Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Lt Karl-Heinz Gschwendtner is credited with 2 ships sunk ( 3,500 tons ), 23 tanks destroyed, as well as 29 anti-tank guns, 150 vehicles and bridges. He flew more than 800 combat missions until his death.
ANY one do have more data about his personal aircraft?
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

It is quite old posting and it ended with no result...but it is written there:
- that local people stripped the death german pilot and buried him on the crashplace.
- that there is still some jacket to be seen somewhere at the village
- that when detectorists excavated engine and other parts, they did not pay attention to the remains...and those were most probably buried again at the same place.
- it should happen sometime in the evening on may 8, 1945 that Mustangs shot couple of Fw 190s.Is it possible that it was listed on May 9, 1945 then?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Peter,

planes were almost sure from Stab III./SG 10 and started from Vysoké Mýto (Hohenmauth) A/F. There is not any proof that pilot was DKIG´s holder. Personally I think it is really fairy-tale...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

and what about the DKiG that was found there?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

If indeed he was DKiG holder and belonged to SG 10.....does anybody know what happened to Oblt. Norbert Schmitt, born 11.5.1921, DKIG holder and pilot in 3./SG 10? He was reported missing in that timeframe.

John.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Thanks John...We will keep it in mind and focus research on this person...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Hello John,

Oblt. Norbert Schmitt was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 28 February 1945 as a Staffelkapitän of 3./SG 10. He failed to return from a combat sortie in a Karmais (?) area in Hungary on 26 March 1945, presumably a victim of P-51 Mustangs (probably from the 52nd Fighter Group USAAF, whose pilots made 4-0-0 claims against Fw 190s over northwestern Hungary on this date).

Hope this helps,

Ota

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

The date is clear in this case. May 8, 1945 evening....so the loss record may be written for May 9 as well...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Ota,

of course....you're right....I only checked DKiG holders with the DRK-Vermisstenbildliste SG 10....not very clever.

Peter,

having the date, type and DKiG (if correct) will never be enough to identify. The information regarding DKiG awards late war are definetely incomplete. I believe there must be dozens of Lw pilots who got their DKiG in 1945 which are not listed in Veit Scherzer or any other list.

John.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

It is possible that it was a different pilot than Wendt, because there is new information: Following the Squadrons disbandenment on 8 May, 1945, under the leadership of Maj. Fridolin Becker, he tried to reach Germany but fell into an ambush by Czech guerillas after being disarmed by Soviets. Many were killed including Rudi Wendt.
Rudi Wendt was awarded the RK - April 17, 1945. He completed over 600 combat flights and one victory is known.
Didn't the local authorities try to dig the grave of these two pilots?