Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

Thank you Leo for writing it all down!

So the loss of the Staka from 9. Staffel on the 23th can not be confirmed in any way and look like to be a mistake made by Weal.

Regards, Thomas

Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

Hello Thomas,

to your post #3:
Sometimes the function of a pilot like Staffelkapitän is called, in these cases are no entries.

Further losses of III./KG 53 around the 23 October 1941:
2.10. 8./KG 53 He 111 H-6 5349 (typo or a H-2) Besatzung Fw Grave (Grave unverletzt)
7.10. 7./KG 53 He 111 H-6 4376 Besatzung Fw Kunz
22.10. 7./KG 53 He 111 H-6 4369 Besatzung Lt Puschmann
23.10. III./KG 53 He 111 H-5 3991 Notlandung 70%
15.11. 8./KG 53 He 111 H-5 3926 Besatzung Fw Grave (vermisst).

Regards
Leo

Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

Thanks for the additional details Leo :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

Is there any indication why KG 53 suffered such heavy losses on 23 October? This was very unusual for this period of the war on the Eastern front.

Regards,

Dan

Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

Hi Leo,

Thank you for the additional information, much appreciated!

Regards, Thomas

Re: KG53 losses on 23.10.41
 

I found information that the Staka of 8. Staffel got KIA on the 23.10.41. Hptm Willi Haster (posthumous promo to Major). This information can also be found in the "Luftwaffe Officer Carreer Summeries" by De Zeng & Stankey.

But the name Haster is not yet mentioned in this thread as being a KIA on that date. Does someone have more information on Hptm. Haster?

So Weal could very well be right that two Staka's got KIA on the 23th. Just not from the 9. Staffel as he wrote, but the 7. And 8. Staffel.

Regards, Thomas