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Walter Schuck (30 July 1920 – 27 March 2015) 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.〔Toliver and Constable 1998, p. 373.〕〔For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see ''List of German World War II jet aces''〕 For these achievements, Schuck received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ((ドイツ語:Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub)). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Born in the ''Saargebiet'' (Territory of the Saar Basin), Schuck volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe of the Third Reich in 1936 and was accepted in 1937. After a period of training at various pilot and fighter pilot schools, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing), operating on the most northern section of the Eastern Front, the Arctic Front, in April 1942. In April 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 84 aerial victories. Following his 171st aerial victory he was injured in combat and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during his convalescence. In early 1945 Schuck transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) which operated the then revolutionary jet fighter Me 262. Claiming a further eight aerial victories, he was forced to bail out when his aircraft was shot down by a P-51 Mustang on 10 April 1945. Schuck sustained minor injuries preventing him from flying further combat missions. ==Childhood, education and early career== Schuck was born on 30 July 1920 in Frankenholz, now part of Bexbach, in the ''Saargebiet'', at the time a region of Germany occupied and governed by the United Kingdom and France from 1920 to 1935 under a League of Nations mandate. Schuck was one of five children of Jakob Schuck, a coal miner and veteran of World War I, and his wife.〔Schuck 2007, p. 9.〕 After graduation from the ''Volksschule'' (primary school), he unsuccessfully applied for an apprenticeship at the coal mine in Falkenhorst. Money was tight in the family and higher education was out of reach. He then jobbed at a local brickyard. After a plebiscite on 13 January 1935, the ''Saargebiet'' was restored to Germany on 1 March 1935. The introduction of the compulsory military service on 16 March 1935 was seen by Schuck as a career opportunity and a chance to fulfill his dream of flying. His father, who had experienced the trench warfare during World War I, advised him to take every opportunity to avoid service in the infantry.〔Schuck 2007, pp. 10–11.〕 Schuck volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht at the age of 16, before he could be conscripted into the infantry.〔Schuck 2007, p. 12.〕 Schuck received a letter in early 1937 that he had been accepted by the Luftwaffe. Prior to enlisting he had to complete his six month of ''Reichsarbeitsdienst'' (Reich Labour Service), which he began on 3 April 1937. His recruit training began in November 1937 with the 2. ''Fliegerersatzabteilung'' 24 (2nd Flier Replacement Unit 24) in Quakenbrück.〔 On 1 April 1938 he was transferred to the ''Flughafenbetriebskompanie'' (Airport Operation Company) of Kampfgeschwader 254 (KG 254—254th Bomber Wing) to Gütersloh. Initially Schuck was tasked with security guard duties before he was assigned to help a fellow soldier, a truck driver, haul material around the airbase. Schuck did not possess a drivers license, but he was unofficially taught how to drive the 3-tonne Mercedes truck. This impressed his commanding officer, ''Hauptmann'' (Captain) Schneiderberger, who transferred him to the glider pilot school at Schüren, near Meschede in the Sauerland, after the Sudeten Crisis.〔Schuck 2007, p. 14.〕 After a few weeks at Schüren, Schuck returned to Gütersloh in mid-November 1938.〔Schuck 2007, p. 16.〕 In February 1939, Schuck attended a three-month course at the ''Luftfahrttechnische Schule'' (aeronautical technical school) at Bonn-Hangelar. Following this, he was transferred back to Quakenbrück, this time to the A/B ''Fliegerschule'' (flight school for the pilot license) of ''Fliegerausbildungsregiment'' 82 (flight training regiment). Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations. Schuck logged his first solo flight after only 18 takeoff and landings. Normally the first solo flight was flown after 30 to 40 accompanied flights.〔 Schuck completed his B2 flight training just prior to the start of the Battle of France on 10 May 1940. He received his A/B pilot license on 14 May 1940.〔Schuck 2007, p. 17.〕 Schuck initially wanted to become an aerial reconnaissance pilot, flying the Dornier Do 17.〔 However, due to disciplinary problems following unauthorized aerobatics on a Focke-Wulf Fw 56 "''Stösser''" and an open conflict with his commanding officer, ''Oberleutnant'' Brunner, Schuck ran the risk of a potential court-martial. To avoid further escalations Schuck was transferred to the ''Jagdfliegerschule'' (fighter pilot school) at Werneuchen.〔Schuck 2007, pp. 18–19.〕 He arrived at Werneuchen on 16 June 1940 where he was assigned to the 3. ''Staffel'' (3rd squadron). The entire ''Gruppe'' was under the command of ''Oberleutnant'' Klaus Quaet-Faslem. Schuck's fighter pilot instructor was ''Oberfeldwebel'' Hobe, who was aware of Schuck's disciplinary history. Hobe commented "Schuck, we don't want problems here. We now go on a test flight and I am sure that you will be leaving afterwards". Fearful that this might have end his flying career, Schuck followed Hobe's every maneuver, which impressed Quaet-Faslem who had witnessed their test flight. Schuck's flying career was saved. At Werneuchen the pilots were first trained on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B-2, later the Bf 109 E-1, which had a more powerful engine.〔Schuck 2007, pp. 20–21.〕 Schuck scored more than 90% hits during target practice, the highest score then achieved at Werneuchen. After his graduation from the fighter pilot school, he was transferred to the 3. ''Staffel'' of ''Ergänzungsjagdgruppe'' Merseburg (Supplementary Fighter Group) on 2 September 1940.〔Schuck 2007, p. 22.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Walter Schuck」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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