Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Can someone help to identify DKiG holder, Luftwaffe FW 190 pilot, that died on May 8, 1945 (over Czech republic).

Thanks

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

No more info? Where in Czech Republic and is May 8th certain?

John

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

May 8, 1945 is certain.
DKiG was excavated many years later at the crash site, which is near village Nadryb, Plzen disctrict.
Plane was shot down by 15.Tac.Recon. Squadron Mustangs...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Peter,
Have you tried to contact Nick Beale? I do remember reading an account on his NSG9 of some 15th Tac Rec Squadron Mustang pilots. Can we rule out this Fw 190 as being from a Jagdgeschwader? I checked the JG 54 files and found 4 losses on 8 May 1945 ( II/Gruppe ), but there is NO indication of place, neither of the markings of the aircraft. My GUESS is that this Fw 190 came from an Assault Squadron ( SG, NSG ).
Yours,
Adriano
PS: I will keep looking to help you and with an eye on this thread.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

If the DKiG was excavated, then some human remains must have been found as well. Is it the case?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

My information came from the expert on this unit, Tom Ivie, who has written books about them.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Thanks for hints and posts guys....
I looked for more info, and found following clues:
- It might be possibly SG 10 Fw 190.
- It is reported that human remains were left at the place of crash during the war. Few years ago, when some detectorists recovered engine of the Fw 190, it is said that human remains were found...but they kept them there...(detectorist = almost human being which is interested only in selling artefact of planes, but interest in history)
- Nadryb is in south Cechia. It is most probable that this claim was the one of 1/Lt. George R. Schroeder (P-51 F-6 of 15 RS, 10 PRG).

We thought it may be Enzensberger, Josef, RK and DKiG holder, but he died in 70ties...
I checked database of DKiG jolders, no mention of one KIA on 8.5.1945.

Is someone capable to share FW 190 loss list for this day? if it exists....:)

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Hello Peter,
I do have found some SG airmen lost around your date, although I do NOT know where they were killed and which kind of aircraft they were flying at the time of incident. However, could we supose that the pilot in question SHOULD have been awarded the RK as well?
I am asking that because Obfw Rudi Went, from Stab/SG 2 was killed on 8th May 1945. He was a RK trager but I do not know if he was flying a Fw 190 neither where he went down...
The second "possible" candidat: Lt Karl-Heinz Gschwendtner, from SG 103, killed on 05th May 1945 ( I do not know where, neither which kind of aircraft he was flying ).
Those are two candidates, if we think of the date of action. Do hope someone else will have more information about Obfw Went...
Yours,
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

PS: Found Went as Rudi Wendt. Do not know which version was the correct one!

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

An interesting site, with information about that action you are looking for, although I do not understand much, because it is in Czech...
Maybe you will be able to translate for us..
http://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=25819

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Lt Karl-Heinz Gschwendtner is credited with 2 ships sunk ( 3,500 tons ), 23 tanks destroyed, as well as 29 anti-tank guns, 150 vehicles and bridges. He flew more than 800 combat missions until his death.
ANY one do have more data about his personal aircraft?
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

It is quite old posting and it ended with no result...but it is written there:
- that local people stripped the death german pilot and buried him on the crashplace.
- that there is still some jacket to be seen somewhere at the village
- that when detectorists excavated engine and other parts, they did not pay attention to the remains...and those were most probably buried again at the same place.
- it should happen sometime in the evening on may 8, 1945 that Mustangs shot couple of Fw 190s.Is it possible that it was listed on May 9, 1945 then?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Peter,

planes were almost sure from Stab III./SG 10 and started from Vysoké Mýto (Hohenmauth) A/F. There is not any proof that pilot was DKIG´s holder. Personally I think it is really fairy-tale...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

and what about the DKiG that was found there?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

If indeed he was DKiG holder and belonged to SG 10.....does anybody know what happened to Oblt. Norbert Schmitt, born 11.5.1921, DKIG holder and pilot in 3./SG 10? He was reported missing in that timeframe.

John.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Thanks John...We will keep it in mind and focus research on this person...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Hello John,

Oblt. Norbert Schmitt was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 28 February 1945 as a Staffelkapitän of 3./SG 10. He failed to return from a combat sortie in a Karmais (?) area in Hungary on 26 March 1945, presumably a victim of P-51 Mustangs (probably from the 52nd Fighter Group USAAF, whose pilots made 4-0-0 claims against Fw 190s over northwestern Hungary on this date).

Hope this helps,

Ota

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

The date is clear in this case. May 8, 1945 evening....so the loss record may be written for May 9 as well...

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Ota,

of course....you're right....I only checked DKiG holders with the DRK-Vermisstenbildliste SG 10....not very clever.

Peter,

having the date, type and DKiG (if correct) will never be enough to identify. The information regarding DKiG awards late war are definetely incomplete. I believe there must be dozens of Lw pilots who got their DKiG in 1945 which are not listed in Veit Scherzer or any other list.

John.

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

It is possible that it was a different pilot than Wendt, because there is new information: Following the Squadrons disbandenment on 8 May, 1945, under the leadership of Maj. Fridolin Becker, he tried to reach Germany but fell into an ambush by Czech guerillas after being disarmed by Soviets. Many were killed including Rudi Wendt.
Rudi Wendt was awarded the RK - April 17, 1945. He completed over 600 combat flights and one victory is known.
Didn't the local authorities try to dig the grave of these two pilots?

Re: Luftwaffe DKiG holder KIA on May 8, 1945
 

Sounds like a lot of repugnant grave robbing going here.