Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Thanks for posting these, Doug!

L.

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

By rights Borchardt should have ended up with 11./JG4 as I believe 9./ZG1 became 11./JG4. He seems to have managed not losing a single aircraft throughout the war.........thus keeping below my radar, also makes no further claims. Perhaps he actually ends up as a training instructor?

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Johannes

Ofw Walter Borchardt was killed in a flying accident 11 Aug 1943 with 3./Erg.Zest.Sta

Probably a test flight as it seems his rear seater was Prufmeister Rudolf Teuteberg (also killed same date/location)

This Borchardt's EKM was 60037/60 - since 60037 being originally used by 4./ZG 26 before becoming 1./ZG 2 - so I would suggest highly likely that this is the Borchardt you are after.

See attached card

Regards

Craig...

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Hi Craig

Many thanks for that, you are of course correct.

In Gmelin's flugbuch the dates of his last flight with Borchardt is difficult to read, but the landing date is 10th Auguat 1943, therefore as the flight time was fifteen minute, that was their last date together.
Then for the second half of this page there are no more flights listed, but some total figures, then at the bottom of the page in a space usually not filled out Gmelin writes about the demise of Borchardt at the end of August 1943, then the last word is difficult to read but "....flug"

Seems there were no longer together, and he received news of his pilots death somewhat delayed. Strange thing is Borchardt dies the day after their last flight, perhaps the first flight with 3./erg.Zest.Sta
Gmelin does not fly again until 29th December 1943, when he appears to have begun pilot training, and his first solo flight two days later.

Thanks again

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

There was no 9./ZG 1 in 1941.


III./ZG 1 (Stab, 7., 8. & 9. Staffeln) was only reconstituted on 4th January 1942.

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Hi Guys

I found Borchardt's crash in the losses mikrofilms. He was flying a Bf110, it states crashed East of Ulez. Strange that he flies from Italy to Poland on the 11th August 1943, I wonder why? As he didn't take Gmelin, and Gmelin only mentions his crash was in late August, I do believe they had parted company.

Loss suggests he was alone in his aircraft as it was 100% destroyed!

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Teuteberg, see previous posts, was in same a/c.

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Hi John

Strange that the mikrofilm losses only mention Borchardt, an oversight no doubt , also no real explanation as to his crash, which is unusual also.

Regards

Johannes

Re: Erhardt Gmelin
 

Borchardt --- Gmelin ---Bf 110 ---6 ---Überführung ---Ulez ---10.8 ---10.20 Uhr --- Deblin --- 10.8 --- 10.35 Uhr

Erprobungsflug