Information about Ltn. Martin Lacha

[grvreijn]

1 P-47 of 78 FG – Lt. Hunt seem to have returned with FLAK damage.

Other allied lossed that day over the Dutch coast that day:
43-07-01 1217 North sea (5 km NW Ostende) Typhoon IB R8946 3 Sqdn F/O A.T.Little B
43-07-01 1200 North sea (25 km W Hoek van Holland) Typhoon IB DN589 3 Sqdn P/O C.G.Benjamin B
43-07-01 1215 North sea (W Hoek van Holland) Typhoon IB EJ970 3 Sqdn Sgt F.Lawrence B

This is the same area were Peterson was lost but approx. 4 hr. earlier.

Fw 190A-5 (Wnr 410198) of 2./JG 1 crashed west of Dutch islands in the North sea killing Uffz. Karl Walz

[RT]

A-7 at Menaldum Holland on 16 December, 1943, cause and pilot injuries, if any, unknown (DeSwart

Yes known

Schwer verletz ,Sprenggeschoss Lacher martin ltn 53132/8-f FSA unterarm amputiert 020720-Hohenens Dornbirn


Rémi

[Doug Stankey]

Looking in the Kracker Archive, we find:

Lacha, Martin. - Lt. - 11 victories - 11./JG-1 (7/42), 2./JG-1 (5/43), 3./JG-1 (10/43), 1./JG-1 (12/44)Bf 109E-3 "Blk 4" & Fw 190A-3 "Blk 7" & Fw 190A-4 Wk# 0606 (50% dam 8/25/42) in11/JG-1, Fw 190A-4 (3/JG-1), A-7 Wk#430162 (12/43)EP, EK 1& 2 (10/23/43), Wound Badge, Fighter Operational ClaspOne known victory, his 1st, a Spitfire, on 2 May, 1943, southwest of Vlissingen. His 2nd, a B-17 at Havixbeck on 22 June, 1943. His 3rd was over Col. Arman "Pete" Peterson CO (KIA) of the 78FG, flying a P-47, on 1 July, 1943, over Goeree, Holland. The P-47 crashed NE of Ouddorp. Flugbuch (7/43 to 12/44). His 4th, same day, another P-47 at Oostvorne, NE of Schiedam. His 5th, a B-17 (HSS) on 26 July, 1943. His 6th, a B-17 S of Maastricht on 17 August, 1943. His 7th, a B-17 at Schiedam on 19 August, 1943. His 8th, a B-17 S of Wagenfeld on 8 October, 1943. His 9th, a P-47 at Altenberg, NW of Münster on 11 November, 1943. His 10th, a B-17 on 11 December, 1943. His 11th, a B-17 off De Koog, Texel on 16 December, 1943. Injured in a crash on 25 August, 1942 in an Fw 190A-4 Werk # 606, while in 11/JG-1. Known to crash his A-7 at Menaldum Holland on 16 December, 1943, cause and pilot injuries, if any, unknown (DeSwart). One of a few surviving JG-1 pilots.

That's all I can find. Good Luck!

DGS

[Johannes]

Hi guys

Lacha's claims appear both on the normal type Micro films and on another section listing all claims for an individual, and in both cases those for 26th July 1943 and 11th December 1943 are ommitted, so either both were never confirmed, or he never made such claims, therefore his total would be nine confirmed victories in the west.

Regards

Johannes