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Adapted from "Commander Lukas V. Dachs, United States Navy" [biography, dated 10 October 1951] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Lukas Victor Dachs 

4 October 1916 - 28 February 1959

Lukas Victor Dachs was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, on October 4, 1916, son of Lukas and Anna Rutzinger Dachs.  He attended grade and high schools in Deer Lodge, and in the fall of 1937 entered Montana State College at Bozeman.  He remained there for two years and in November 1939 was appointed Aviation Cadet in the US Naval Reserve.  Commissioned Ensign on October 14, 1940, he subsequently attained the rank of Commander to date from January 1, 1951.  His transfer to the US Navy became effective on January 13, 1943.

Completing flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, he was designated Naval Aviator on September 18, 1940.  He had consecutive service between November 1940 and February 1942, with Patrol Squadrons Forty Three and Eighty One, after which he transferred to Patrol Squadron Ninety Four, to serve until August 1943.

After assisting in the fitting out of Bombing Squadron One Hundred and Thirteen, he joined that squadron upon its commissioning.  He continued that duty until May 1944, when he was assigned to Bombing Squadron One Hundred and Ten, both squadrons operating as units of Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet.  For service while attached to Bombing Squadron One Hundred and Ten, he was awarded the Air Medal and Gold Star in lieu of the Second Air Medal and cited in part as follows:

Air Medal – “For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as a Member of the Crew of a PB4Y-1 Bomber Plane….during anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel Areas from October 1944 to May 1945.  Participating in numerous missions during this period, Lieutenant Commander Dachs contributed materially to the defeat of the enemy U-boat campaign in the Battle of the Atlantic….”

Gold Star in lieu of the Second Air Medal – “For meritorious achievement….as Pilot of a United States Naval Patrol Bomber Plane in Anti-Submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay and the Western Approaches to the United Kingdom from June 2 to 25, 1944.  Completing his fifth mission during this period, (he) contributed materially to the success of his squadron….”

Returning to the United States in May 1945 he had temporary duty at various places in Florida, before reporting in January 1946 as Officer in Charge of the Naval Training School at the Naval Air Station, Atlanta, Georgia.  He remained there until May 1946, when he was as-assigned to the Naval Technical Training Center, Jacksonville, Florida.  From July 1947 to June 1948 he attended the Naval School of General Line, Newport, Rhode Island, after which he had instruction in instruments at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas.

In August 1948 he became Officer in Charge of the Air Transport Squadron Twenty Four Detachment.  He continued duty in that capacity until April 1951, when he reported as Head of the Program Branch, Experimental Program Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington, DC

In addition to the Air Medal with Gold Star, Commander Dachs has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

END

Published: Mon May 24 15:51:19 EDT 2021