Günther Schack
| Günther Schack | |
|---|---|
Günther Schack
|
|
| Born |
12 November 1917 Bartenstein, German Empire |
| Died | 14 June 2003 (aged 85) Schmidt near Nideggen, Germany |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe
|
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | JG 51, JG 3 |
| Commands held | 9./JG 51, I./JG 51, IV./JG 3 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Günther Schack (12 November 1917 – 14 June 2003) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until the end of World War II in 1945. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He was a recipient of the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross in recognition of his combat success. He claimed 174 enemy aircraft shot down, all of them on the Russian front. He survived being shot down 15 times during his 780 combat missions. After the war he lived secluded in the Eifel Mountains, and devoted himself to philosophical research.
Günther Schack was born in Bartenstein in Eastern Prussia in 1917 as the son of a doctor. He studied at the University of Stuttgart and at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule in Aachen.
Schack was accepted into the Luftwaffe on 2 September 1939. After being trained as a fighter pilot, Gefreiter (Privat First Class) Schhack was posted to 7th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—7th Squadron of the 51st Fighter Wing) on 18 March 1941.
Schack claimed his first aerial victory in combat on 23 July 1941 on the Eastern Front. He struggled to score against the poorly led and poorly trained Soviet pilots. He achieved his third air victory after 100 combat missions, on 10 November 1941. He flew his 250th combat mission on 30 July 1942, when he claimed only his 5th aerial victory. In November 1942, with his personal score now at 18, his unit returned to Jesau in East Prussia to re-equip onto the new Focke Wulf Fw 190A fighter.
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