Date of birth:

April 24th, 1917 (Ratibor/Silesia, Germany)

Date of death:

September 19th, 2003 (Kempten/Bavaria, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Herbert Kutscha was born on 24th April 1917. When he entered the Luftwaffe in 1939, he started his career as Flugzeugführer 5. / Jagdgeschwader 77. His first victory was achieved on 14th December 1939. In March 1940, Kutscha was transferred to 5. / Zerstörergeschwader 1. With this unit he took part in the Campaign in the West. This unit was changed to 8. / Zertstörergeschwader on 26th June 1940. With this unit Kutscha took part in tha Battle for Britain. The unit was again transformer on 24th April 1941, this time to 5. (S.) Kampfgeschwader 210. Herbert Kutscha entered the fightings at the Eastern Front with this unit.

Kutscha was transferred to 12. / Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1943. Here he fought at the Mediterranean front. After he was wounded he was send home to recover and returned to the front in Normandy in June 1944 with 4. / Jagdgeschwader 3. By the end of 1944 he was again transferred, this time to Jagdgeschwader 27. Here he first became Staffelkapitän with 12.Staffel and then Gruppenführer with II. Gruppe. During the Ardennes offensive he was shot down, but managed to jump with his parachute form his plane (Bf 109G-10 (WNr. 490.664, Green 4). After recovering of his wounds, Kutscha was appointed to Gruppenkommandeur III. / Jagdgeschwader 11 on 23rd February 1945.

Over the course of about 900 sorties, Herbert Kutscha achieved 47 aerial victories (including 22 as a destroyer pilot). He also destroyed 41 aircraft on the ground, 41 tanks, 15 railway engines, 11 AA guns and 157 trucks.

Herbert Kutscha died on 19th September 2003.

Promotions:
1939: Unteroffizier;
1940: Feldwebel;
1941: Oberfeldwebel;
1942: Leutnant;
1943: Oberleutnant;
1944: Hauptmann.

Career:
1939: In service Luftwaffe;
1939 - March 1940: Flugzeugführer 5. / Jagdgeschwader 77;
March 1940 - June 1940: Flugzeugführer 5. / Zerstörergeschwader 1;
23rd June 1940 - 24th May 1941: Flugzeugführer 8. / Zerstörergeschwader 76;
24th May 1941 - 1942: Flugzeugführer 5. / (S.) Kampfgeschwader 210;
1942 - 1943: Flugzeugführer 6. / Zerstörergeschwader 1;
1943 - February 1944: Flugzeugführer 12. / Jagdgeschwader 3;
February 1944 - June 1944: Hospital;
June 1944 - 21st July 1944: 4. / Jagdgeschwader 3;
21st July 1944 - 25th November 1944: Kommandeur II. / Jagdgeschwader 3;
25th November 1944 - December 1944: Staffelkapitän 15. / Jagdgeschwader 27;
December 1944 - 20th January 1945: Kommandeur II. / Jagdgeschwader 27;
23rd February 1945 - May 1945: Kommandeur III. / Jagdgeschwader 11.

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• Photo 1: Russ Nummer
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