Ludwig-Wilhelm “Lutz” Burkhardt was born on 5 February
1919 at Bremen. Up to June 1940, Burkhardt served with a Flak regiment.
Following fighter pilot training, he was posted to the Stabsstaffel of
II./JG 77, based on the Eastern front. He recorded his first victory on
9 May 1942, when he shot down a Russian I-153 biplane fighter over the
Crimea. On 1 June, Burkhardt provided fighter escort to Generaloberst Wolframm
Freiherr von Richtofen’s Fi 156 Storch near Sevastopol. His aircraft was
hit by Russian ground fire necessitating a belly-landing close to the Russian
lines. He survived without injury but had to suffer Russian infantry fire
in making his escape. Shortly afterwards, Leutnant Burkhardt was transferred
to 6./JG 77. His score increased rapidly gaining 24 victories in July,
including six victories on 12 July to record his 16th through 21st victories,
four victories on 13 July (22-25) and three victories on 23 July (28-30)
and 11 victories in August, including four victories on 13 August (36-39)
and three victories on 18 August (42-44). By the time he received the award
of the Ritterkreuz on 15 October, Leutnant Burkhardt’s victory total stood
at 53. During this period, Burkhardt had survived many forced landings
or damage to his own aircraft as a result of enemy action, each time escaping
major injury. For example, on 10 August, he suffered engine failure resulting
in a forced-landing in no-man’s land. His wingman reported, on his return
to base, that Burkhardt’s aircraft had overturned before the pilot had
got out. However, Burkhardt was able to return, uninjured, three days later.
II./JG 77 was relocated to North Africa in late 1942. Burkhardt was appointed
Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 77 on 12 November. Much of the time he was unfit
for flying due to malaria. However, he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter
near Buerat on 7 January 1943 to record his 54th victory. However, next
day he was seriously hurt when he stepped on an explosive device shortly
after landing at Bir Dufan. On his recovery, Burkhardt was appointed
Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 77, based in Italy, on 19 August 1943, replacing
Heinrich “Heinz” Bär (221 victories, RK-S). On 1 December, he was transferred
to 1./Jagdgruppe Süd, for a short period as an instructor, having added
three victories while operating with I./JG 77. Burkhardt was transferred
as Staffelkapitän to 6./JG 1, based in Holland, on 25 December 1943, replacing
Hauptmann Harry Koch (30 victories, DKiG), who had been killed in
an aerial collision with his wingman on 22 December. The unit was equipped
with Fw 190s and Burkhardt, having always flown Bf 109s, was moved to become
Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 1, which operated the type, on 19 February 1944.
Having added 11 further victories to his victory total, all Allied fighters,
Burkhardt was obliged to relinquish command of the unit on 2 July, when
he was struck down by a bout of malaria that was to see him forego any
further combat flying for the remainder of the war. On his recovery from
illness, Burkhardt was assigned various staff duties. At the end of the
war he was serving with III./EJG 2 where he underwent training on the Me
262 jet fighter.
“Lutz” Burkhardt was credited with 69 victories
in 245 missions. He recorded 53 victories over the Eastern
front, including 15 Il-2
Sturmovik ground
attack aircraft. Of the 16 victories he recorded over the Western
front, six were USAAF P-51 fighters and
six were USAAF P-47 fighters.
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9.5.1942
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I-153 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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12.5.1942
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Il-2 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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13.5.1942
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Il-2 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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17.5.1942
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I-153 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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17.5.1942
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I-16 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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18.5.1942
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R-5 | Stab II./JG 77 | - |
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8.6.1942
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I-16 | 6./JG 77 | 35 392 |
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8.6.1942
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MiG-1 | 6./JG 77 | 35 363 |
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17.6.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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5.7.1942
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I-180 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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6.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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8.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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8.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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9.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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9.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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MiG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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12.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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13.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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13.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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13.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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13.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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15.7.1942
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R-5 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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20.7.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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23.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 82 222 |
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23.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 83 881 |
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23.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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25.7.1942
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MiG-3 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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31.7.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 92 344 |
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31.7.1942
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MiG-1 | 6./JG 77 | 92 154 |
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8.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 471 |
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8.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 442 |
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13.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 771 |
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13.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 93 791 |
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13.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 83 728 |
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13.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 93 511 |
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14.8.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | - |
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16.8.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 83 881 |
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18.8.1942
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Pe-2 | 6./JG 77 | 93 782 |
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18.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 82 272 |
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18.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 82 263 |
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3.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 93 873 |
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12.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 811 |
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14.9.1942
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P-39 | 6./JG 77 | 2 513 |
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15.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 323 |
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15.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 183 |
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15.9.1942
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Pe-2 | 6./JG 77 | 82 263 |
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20.9.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 92 153 |
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20.9.1942
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Il-2 | 6./JG 77 | 92 213 |
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22.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 6./JG 77 | 92 133 |
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7.1.1943
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Spitfire | 4./JG 77 | 2km SSE Buerat |
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16.9.1943
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Spitfire | Stab I./JG 77 | - |
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16.10.1943
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Spitfire | Stab I./JG 77 | - |
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17.11.1943
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P-51 | Stab I./JG 77 | - |
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2.3.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | S Verviers |
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23.3.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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9.4.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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11.4.1944
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P-51 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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13.4.1944
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P-51 | 7./JG 1 | Darmstadt |
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22.4.1944
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P-51 | 7./JG 1 | NE Rothaargebirge |
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4.5.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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7.5.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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22.5.1944
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P-51 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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22.5.1944
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P-38 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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29.5.1944
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P-47 | 7./JG 1 | - |
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10.6.1944
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P-51 | 7./JG 1 | - |
Victories : 69
Awards : Ehrenpokal (19 October 1942)
Ritterkreuz (15 October 1942)
Units : JG 77, JGr Süd, JG 1, EJG 2