Information about Ltn. Martin Lacha

[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