The signatories
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Major Rolf Hermichen
'Major Rolf Hermichen 2nd
Lt. with 6./ZG 1 when WWII broke out. 4 victories in French campagn,
3 over England in Aug 40. Eastern Front late 41, and back to
West in March 42, Cdr. 3./JG 26 with 10 British fighters to his
credit. Made Group Cdr. I/JG 11 on 16.10.43. Shot down 3 B-24s
within 15 minutes on 20.02.44, 2 B-17s and a P-47 on 06.03.44.
4 heavies within 20 min. on 08.03.44. Awarded the Knight's Cross
on 26.03.44. 3 last kills (2 P-51) 24.04.44. Cdr. II./ JG 104,
but no active flying duty until end of war. 629 combat missions
in WWII, 64 confirmed victories. Decorations include: Knight's
Cross with Oak Leaves, German Cross, Cup of Honour.
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Captain Herbert Kutscha
Corporal pilot at the start of WWII. Posted to 5./ZG 1 with 3
kills over France, 1 Swiss Me-109, and 4 RAF planes over UK.
Awarded Knight's Cross after 22 aerial victories plus 41 aircraft,
41 tanks, 15 locos, 11 AA guns and 157 trucks destroyed on ground.
Italy from 1943. Shot down by P-47 on 24.02.44, bailed out severely
injured. Cdr. II./JG 3 from Jul 44, then II./JG 27 from Oct 1944.
Shot down by P-51 bailing out after downing 2 U.S. fighters on
Christmas Day 44. Cdr. III./JG 11 from Feb. 45. Over 900 combat
missions WWII. 47 conf. victories (22 in Me 110). Decorations
include: Knight's Cross, German Cross, Cup of Honour.
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Captain Johannes Lutter
Member 6./ZG 1. Awarded the Knight's Cross after 150 missions
with 30 aircraft and 15 tanks destroyed on the ground. Promoted
officer on 12.12.41. Posted to 8./ZG 2 fighting in Russia, later
Tunisia and Italy. Considered by many to be most successful German
fighter bomber- and close support pilot in MTO, flying against
Allied landing and ground forces under extremly difficult conditions.
Cdr. 8./SG 4 in 44. Over 400 combat missions in WWII. 12 confirmed
victories, numerous ground targets destroyed, sank one 15.000
ton tanker. Decorations include: Knight's Cross, German Cross,
Cup of Honour.
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Colonel Herschel H. Green
Aviation Cadet in Sept. 41 after learning to fly in the Civilian
Pilot Training Program while at University. 2nd Lt. 1 year later
and assigned to 57th FG. Transferred to 325th FG ("Checkertail
Clan"). Combat in North Africa/MTO. Cdr. 317th FS. 1st victory
19.05.1943 plus 2 more in P 40. 6 victories in a day on 30.01.1944
flying a P 47. 5 more kills later in the war in
P 51s. Ace in two aircraft. 100 combat missions in WWII. 18 confirmed,
two probable victories. Decorations include: DSC, Silver Star,
2 DFCs, 25 Air Medals, Purple Heart,
Croix de Guerre avec Palm (France).
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Lt. Colonel Lewis W. Chick, Jr.
Graduated as pursuit pilot in June 1938. Flying P 26s and P 36s
with 20th PG. In Panama until August 42 as Cdr. 24th Sqn (P 40s).
Transferred to England Dec 42, flying Spitfires, P 47s with 4th
FG and 355th FG. Then with 325th FG ("Checkertail Clan")
on P 47s as Cdr 317th FS. Destroyed 6 Me 109s in aerial combat.
Active post-war flying career until retiring from USAF in 1958.
87 combat missions in WWII. 6 confirmed victories. Decorations
include: DFC and 13 Air Medals.
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Major Robert M. Barkey
After initial training assigned to "Checkertail Clan"
(325th FG, 319th FS), flying P40s in Africa, later Italy after
transition to P 47s in late 1943, 1st victory on 22.02.1944,
Downed 2 more 109s, both flown by aces of elite German JG 26,
and another 109 on 24.05.44. Flying the history-making Russian
shuttle in P 51, he became an Ace on 6 June 44 for one more Me
109, this time fying the P 51. Recalled in 1951 flying F 84s,
retiring as Major in 1961. 53 combat missions in WWII. 5 confirmed
victories, 1 probable. Decorations include: DFC, 13 Air Medals,
Presidential Unit Citation.
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