Gerhard Homuth

Major Gerhard Homuth (20 September 1914 – 2 August 1943) was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He scored all but two of his 63 victories against the Western Allies whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, and was one of the top scoring aces in the North African campaign.

Military career
Homuth initially served in the Kriegsmarine before joining the Luftwaffe in 1935. During 1937–1938, he was a member of the Luftwaffe aerobatic team, and part of 2.(J)/Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing).

In October 1939, Homuth was appointed Adjutant of I./Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing), becoming Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 3./JG 27 in February 1940. He gained his first victory on 11 May, shooting down a Bristol Blenheim. By the end of the French campaign Homuth had nine victories, and added a further six victories during the Battle of Britain, becoming one of the more successful 'stars' within Jagdgeschwader 27, which had suffered severe losses for little achievement during the Battle.

In April 1941, I./JG 27 was the first Luftwaffe fighter gruppe to be sent to North Africa. Oberleutnant Homuth was awarded the Ritterkreuz in June for 22 victories. By January 1942, Homuth had 39 victories. His impressive record and leadership talents meant Homuth was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 in June 1942. His 60th claim came on 27 October, when he shot down a Spitfire over Bir Mumim Busak.

Coinciding with the withdrawal of I./JG 27 from North Africa, Homuth fell ill and was taken off operational flying. In February 1943 he was posted to Sofia as an instructor training Bulgarian fighter pilots. Homuth returned to front line duty in July 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) I./JG 54 based in the Northern sector of the Eastern Front and flying the FW 190A. On 2 August 1943, on one of his first combat missions, Homuth was engaged in a dogfight with Soviet fighters. He finally managed to shoot down an P-39 Airacobra, however Homuth failed to return from this mission and was posted missing in action. His exact fate remains unknown.

Gerhard Homuth was credited with 63 victories in approximately 450 missions, 47 in Africa. He recorded two victories over the Eastern Front. His older brother was killed in action in 1942 on the Eastern Front, his father was shot by looting soldiers on 23 April 1945.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 June 1941 Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./JG 27
 * German Cross in Gold on 9 April 1942 as Oberleutnant in the I./JG 27