Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Gentleman,

Does anyone have detailed info on combat career of Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55, who was listed as missing with his crew on January 20, 1943 in Gumrak area (Stalingrad)?

TIA

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

BTW, just checked, Lt. Werner Schmidt is also listed as injured on Jan 22, 1943 flying with 2/KG55. Is this another discrapancy in GQ loss returns?

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Qm's returns for 8-2-43 shows a Ltn. Hans Schmidt of 2/KG55 wounded on 2-2-43.

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Yes. But I'am talking about this cases:

1943-01-20 He 111H-6 7018 G1+EH 1./KG 55 Gumrak
Flugzeugführer Lt Schmidt, Werner vermißt
Beobachter Uffz Kocher, Richard vermißt
Bordfunker Obgfr Gärmer, Werner vermißt
Bordmechaniker Fw Neugebauer, Fritz vermißt
Bordschütze Uffz Wentsch, Erwin vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.

1943-01-22 2./KG 55 Gawrilowka
Flugzeugführer Lt Schmidt, Werner verletzt
Erdabwehr. Bruch ? %.

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Maybe he was posted as missing on 20.01.43, an then reappeared wounded 2 days later.

After that, he still was heroic and got wounded again.

At least in todays Germany already a small wound (i.e. bloody nose) is enough to be called "wounded".

One more thing: The name "Schmidt" is as common in Germany as "Smith" in english-speaking countries or "Ivan" in Russia ;).

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Our notes come up with two possibilities, either of which doesn’t quite seem to fit the guy you describe:

SCHMIDT, Werner.
(DOB: 06.07.11).
01.04.42 promo to Hptm.
21.08.43 Hptm., appt Staka 9./KG 55 (to 08.05.45).
19.08.44 Hptm., awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka 9./KG 55.
Credited with 365 combat missions during the war.
† 13.07.97 in Friedrichsdorf/Taunus.


SCHMIDT, Werner-Artur.
(DOB: 01.05.20 in Potsdam).
01.04.42 promo to Oblt.
31.08.43 Oblt., awarded DKG, 7./KG 55.
01.06.44 in KG 55, promo to Hptm.



Good luck!

LdZ
DGS

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Doug,

Thank you for info!

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Hi Doug,

http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_...chword=SCHMIDT

Gives the date of birth of the RKT as 01May20, Potsdam the same as the DKiG recipient in your above post. I know that you and Larry have compiled your data from the microfilmed personnel files but is it possible the above individuals data has got mixed up or is www.das-ritterkreuz.de wrong. The photo in the above link doesn't show Schmidt with the DKiG but it does show him as a Maj but states his final rank as Hptm so it might be suspect.

Die Träger des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold der Luftwaffe 1941-1945, by Veit Scherzer and Die Träger des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, und des Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber, Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, Waffen-SS, by Horst Scheibert give Schmidt's first name as Werner, no mention is made of Werner-Artur.

Is it possible that Werner Schmidt received the DKiG for service with 7./KG 55 and was them made St.Kap. 9./KG 55

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Its quite possible that we have the details per guy mixed up. It may take a while to sort this out but in the meantime we have another guy to add to the mix:

SCHMIDT, Werner. (DOB: 01.05.20). 31.08.43 Oblt., awarded DKG, 7./KG 55.

The commentary on this thread is very interesting.



LdZ
DGS

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Is this not the same individual as Werner-Artur Schmidt in your previous post, all the dates are the same.

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

After mulling over the above information, I have come to the following conclusions:

(1) Werner (DOB: 01.05.20) and Werner –Artur are in fact the same guy. We should have noticed this earlier. These happen quite frequently and we eliminate them as we find them. This is a real problem with those with common names. Another pain are those with variations in first names, either in spelling or use of prefered first name.

(2) None of the guys under discussion is the one who went MIA at Stalingrad. Nothing really fits!

(3) The Ritterkreuz guy was clearly a Major in the photo and is the guy we refer to in our notes. The photo was obviously taken a time after conferral of the award. As for the Rittekreuz.de site, I have referred to it extensively and I have found it very reliable but not perfect.

Another good Ritterkreuz site is:
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-4...-Luftwaffe.htm
This site is stunning in its detail BUT it is missing at least half of the RK holders (including many “biggies”)! The level of detail on this site varies from skeletal to Wow! Well worth a look. On the other hand:
http://www.luftwaffe.cz/experten.html
has a lot of information, but it is confined to fighter guys only. The info is of wobbly reliability and should be checked against Prien or similarly reliable sources.


Well, we shall note the info above and likely update our files (now standing at 26,304 guys and 1,130 pages, and growing fast).



LdZ
DGS

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Hi Doug,

Thanks for looking into the matter.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Lt. Werner Schmidt, 1/KG55
 

Dear Doug,

Thank you for this!