Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Here's a link to the obituary notice of Klaus Gerlach, who lived in the Houston,Texas area. According to his obituary notice he flew over 250 missions and had 18 victories over British and USAF airplanes. Does anyone know his unit?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5118096.html

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

I am a virtual pilot who flies the WWII sim “IL-2” but in real life I had the pleasure of working with Klaus from 1995 to 1997 in the Chicago, IL area. Klaus was on loan from his Houston plant, helping us with our operating procedure for a chemical plant.

Klaus was a wonderful man who was a delight to work with. A couple times we went out for a beer and he opened up and talked about the good old days. He had substantial experience with 109 and 190 types and (from what I remember) may have flown a 262 but if so, not for an extended period.

Both my father (crew chief/pacific) and uncle (pilot/Europe-med.) flew in B-24’s and survived the war. When I told Klaus this, he referred to the Liberator as “A F@cking Death Trap” and said he was glad not to have flown in one. He enjoyed the single seat of a 109 the best, as it was very agile.

One historical event stood out. Both Klaus and my uncle participated in the famous raid on Ploesti, uncle in his 24 and Klaus in an Me-109. I was told the story from both pilot’s perspective. Heck, they could have shot at one another!

Sorry, I don't know their units but the Ploesti raid defense gives a clue.

God Bless You Klaus and Uncle Vic! Thankfully, dad is still with us at 92 y/o.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Well IF he flew against the Ploesti Raid, would I be wrong to guess he flew with JG4?

NM

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

I/JG-53, III/JG-77 and 1/JG-301 also flew in Ploesti.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Nuts, I live in Houston too. Never knew he was just a short drive away.
:(

Would have been interesting person to chat with.

Some WW2 French ace lived not that far away as well!

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

No Klaus Gerlach in my files....neither shot down, wounded or having victories.....

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Since the gentleman just passed away, I was reluctant to say that I could not find any mention of him in my files either. Perhaps he changed his name after the war? From the posters description of the man, Mr. Gerlach certainly had not been seeking to promote his WW-II career, as we have seen before. May he rest in peace.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Yes but were those units there for "THE" Ploesti Raid? My memory IS faulty however; All I recall was I/JG4 & elements of JG27 who engaged the Libs over the Ionian on the way out.

NM

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

I checked JFV 10/III after noticing that in the future JFV11/II that I/JG5 was in that area. This possibly could be the man listed Lt. Lothar Gerlach Stab I/JG5 who claimed his 1st and 2nd victories over Beaufighters in the Stavanger area on 1May43 before the unit went to Rumania.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Oblt. Lothar Gerlach was killed on January 1st 1945 als St.Kap. of 9./JG 6 (ex-1./JG 5).

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

There seems to have also been there III/JG77 and 10./JG301. To bad the obit. didn't mention it but it did say that the "Houston Chronicle" did several interviews in the 60's. Most newspapers have their papers microfilmed for that era. It would be interesting to see if it had it and what he had to say. Still Klaus could be a middle name that he preferred and his military record is listed under a first name.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Or he changed his last name after the war - he wouldn't be the first. There are certainly 'holes' in the Lw records, and since the gentleman was never trying to profit on his earlier exploits, let him RIP.

It's only been the last 10 years or so that this community has had the ability to reference claims documents, via Tony Woods and others, and a lots of other Lw data. Even with that it's only been as Mr. Prien and company have progressed through their JFV series that huge gaps in that record have been filled in.

Re: Klaus Gerlach, WWII German pilot
 

Theelm,

I only partially agree, look at the orbituary.....it looks to me that he did not tell his story only to a few close friends....it is quite open and when the family agrees or supports such an orbituary.....well....

John