Erwin Clausen

Erwin Clausen (5 August 1911 – 4 October 1943) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Clausen was credited with 132 aerial victories—that is, 132 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—with some unconfirmed victories in 561 combat missions.

Military career
Clausen joined the Reichsmarine in 1931 but then transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 to receive flying training. He was promoted to Feldwebel before the outbreak of World War ΙΙ. He participated in the invasion of Poland and claimed his first victory when he shot down a PWS-26 biplane trainer on 9 September 1939. He scored more victories with some unconfirmed victories during the French campaign.

On 1 February 1941, Clausen, by now an Oberleutnant, was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1(J)/Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing) to support of the invasion of the Balkans. After claiming three victories his unit withdrew to the Eastern front. In Russia, he was particularly successful and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 22 May after achieving 52 victories. On 27 June, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77 Fighter Wing).

Clausen reached his 100th victory by shooting down an Il-2 on 22 July 1942. He was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross the next day. He was transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Süd on 1 February 1943, and later, promoted to Hauptmann, he became a Gruppenkommandeur of I./Jagdgeschwader 11 on 20 June 1943. This unit carried out Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the Reich) duties. On 4 October 1943 he shot down a B-24 Liberator but then was killed in aerial combat over the North Sea in his Fw 190 A-5.

Clausen was credited with 132 aerial victories with some unconfirmed victories in 561 combat missions. He recorded one victory over Poland, three over Yugoslavia (these being Hawker Fury fighters of the 36th Fighter Group shot down over Režanovačka Kosa airfield near Kumanovo on 6 April 1941), 14 victories over the Western front with the remaining victories achieved over the Eastern front. He was posthumously promoted to Major. Three of his brothers were killed in action during World War II.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (4 July 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1942 Oberleutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 77
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 22 May 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 77
 * 106th Oak Leaves on 23 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 77