How to Pronounce Herbert Lütje
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Jan 30, 1918 Meine, Germany Died on 18 Jan 1967 (aged 48)
German flying ace
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About Herbert Lütje
- Herbert Heinrich Otto Lütje (30 January 1918 – 18 January 1967) was a German military aviator, a wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II and an officer in the postwar German Air Force.
- As a fighter ace, he was credited with 50 aerial victories claimed in 247 combat missions.
- His 47 nocturnal claims made him the twentyfourth most successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.
- All of his victories were claimed in Defense of the Reich missions, the majority at night against the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Bomber Command and three daytime claims, one over a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and two Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. Born in Abbesbüttel, Lütje grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.
- Following graduation from school, he joined the military service in 1937 and was trained as a pilot.
- In 1939 and 1940 he served with the night-fighter squadron of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2—2nd Demonstration Wing) and Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) during the Norwegian campaign and Battle of France.
- Following the units reorganization, he served with III.
- Gruppe (3rd group) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing).
- Lütje claimed his first aerial victory on the night of 6/7 September 1942 and was appointed squadron leader of 8.
- Staffel (8th squadron) of NJG 1 in May 1943.
- Following his 28th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 June 1943, shortly after he was given command IV.
- Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 (NJG 6—6th Night Fighter Wing).
- He was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of NJG 6 in October 1944.
- On 17 April 1945, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Following the rearmament of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lütje joined the German Air Force in July 1957.
- He died on 18 January 1967 in Cologne-Wahn.
