In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule, a covert military-training organization, and at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school.
Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader "Richthofen" (Fighter Wing "Richthofen") in 1934.In 1937, he volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War where he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group).
From April to September 1937, he claimed five aerial victories.For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds, Germany's highest decoration of the Spanish Civil War.
After an assignment as fighter pilot instructor, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) in Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) following the outbreak of World War II.
He led the Gruppe through the Battle of France and claimed his first victory of World War II on 14 May 1940.
Lützow became Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 3 on 21 August 1940.After 15 aerial victories during the Battle of Britain, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 September 1940.
Lützow commanded JG 3 in the aerial battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.There, after his 42nd aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 20 July 1941.
Three months later, following his 92nd aerial victory of the war, Lützow was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 11 October 1941.
On 24 October, he claimed his 100th victory of the war, becoming the second fighter pilot after Werner Mölders to do so.
From September to November 1941, he also served as acting commander of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), replacing Friedrich Beckh, who had been injured in combat, until the position was filled by Karl-Gottfried Nordmann.
After being instructed not to fly operations, he ignored the order, adding two more victories before being posted on 11 August 1942 to the staff of General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters) Adolf Galland, serving as "Inspector of Day Fighters, East".
In July 1943, Lützow was tasked with commanding fighter operations in Italy.From September 1943 to March 1944, he led the 1.Jagd Division (1st Fighter Division), commanding all day- and night-fighter operations in northwestern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Lützow's role in the "Fighter Pilots Revolt" was considered mutiny by Hermann Göring, who exiled Lützow to Italy.
In April 1945, he joined Galland's Jagdverband 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment).He was reported missing in action flying the Me 262 on 24 April 1945 while attempting to intercept a U.S.
Army Air Forces B-26 Marauder raid near Donauwörth.His body was never recovered.
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German World War II fighter pilot
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