Erwin Clausen

Infobox Military Person
name=Erwin Clausen
born=birth date|1911|8|5|df=y
died=death date and age|1943|10|4|1911|8|5|df=y
placeofbirth=Berlin-Steglitz, Germany
placeofdeath=North Sea


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=
serviceyears=1935–1943
rank=Major
commands=6./JG 77, I./JG 11
unit=LG 2, JG 77, Erg. Gr.Süd, JG 11
battles=World War II
*Invasion of Poland
*Battle of France
*Balkan Campaign
*Eastern Front
*Defense of the Reich
awards=Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
laterwork=

Erwin Clausen (5 August 1911 – 4 October 1943) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II.

Military career

He joined the Reichsmarine in 1931 but then transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 to receive flying training. He was promoted to "Feldwebel" before World War ΙΙ began. He participate 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 uncorfirmed victories during the French campaign. On 1 February 1941, Oberleutnant Clausen was appointed "Staffelkapitän" of "1(J)/LG 2" to support of the invasion of the Balkans. After claiming 3 victories his unit withdrew to the Eastern front. In Russia where he was particularly successful. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 22 May after 52 victories. On 27 June, he was appointed "Staffelkapitän" of 6./JG 77.

Clausen reached his 100th victory by shooting down an Il-2 on 22 July 1942. He was awarded the Oak Leaves the next day. Clausen was transferred to Erg. Gr.Süd on 1 February 1943. Hauptmann Clausen became a "Gruppenkommandeur" of I./JG 11 on 20 June 1943 and appointed to "Reichsverteidigung" (Defense of the Reich) duties. On 4 October 1943 he shot down B-24 Liberator but then he was killed in aerial combat over the North Sea in his Fw 190 A-5.

Erwin Clausen is credited with 132 aerial victories with some unconfirmed victories in 561 combat missions. He recorded 1 victory over Poland, 3 over Yugoslavia (correctly - Hawker Fury fighters of the 36th Fighter Group over Režanovačka Kosa airfield near Kumanovo on April the 6th 1941.) , 14 victories over the Western front and rest of the victories over the Eastern front. [Spick 1996, p. 230.]

References