Career
He was one of the first pilots to carry out jet bombing missions flying the Arado Ar 234. On the day before Christmas 1944, Lukesch led nine Ar 234B-2s in the first jet bombing missions ever, supporting the German counterattack out of the Ardennes. The target was a factory complex at Liège, Belgium.
In the days that followed, Lukesch and the Arado pilots attacked Allied troops, rail yards, and other positions.
On New Year"s Day 1945, Lukesch led history"s first jet, night-bombing sortie, attacking targets at Brussels and Liège. He concluded the war with a total of 436 bombing and long-range reconnaissance missions.
He was taken prisoner of war by the American forces and released on 27 July 1945. Lukesch at first worked for United States Armed Forces in Austria.
He then became a commercial airline pilot, flying for 18 years first with KLM, and later Lufthansa.
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