Becker, Aloysius "Alois"

Date of birth:: October 16th, 1918 (Heinsberg/Rhine Province/Kingdom of Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:: September 27th, 1944 (near Emmerich/Rhine Province/Free State of Prussia, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Promotions:
01.12.1940: Gefreiter;
01.12.1942: Unteroffizier;
01.06.1944: Feldwebel.

Aloysius Becker was born in 1919 as the son of Johannes and Regina (Geb. Schauerte) Becker. His father was a forester and Aloysius followed him in his footsteps. In November 1938 however, he was called up for service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst and served as an Arbeitsmann for four months, being prematurely discharged in March 1939 as he went to serve with the Luftwaffe.

After having been schooled at various Luftwaffe pilot-and bomber schools, he was finally assigned to his permanent unit in June 1942. This being the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, which was equipped with Junkers Ju 87 dive-bombers. Within several months Becker was already decorated various times and was promoted to Unteroffizier in December of 1942. The next year his unit was relocated to the Mediterranean and saw action in Italy for several weeks in April 1943, but went back to the Eastern front during the next month.

There Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 was involved during Unternehmen Zitadelle, amongst others supporting the final German attacks in the South towards Kursk. In August 1943, after having served for almost a year with the 9. Staffel of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Unteroffizier Becker was transferred to the Stabskompanie of the same Geschwader where he remained until January 1944, having completed 253 missions as a pilot.

In the end of January 1944 Becker served with Nachtschlachtgruppe 7 with the 3. and 1. Staffel, which was equipped with obsolete aircraft like the Henschel Hs 126, Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 46. The main area of operation of this Gruppe was in Croatia, flying (night) operations against the partisan forces of Josip Tito. In the end of June 1944, having recently been promoted to Feldwebel, Aloysius Becker was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 26, which built a fearsome reputation among Allied aircrews, the Allies even perceived them as the Luftwaffe's special hand-picked elite group of aces.

On the 27th of September 1944 his Staffel was sent on a mission near enemy lines at the German-Dutch border and came into severe aerial combat with British Spitfires. Unteroffizier Becker, flying his Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 (Werkn. 175127, Kennz. weiße 13), got involved in a dogfight with one of the British fighters. Above Emmerich, his aircraft was hit and Becker was forced to jump out of his aircraft but did not manage to release his parachute. As a consequence, he was hit by the tail of his own aircraft, falling down to earth unconscious. He was instantly killed.

Aloysius Becker, aged 25, was buried with military honors on the 5th of October 1944 at the Kommunalfriedhof in Emmerich (Plot G, Grave 17) where he is still resting as of today. Besides his parents, he was survived by his wife, whom he married in May 1942.

Aloysius Becker lies buried at the Kommunalfriedhof in Emmerich, Plot G, Grave 17.