Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Dear John and all other members,

many thanks for your information!!!

Best wishes
Rüdiger

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Hello all,

the reason for my question was that I fund the first flight book of Hugo Frey !!!
It is his original Glider pilot book from 22th of June 1935. Here are his first flights with smal Gliders written by himself. Also a photo of him with 20 years and his own hand sign is in his booklet. His first flights were taken at: Segelflug-Übungsstelle Hesselberg der Fliegerlandesgruppe 13 des DLV. (DLV = Deutscher Luftsport Verband)
Sorry, but this book is not for sale.

Best wishes
Rüdiger

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Here a photo from Hptm. Frey's grave at IJsselsteyn The Netherlands.

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

The Kracker Archive states:

Frey, Hugo - Hptm. 4/14/1919 in Heilbronn Neckar - 32 victories - 1.(J)/LG-2 (9/39), 2./JG-1 (12/40), 10./JG-1 (9/42), Stfkpt 7./JG-11 (4/43), 2./JG-2 (?)Bf 109D in LG-2, Fw 190A-3 in 10/JG-1, Fw 190A-6 Wk# 470083 "White 1" (lost 3/6/44)RK(5/4/44 Post.), DK-G(2/7/44), EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational ClaspKIA 6 March, 1944 near Erm-Sleen Holland, after shooting down 4 four-engined bombers himself, when his A-6 was hit by return fire from 452 BG gunners, and crashing at Sleen, near Erm and Coevorden, Holland. His first victory, a P-24 in the Poczalkowo Poland area, 4 September, 1939. His 2nd, a Potez 63 SW of Amiens on 27 may, 1940. He was one of the Home Defense's most successful four engined killers, with 32. His victories were all in the West. His 5th, a B-17 20 km northwest of Tossens on 27 January, 1943. His 14th, a Beaufighter N of Langeoog on 4 October, 1943. His 15th, a B-17 SE of Wangerooge on 8 October, 1943. A triple victory, Nos 19, 20 & 21 on 26 November, 1943; a B-17 at Cloppenburg, a B-17 SE of Oldenburg and a P-47 in the Leeuwarden area. His last four victories, 29th, 30th, 31st & 32nd, on 6 March, 1944, all B-17's, no locations. Burial: Block AX, Row 9, Grave 210. Photo

We hope that this helps.


HLdZ
DGS

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

I realize the following question may be difficult or impossible to answer--did Hugo's final r/t communique or post-crash examination of his Fw 190 and/or his corpse reveal any clues as to why Frey wasn't able to escape his stricken a/c? Of course, numerous reasons exist--pilot pinned by spinning forces, pilot too wounded to effect an evacuation, pilot trapped by fire, jammed canopy, or other forces, among others--that may remain undetected by post-crash exam. The reason for my possibly unusual question is I find eerily interesting that Frey was able to radio his situation with probable knowledge of his doom, yet not able to do anything to alter his fate.

Thanks,
Ken

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

In a municipality archive report is written that the part's of the plane were scattered over a 300m and from the pilot they found some small body parts.

With some luck at the end of this year we will make a small research on the crash site, finally after 15 years of attempts it seems we get an approval.

Keep you informed.

Re: Bomber Killers
 

Leo - I have Staiger in a U4 over Munich on the 24th and have several U4's identified in crashes around Munich that day. these are just the ones shot down by 355th FG;
Schanz I./JG27 440199
Standebach II./JG3 440260
Melzig III./JG3 440284
Goseman III./JG3 440971

I might note that Tony Wood/Butler Awards List are ~ 2:1 awards to actual lost - and those include the 7 B-17s which escaped to Switzerland and several lost to flak over France and those lost in take off acccidents. The acual number of B-17s actually shot down by fighters were about 1/3 of the 'awards' given according to Woods.

Bomber Killers
 

Hello Bill

Many thanks for the confirmation that Staiger was flying a Bf 109 G-6/U4. By all accounts the MK 108 was a devastating weapon against bombers although the very limited range and trajectory meant that one had to close in to at least 400 yards to have any chance of hitting the target. Not the best situation considering the firepower a bomber formation could bring to bear... Interesting that the actual bomber losses were about one-third the claims recorded. Considering that the Germans must have reasonably accurate knowledge of at least those aircraft that were brought down over Germany and occupied Europe it makes for interesting speculation why they did not attempt to adjust the claims awarded to this figure. Perhaps given the pressure of the times or the desire to maintain morale or possibly even propaganda purposes? It is known that the night fighter units had their claims scaled as much as was possible to the number of aircraft that were known to have actually been brought down and one would think the day fighters units would have done this as well. At any rate many thanks for your comments.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

I recently acquired the Soldbuch belonging to Oberfähnrich Karl-Friedrich Lange, which included his Sofort-Gefechtsmeldung (Immediate After Action Report) from 6 March 1944. The information in the report sheds some new light on Frey's victories. The report reveals that Lange took off at 1430 in an Fw 190 having the tactical nr. 2 under the leadership of Hauptmann Frey. Lange and Frey also took off with Hauptmann Anton Hackl, the Gruppenkommandeur of the III./J.G. 11, and Unteroffizier Gluttig of the 7./J.G. 11. At 1500, the pilots sighted 60 to 80 B-17s. They attacked the rearmost formation and immediately were engaged by Thunderbolts, leading to dog fights. Lange's report reveals that he shot down a B-17 during the attack, which crashed near Staphorst in the Netherlands. I checked Missing Air Crew Report 2916 and there is no doubt that Lange shot down the B-17 piloted by 2nd Lt Charles F. Wagner of the 731st Bomb Squadron of the 452nd Bomb Group. I have a strong feeling that this B-17 was counted toward Frey's total when it should have been counted as Oberfähnrich Lange's victory.

I am wondering who was flying as Frey's wingman that day - was it Gluttig or Lange? Since Frey and Gluttig both were members of the 7./J.G. 11, I assume that Gluttig was Frey's wingman. If this was the case, then Lange would have flown as Hackl's wingman for this mission. Incidentally, Lange flew back toward Germany and due to lack of fuel, he had to make an emergency landing in Rheda/Westfalen. The landing took place at 1600 without damage to Lange's Fw 190. Lange would be wounded in aerial combat on 8 March 1944.

Barry