Helmut Leicht enrolled at Luftkriegschule 4 (Air Warfare School No. 4) in Berlin-Gatow on 6 April 1936 and, on 1 July 1937, joined I. Gruppe of Stuka Wing 165 as a Leutnant; this unit became I. /Stukageschwader 77 in May 1939. With 1. Staffel he took part in the campaigns in Poland and the West, flying sorties over both France and England during the summer of 1940. On 6 February 1941, was appointed Staffelkapitän of the Ergänzungsstaffel des Stuka-Geschwaders 77. On 28 June 1941, he returned to 1. Staffel and was seriously wounded during his first mission over Russia. Following his recovery, he served as Staffelkapitän of 2./ StG 77 from 3 January 1942 to 10 January 1943 and also as acting Kommandeur of I. Gruppe. After around 400 combat sorties, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross with the rank of Hptm. on 3 September 1942. From 11 January to 22 April 1943, he served on the staff of IV Fliegerkorps and took command of II./Stukageschwader 77 in April 1943. Promoted to Major on 1 October 1943, he was seriously wounded on 9 November 1943. After his recovery, on 5 May 1944 he resumed command of II. / Stuka-Geschwader 77, which became III. / Schlachtgeschwader 10 in May 1944. On 26 June 1944 Leicht failed to return from his 600th combat mission. Sellhorn who flew with him in 1./St.G 77 indicated that he was lost on 22/06/44 in his own caption to this image, while 'Kracker' states this occurred on his 900th sortie! Flying Fw 190 F-8 WNr. 930483 "Green 1" he was reportedly last seen attacking enemy columns in the area south-east of Vitebsk. Probably the first Ju 87 Stuka 'ace' to be shot down and killed in a Fw 190, Leicht was awarded a posthumous Eichenlaub. In this rare image Leicht is seen at the controls of a Storch, probably during 1942. Click to view full screen,
Lt. Frommlowitz of the Gruppenstab I./St.G 77 in front of a Ju 87 D, 1943
