Walter Schuck
Walter Schuck was born on 30 July 1920 in Frankenholz. He was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until the end of World War II. He claimed 206 enemy aircraft shot down in over 500 combat missions, eight of which while flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.
He earned the Knight’s Cross on 8 April 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 7./ Jagdgeschwader 5 and the Oak Leaves (616.) on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9./ Jagdgeschwader 5.
On 10 April 1945 he claimed four B-17 Flying Fortresses shot down. One of the bombers was “Henn’s Revenge” of the 303rd Bombardment Group, and another was “Moonlight Mission” of the 457th Bombardment Group. Shortly afterwards, his Messerschmitt Me 262 was hit by a P-51 Mustang of the fighter escort, piloted by Lt. Joseph Anthony Peterburs of the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, causing Schuck to bail out. Schuck sprained both ankles upon landing and the war ended before he recovered. After the war, he wrote a book on his military career, called “Abschuss!: Von der Me 109 zur Me 262“.
Former Enemies
In 2005 Schuck met Peterburs in person during a visit to the US. They both became close friends.
Arbeitsgruppe Vermisstenforschung states: ”Walter Schuck visited lots of our presentations in the past and also supported our work. He always wanted us to search for his missing comrades and bring them back home to their families. We will always keep his memory alive.”
Death
Former Oberleutnant of the Luftwaffe, later Hauptmann a.D., and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Holder Walter Schuck has died at 94 years of age on 28 March 2015.
NEW BOOK on KNIGHT’S CROSS BEARERS: I’ve published my first eBook on the Knight’s Cross bearers of Czechoslovakia (1939-1945). Part I contains information and photographs from the Knight’s Cross bearers starting their names with A until K. It’s written in German but it’s written so that it is easy to understand. The book contains many unpublished photographs and information. It only costs 10,50 EUR in return you’ll help Argunners Magazine and have yourself a great read. I’ve also listed 2 reviews about the book. I hope you like it! It’s made available only by Sellfy. If you want to buy it, you also receive a 5% discount if you share about the book on your social account! Click below:
Read also:
- Messerschmitt Me 262, history of the Luftwaffe jet fighter.
- Messerschmitt Me 262 Hit & Shot Down by U.S. Fighter, color video footage.
- Heinkel He 280, Germany’s first jet fighter.
- Heinkel He 177, Luftwaffe bomber.
- Lübeck Airport, great images of Luftwaffe and RAF Aircraft in 1946.
- Leopold Münster, Luftwaffe ace who crashed his Bf109 into a B24 after spending all his ammunition.
Literature:
- Boyne, Walter: Messerschmitt Me 262: Arrow to the Future (Paperback). Schiffer Publishing.
- Buchner, Hermann: Stormbird: One of the Luftwaffe’s Highest Scoring Me 262 Aces (Paperback). Crecy Publishing.
- Carruthers, Bob: Me.262 – Stormbird Ascending (Hardcover). Archive Media Publishing.
- Forsyth, Robert: Me 262 Bomber and Reconnaissance Units (Paperback). Osprey Publishing.
- Green, Brett; Evans, Benjamin: Stormbird Colors: Construction, Camouflage and Markings of the Me 262 (Paperback). Eagle Editions.
- Heaton, Colin D.; Lewis Anne-Marie: The Me 262 Stormbird: From the Pilots Who Flew, Fought, and Survived It (Hardcover). Zenith Press.
- O’Connell, Dan: Messerschmitt Me 262: The Production Log 1941-1945 (Hardcover). Midland Publishing.
- Schuck, Walter: Luftwaffe Eagle: From the Me109 to the Me262 (Paperback). Crecy Publishing.
- Smith, Richard J.; Greek, Eddie J.: Me 262, Volume One (Hardcover). Classic Publication.
- Smith, Richard J.; Greek, Eddie J.: Me 262, Volume Two (Hardcover). Crecy Publishing.
- Smith, Richard J.; Greek, Eddie J.: Me 262, Volume Three (Hardcover). Classic Publishing.
- Smith, Richard J.; Greek, Eddie J.: Me 262, Volume Four (Hardcover). Classic Publishing.
- Ziegler, Mano: Hitler’s Jet Plane: The ME 262 Story (Paperback). Frontline Books.
What did Walter Schuck do after the war ? Did Walter marry? I am enjoying Walters book in English
I have met Joe Peterburs, a fine man, and still very sharp, loved talking to him and listening to his stories about his combat missions and the day he shot down Walter Schuck.
Walter and Joe are both good men, patriots, and Walter was a one of a kind. Glad to have known them both.
I met Walter Schuck at the Air & Space Museum several years ago at an event sponsored by Virginia Bader. He was there with Guenther Rall. He could only speak broken English but I could understand what he was saying to me. A very fine gentleman whom I am honored to have met–
Walter was responsible for the death of my cousin who was on Moonlight Mission on April 10, 1945. I find it very difficult to get a warm fuzzy feeling over any former nazi.
And your cousin could just as easily have killed WS, if he had been luckier on that day. These were fighting men, and they knew the risks they were taking. And Walter Schuck was no “Nazi”: he was a German soldier fighting for his country–
Honored to have known this amazing man…
Thanks for your reply, Mrs. Peterburs. May he rest in peace. Glad you became very good friends, may you cherish the memories.