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Ludwig Becker |
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Name : Ludwig Becker Born : 11th August 1911 Died : 26th February 1943 Air Victories : 46.00 Awards : Knights Cross Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross |
Ludwig Becker was born i Dortmund-Aplerbeck in the Province of Westphalia, Joining the Luftwaffe volunteers in 1934, by 1939 he was a test pilot and a Leutnant in the Luftwaffe reserve. Serving with Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing), he crashed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 near Winterswijk on 30 August 1940 His first victory was a Vickers Wellington on the night of 16/17 October 1940. Becker was flying a Dornier Do 17Z-10 equipped with a gun-camera. The victory recorded the demise of the No. 311 Squadron RAF aircraft piloted by Pilot Officer Bohumil Landa and three of his Czech crew. It was also the first radar-controlled "Dunkle Nachtjagd" (DuNaJa—dark night fighting, without search lights) victory of the war. He was later equipped with the Dornier Do 215B night fighter (code G9+OM) equipped with Lichtenstein radar. He achieved six victories between 10 August and 30 September 1941 in this machine. Becker developed his own tactics for attacking a bomber. He would trail the aircraft from the stern, just below the height shown on the radar. After sighting the bomber, he dived and accelerated to avoid being spotted by the tail gunner. Once underneath the enemy, Becker reduced the throttle and matched the speed of the unsuspecting pilot. Becker then climbed steadily to 50 ft (164 m) from the target before he pulled up and opened fire. Because the Do 215 lost speed the bomber would fly ahead and the through the stream of shells. With this method, the gun sight was rarely needed He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in July 1942, he then served as a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) in 12./NJG 1. By the end of the year, Becker had some 40 victories to his credit. Becker and his Radar Operator Oberfeldwebel Josef Straub (who had taken part in 40 victories) were posted missing in action on 26 February 1943 in a Bf 110G-4 while on a daylight mission intercepting a Boeing B-17 formation over the North Sea, and crashing north of Schiermonnikoog in the Netherlands. All his 46 victories were at night. |
Known Victory Claims : | |||||||
Date | Rank | Squadron | Claimed | Location | Time | Aircraft Flown | Notes |
29/09/1940 | Oblt. | Blijham/Groningen | 22.53 | ||||
16/10/1940 | Ltn. | Oosterwolde | 21.25 | ||||
09/08/1941 | Oblt. | bei Nieue Schans: 5200m [25km E. Gröningen] | 0.25 | ||||
13/08/1941 | Oblt. | bei Shlochteren: 4700m [13km ESE Gröningen] | 1.25 | ||||
13/08/1941 | Oblt. | 25km E. Gröningen | 1.25 | ||||
15/08/1941 | Oblt. | 64/77/3 bei Vredepeel: 4200m [25km SE Leeuwarden] | 1.17 | V | |||
18/08/1941 | Oblt. | bei Paterwalre: 3200m [2km S. Gröningen] | 1.44 | ||||
06/09/1941 | Oblt. | 54634: 2500m [Oldebroek ENE Harderwijk] | 23 | ||||
29/09/1941 | Oblt. | 35km ESE Gröningen | 22.53 | ||||
08/11/1941 | Oblt. | 13km E. Staveren | 6.3 | ||||
20/01/1942 | Oblt. | vor Terschelling | 21 | ||||
20/01/1942 | Oblt. | N. Terschelling | 21.37 | ||||
20/01/1942 | Oblt. | NW Terschelling | 22.07 | ||||
09/03/1942 | Oblt. | 8km N. Petten | 4.11 | ||||
09/03/1942 | Oblt. | 3km E. Enkhuizen | 3.24 | ||||
12/03/1942 | Oblt. | Waddenzee: SE Ameland | 23.04 | V | |||
25/03/1942 | Oblt. | vor Konswerderzand [W. Makkum] | 22.28 | ||||
26/03/1942 | Oblt. | N. Vlieland | 0.33 | ||||
26/03/1942 | Oblt. | N. Vlieland | 22.3 | ||||
28/03/1942 | Oblt. | N. Vlieland | 22.05 | ||||
04/06/1942 | Oblt. | 43224: 2000m gegend Den Helder [2km N. De Kooj | 0.27 | ||||
06/06/1942 | Oblt. | 4329: 5200m [Slootdorp] | 1.21 | ||||
07/06/1942 | Oblt. | 5441 in See: 3500m [30km N. Ameland] | 0.44 | ||||
07/06/1942 | Oblt. | 54/6/6: 3600m [SW Holwerd] | 1.1 | ||||
07/06/1942 | Oblt. | 54/6/3 in See: 4600m [E. Ameland] | 1.47 | ||||
09/06/1942 | Oblt. | 4476 in See: 5100m {W. Texel] | 2.16 | ||||
20/06/1942 | Oblt. | 30km NW Vlieland | 3 | ||||
26/06/1942 | Oblt. | Wieringemeer | 0.39 | ||||
18/08/1942 | Oblt. | 444 4B in See: 1800m [30km W. Terschelling] | 1.46 | ||||
18/08/1942 | Oblt. | 446 6G in See: 3500m [5km S. Harlingen] | 2.35 | ||||
28/08/1942 | Oblt. | Weroerspeet: 3200m [6km SE Medemblik] | 1.22 | ||||
28/08/1942 | Oblt. | 43i 6D [See]: 3600m [W. Bergen-an-See] | 1.43 | ||||
05/09/1942 | Oblt. | 542 7D9: 4200m [N. Ameland] | 4.15 | ||||
05/09/1942 | Oblt. | 544 3G9: 3200m [NW Ameland] | 4.45 | ||||
05/09/1942 | Oblt. | 643 2G1: 1000m [W. Schiermonnikoog] | 5.09 | ||||
14/09/1942 | Oblt. | 631 1C: 5700m [10km S. Leeuwarden] | 2.21 | ||||
13/10/1942 | Oblt. | 444 7O5: 3600m [35km NW Texel] | 23.49 | ||||
14/10/1942 | Oblt. | 446 2A4: 2700m [30km NW Vlieland] | 0.2 | ||||
09/11/1942 | Oblt. | 546 9B8: 2600m [5km W. Dokkum] | 22.55 | ||||
08/01/1943 | Oblt. | Hackfort 7km SE Zutphen: 800-1000m | 19.23 | ||||
17/01/1943 | Oblt. | 543 2A in See: 3800m [20km N. Ameland] | 23.03 | ||||
17/01/1943 | Oblt. | 544 8F4 3800m [40km N. Terschelling] | 23.28 | ||||
31/01/1943 | Oblt. | 24. 5 in See: 6500m [15km E. Texel] | 3.1 | ||||
| Aircraft for : Ludwig Becker | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with Ludwig Becker. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Me110 
Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Production Began : 1938 | Me110 The Bf-110 grew out of Herman Gorings specifications for a multipurpose aircraft capable of penetrating deep into enemy airspace to clear the sky of enemy fighters in advance of German bomber formations. The aircraft would also be utilized as a long range interceptor, and as a ground support and ground attack bomber. The Bf-110 prototype first flew in 1936. The prototype was under powered with its Daimier Benz DB 600A engines. Several months passed before a go ahead was given for large scale production which commenced in 1938. Utilizing improved DB 601 engines, the early production 110s were as fast as any single engine fighter at that time, and had superior fire power. Their biggest apparent weakness was in the areas of armor protection for the crew, and in terms of maneuverability when compared to single seat fighters. The 110 was produced in large numbers and in many different variants. The 110D was the long range model. An additional belly tank was fitted to that aircraft, with several later variants having the more traditional drop tanks. The first serious test for the Bf-110 came during the Battle of Britain. About 300 Bf-110s were involved. They became easy prey for Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and Bf-109s were often required to assist the 110s in their own defense. On August 15, 1940, which became known as Black Tuesday, the Bf-110s were ravaged by the RAF, and for the month over 100 aircraft were lost. On the Eastern Front the Bf-110 performed admirably in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. With the Soviet Air Force weakened in the first several weeks of the attack, 110s were effectively utilized in a ground attack role. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe re-equipped a significant number of its 110s as night fighters. The aircraft performed well in this role because it was a good gun platform with sufficient speed to overtake the RAF night bombers. Such night missions were typically carried out with no Allied fighter escort, so the 110 night fighters would not have to engage or elude Allied fighters in this role. | |
| Squadrons for : Ludwig Becker | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Ludwig Becker. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
NJG1 Country : Germany Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of NJG1 | NJG1 Full profile not yet available. | |
NJG2 Country : Germany Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of NJG2 | NJG2 I./NJG 2's initial role was unlike the other units of the Luftwaffe night fighter arm; as a Fernnachtjagd Gruppe they were tasked with long-range intruder missions over the UK, disrupting night flying training and harassing the returning Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers over their own airfields. Luftflotte 3's radio intercepts of Bomber Command's transmissions helped pinpoint the operational airfields in Eastern England. I./NJG 2 aircraft could then scramble to be over the airfields at the predicted times of the bomber's return. The technique employed was to mix with the returning bombers, orbit the bases, and either shoot down targets that presented themselves or drop 50 kilograms (110 lb) bombs across the runways Based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands, operations commenced using just 7 JU 88 C-1 night fighters. Although most missions were carried out using the Junkers Ju 88C-1 and C-2, a few Dornier Do 215B-5 fighter conversions were trialled in the spring of 1941. The offensive over the UK yielded promising results- some 143 victory claims were made, and over 90 RAF aircraft were indeed lost between October 1940 and the start of 1942. There was also the additional disruption to RAF operations and the psychological effects on the RAF crews By October 1941 however night intruder sorties were curtailed, due to the inadequate number of aircraft available (I Gruppe never had more than 20 JU 88s operational) and the High Command's perceived lack of results; it was thought shooting down RAF bombers over the German homeland had a far greater morale effect than over the UK Among the most successful of the unit's pilots was Ufz. Heinz Strüning, who flew 66 intruder missions over England. He recorded his first night victory on 23/24 November - a RAF Vickers Wellington bomber and by the end of 1941 he had 9 victories. Leutnant Alfons Koster had, by October 1941, some 11 intruder victories. Lt. Hans Hahn was credited with 12 victories, all over England.[2] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross In July 1941, but was killed in action in October 1941, colliding with an RAF Airspeed Oxford trainer he was trying to shoot down. II./NJG 2 flew more conventional operations at this time, based at Leeuwarden on the Dutch coast. In November 1941 4./NJG 2 moved to Catania, and would remain there until February 1942, when it transferred back to Leeuwarden and joined the rest of II./NJG 2. In November 1941 2./NJG 2 moved to Benghazi as part of Fliegerführer Afrika, and returned to Catania later in the month. The first 'kill' was claimed on 13 December, Obfw Sommer downing a Bristol Beaufighter over Crete. On 19 November 1941 the unit escorted Ju 88 bombers raiding shipping off Malta, Lt. Laufs shooting down a Hurricane of No. 126 Squadron. Early in 1942 both 2. and 3./NJG 2 was based at Benghazi until March 1942. Various demands for night cover meant from April onwards I./NJG 2 was scattered over the Mediterranean, with detachments based at Benina, Berca, Derna, Benghazi, El Quasaba and Crete. On 1 October, 7./NJG 2 was redesignated as 4./NJG 2. The unit's Leutnant Heinz Strüning was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October for 24 victories. One of this unit's Ju 88G-1 night fighters, from the 7th Staffel, with Geschwaderkennung style aircraft code 4R+UR, was landed at RAF Woodbridge by mistake on July 13, 1944, giving the Allies their first chance to examine a working example of the VHF-band Lichtenstein SN-2 airborne intercept radar, and Flensburg radar detector gear. This event resulted in a longer-wavelength deployment of Window to jam the SN-2 gear, and general removal of the Monica tail warning radar from all RAF Bomber Command heavy bombers By the end of the year NJG 2 were covering the night defence of the industrial Ruhr area, flying from Düsseldorf, Kassel, Gütersloh, and Köln. In the final weeks of the conflict, the unit began receiving the night fighter variant of the Junkers Ju 388 - thus making NJG 2 the first and only Luftwaffe detachment to use the nachtjager variant operationally. It is likely these machines were 388J-0 pre-production prototypes, as the 388 programme was cancelled before manufacture of the J-1 production series had begun. Given the haphazard and incomplete conditions of training in those final days of war, and the almost total depletion of aviation fuel stocks throughout what remained of the Reich, it is doubtful whether more than a handful of combat missions were flown by this new type. NJG 2 claimed approximately 800 air victories during its period of operations. | |
Last edited : 14:43, April 24, 2017
Last editor : HMS
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