Clausen, Erwin "Caesar" (JG 77 "Herz As")

Date of birth:: August 5th, 1911 (Berlin-Steglitz, Germany)
Date of death:: October 4th, 1943 (115km North of Borkum, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Erwin Clausen was killed on October 4th, 1943, when his plane was shot down over the North sea, near Borkum. At that moment he was Kommandeur I. / Jagdgeschwader 11 with the rank of Hauptmann. He was posthumously promoted to Major.

He flew a total of 561 sorties and achieved 132 aerial victories (including 114 in the East and 14 four-engined bombers).

Promotions:
00.00.1936: Unteroffizier
00.00.1939: Feldwebel
00.00.1940: Oberfeldwebel
00.11.1940: Leutnant
01.02.1941: Oberleutnant
01.02.1943: Hauptmann
00.10.1943: Major (posthumously)

Career:
00.00.1931: joined the Reichsmarine
00.00.1935: transferred to the Luftwaffe from the Kriegsmarine to receive flight training
00.09.1939: Feldwebel, 3.(Jagd) Staffel, Lehrgeschwader 2, 1 victory
09.09.1939: Feldwebel, 3.(J) Staffel, LG 2, 1 victory
25.05.1940: Oberfeldwebel, 3./ LG , unhurt - Bf 109 E force-landed near Cambrai after combat with a Potez
29.05.1940: Ofw., 3.(J)/ LG 2, 1 victory
30.06.1940: Ofw., 3./ LG 2, unhurt - Bf 109 E combat with Blenheims South West of St.Omer, France
20.10.1940: Ofw., 3./ LG 2, unhurt - damaged Bf 109 E Werknummer 5804 force-landed in France after combat North West of Ashford
01.02.1941-06.01.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1.(J)/ LG 2
22.06.1941-05.12.1941: Oblt., Staka, 1./ LG 2
00.07.1941: Werknummer 6389 coded "White 4 + x" damaged
06.12.1941-30.04.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1./ JG 77 due to unit renaming
16.01.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1./ JG 77, 1 victory
15.03.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1./ JG 77, 1 victory
24.04.1942-25.05.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1./ JG 4
01.05.1942-27.06.1942: Oblt., Staka, 1./ JG 77
10.06.1942: Oblt., 1./ JG 77, 1 victory
27.06.1942-01.02.1943: Oblt., Staka, 6./ JG 77
14.07.1942: Oblt., Staka, 6./ JG 77, WIA - Bf 109 E-7 Werknummer 13.121 coded 'White 1' collided with another Bf 109 at Kastornoje
21.07.1942: Oblt., 6./ JG 77, 1 victory
05.09.1942: Oblt., 6./ JG 77, 1 victory
11.01.1943: Oblt.(Kr.O.), Erg.JGr. Os
25.03.1943-19.06.1943: Hptm., Staka, 1. Staffel, Erg.Jagd-Gr. Süd
20.06.1943-04.10.1943: Hptm., Kdr., I. Gruppe, JG 11
17.07.1943: Hptm., Stab, I./ JG 11, 1 victory
17.08.1943: Hptm., Stab, I./ JG 11, 1 victory
27.09.1943: Hptm., Stab, I./ JG 11, 1 victory
04.10.1943: Hptm., Kdr, I. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 11, reproted MIA and probably KIA when Fw 190 A-5/U12/Y Werknummer 7358 coded 'Black <<+' failed to return from an interception of U.S. bombers over the North Sea - believed to have crashed 115 km North West of Borkum
01.08.1944: Major, still officially listed as MIA