Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Hello,

I need information about Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11. He was shot down and died at the 6th of March 1944 over Sleen/Nederlands. He shot down four B-17´s before.

Has anybody the Werk Nummer and Markings of his Fw190 ???

Many thanks
Rüdiger

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Fw 190A-6, WNr. 470083, weisse 1, 7./JG 11.

John.

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

The book 'Target Berlin' states Frey had already shot down 22 heavy bombers, and his wingman saw him shoot down 4 more B17's during this engagement before Frey was hit by return fire from 452nd. BG. Hpt. Hackl was reported as hearing Frey call out that he had been hit which was his last message before he crashed at 1448 hrs.

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Here is what we have on this chap:

FREY, Hugo.
(DOB: 14.04.15 in Heilbronn).
c.1939-40 in I.(Jagd)/LG 2.
12.40 trf to 2./JG 1.
26.10.42 Oblt., appt Staka 2./JG 1 (to 31.03.43).
01.04.43 Oblt., appt Staka 5./JG 11 (to 30.04.43).
c. 01.05.43 Oblt., appt Staka 7./JG 11 (to 06.03.44).
25.11.43 Oblt., awarded DKG, 7./JG 11.
06.03.44 KIA – shot down by return fire near Sleen/Holland after claiming four B-17 bombers.
04.05.44 Hptm., posthumously awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka 7./JG 11.
Credited with 32 air victories, 26 of which were 4-engine bombers.



We hope that this helps.

Thanks for the additional info, John.



LdZ
DGS

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Hello John, those ones hv been also shot-down that day, JG11 too, hv you the details of the planes ??

Remi


Klaffenbach hans f
Knoke heinz f-sta,ka,
Zambelli franz f-FSA
Gluttig f

6 March 1944
 

Hello Remi

Prien has:

Leutnant Hans Klaffenbach of 5./JG 11 in Bf 109 G-6 "Black 16" during aerial combat with B-17, Haselünne area
Oberleutnant Heinz Knoke of 5./JG 11 in Bf 109 G-6 "Black 1" during aerial combat with P-47, Haselünne area, emergency landing Wunstoft
Feldwebel Franz Zambelli of 5./JG 11 in Bf 109 G-6 during aerial combat with P-47, Nienburg area, FSA, 100%
Unteroffizier Gluttig of 7./JG 11, killed in Fw 190 A during aerial combat with B-17, location unknown, 100%

Hopefully John or someone else can provide additional details.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

He really shot down 4 Fortress in one mission? Is there any other case of such a high victory-count in one mission with a day-fighter?

Escpecially, as the A-6 "only" has the 4x MG151/20...

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Sorry, no more data. Details of Oblt. Frey's a/c came from recovery report of Lw.Bergebattaillon.

Cheers,

John

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Hi Yogybar,

4 B17's seems high considering the amount of ammo. usually needed to bring one down. Going back to the 'Target Berlin' book the loss lists shows 'Suzy Sagritz' 388th BG. crashing at Oud Schoonebeek possibly falling to Hpt. Frey. B17 'Blitzin Bessy' was shot down by a fighter around 1450hrs. crashing at S. of Klaxienaveen as it went down it hit B17 42-40054, both aircraft of 388th.BG, which crashed near Coevorden. Additionally B17 'Flakstop' of the 452BG. fell to fighters near Staphorst around 1450 hrs.
I do not know if Frey was responsible or credited after his death with the loss of any of these B17's, I have no knowledge to be able to comment on this. There is the possiblity that some of his may have been credits for 'Forced from Formation' rather than shot down but once again I have no further info.

Regards

Brian Bines

Bomber Killers
 

Hi guys

Major Egon Mayer (102 victories, RK-S, killed in action 2 March 1944), Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2, claimed four USAAF four-engined bombers on 7 January 1944 (95-98) and Hauptmann Hermann Staiger (63 victories, RK), Staffelkapitän of 12./JG 26, claimed four USAAF four-engined bombers as well on 24 April 1944 (51-54). There may have been others but these two come to mind. Note that Staiger was flying the Bf 109 G-6 at the time. However, from the strength returns it may have also been a gunned up Bf 109 G-6/U4 variant as well.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Dear John and all other members,

many thanks for your information!!!

Best wishes
Rüdiger

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Hello all,

the reason for my question was that I fund the first flight book of Hugo Frey !!!
It is his original Glider pilot book from 22th of June 1935. Here are his first flights with smal Gliders written by himself. Also a photo of him with 20 years and his own hand sign is in his booklet. His first flights were taken at: Segelflug-Übungsstelle Hesselberg der Fliegerlandesgruppe 13 des DLV. (DLV = Deutscher Luftsport Verband)
Sorry, but this book is not for sale.

Best wishes
Rüdiger

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

Here a photo from Hptm. Frey's grave at IJsselsteyn The Netherlands.

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

The Kracker Archive states:

Frey, Hugo - Hptm. 4/14/1919 in Heilbronn Neckar - 32 victories - 1.(J)/LG-2 (9/39), 2./JG-1 (12/40), 10./JG-1 (9/42), Stfkpt 7./JG-11 (4/43), 2./JG-2 (?)Bf 109D in LG-2, Fw 190A-3 in 10/JG-1, Fw 190A-6 Wk# 470083 "White 1" (lost 3/6/44)RK(5/4/44 Post.), DK-G(2/7/44), EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational ClaspKIA 6 March, 1944 near Erm-Sleen Holland, after shooting down 4 four-engined bombers himself, when his A-6 was hit by return fire from 452 BG gunners, and crashing at Sleen, near Erm and Coevorden, Holland. His first victory, a P-24 in the Poczalkowo Poland area, 4 September, 1939. His 2nd, a Potez 63 SW of Amiens on 27 may, 1940. He was one of the Home Defense's most successful four engined killers, with 32. His victories were all in the West. His 5th, a B-17 20 km northwest of Tossens on 27 January, 1943. His 14th, a Beaufighter N of Langeoog on 4 October, 1943. His 15th, a B-17 SE of Wangerooge on 8 October, 1943. A triple victory, Nos 19, 20 & 21 on 26 November, 1943; a B-17 at Cloppenburg, a B-17 SE of Oldenburg and a P-47 in the Leeuwarden area. His last four victories, 29th, 30th, 31st & 32nd, on 6 March, 1944, all B-17's, no locations. Burial: Block AX, Row 9, Grave 210. Photo

We hope that this helps.


HLdZ
DGS

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

I realize the following question may be difficult or impossible to answer--did Hugo's final r/t communique or post-crash examination of his Fw 190 and/or his corpse reveal any clues as to why Frey wasn't able to escape his stricken a/c? Of course, numerous reasons exist--pilot pinned by spinning forces, pilot too wounded to effect an evacuation, pilot trapped by fire, jammed canopy, or other forces, among others--that may remain undetected by post-crash exam. The reason for my possibly unusual question is I find eerily interesting that Frey was able to radio his situation with probable knowledge of his doom, yet not able to do anything to alter his fate.

Thanks,
Ken

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

In a municipality archive report is written that the part's of the plane were scattered over a 300m and from the pilot they found some small body parts.

With some luck at the end of this year we will make a small research on the crash site, finally after 15 years of attempts it seems we get an approval.

Keep you informed.

Re: Bomber Killers
 

Leo - I have Staiger in a U4 over Munich on the 24th and have several U4's identified in crashes around Munich that day. these are just the ones shot down by 355th FG;
Schanz I./JG27 440199
Standebach II./JG3 440260
Melzig III./JG3 440284
Goseman III./JG3 440971

I might note that Tony Wood/Butler Awards List are ~ 2:1 awards to actual lost - and those include the 7 B-17s which escaped to Switzerland and several lost to flak over France and those lost in take off acccidents. The acual number of B-17s actually shot down by fighters were about 1/3 of the 'awards' given according to Woods.

Bomber Killers
 

Hello Bill

Many thanks for the confirmation that Staiger was flying a Bf 109 G-6/U4. By all accounts the MK 108 was a devastating weapon against bombers although the very limited range and trajectory meant that one had to close in to at least 400 yards to have any chance of hitting the target. Not the best situation considering the firepower a bomber formation could bring to bear... Interesting that the actual bomber losses were about one-third the claims recorded. Considering that the Germans must have reasonably accurate knowledge of at least those aircraft that were brought down over Germany and occupied Europe it makes for interesting speculation why they did not attempt to adjust the claims awarded to this figure. Perhaps given the pressure of the times or the desire to maintain morale or possibly even propaganda purposes? It is known that the night fighter units had their claims scaled as much as was possible to the number of aircraft that were known to have actually been brought down and one would think the day fighters units would have done this as well. At any rate many thanks for your comments.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Hauptmann Hugo Frey, 7./JG11, died 6.3.44
 

I recently acquired the Soldbuch belonging to Oberfähnrich Karl-Friedrich Lange, which included his Sofort-Gefechtsmeldung (Immediate After Action Report) from 6 March 1944. The information in the report sheds some new light on Frey's victories. The report reveals that Lange took off at 1430 in an Fw 190 having the tactical nr. 2 under the leadership of Hauptmann Frey. Lange and Frey also took off with Hauptmann Anton Hackl, the Gruppenkommandeur of the III./J.G. 11, and Unteroffizier Gluttig of the 7./J.G. 11. At 1500, the pilots sighted 60 to 80 B-17s. They attacked the rearmost formation and immediately were engaged by Thunderbolts, leading to dog fights. Lange's report reveals that he shot down a B-17 during the attack, which crashed near Staphorst in the Netherlands. I checked Missing Air Crew Report 2916 and there is no doubt that Lange shot down the B-17 piloted by 2nd Lt Charles F. Wagner of the 731st Bomb Squadron of the 452nd Bomb Group. I have a strong feeling that this B-17 was counted toward Frey's total when it should have been counted as Oberfähnrich Lange's victory.

I am wondering who was flying as Frey's wingman that day - was it Gluttig or Lange? Since Frey and Gluttig both were members of the 7./J.G. 11, I assume that Gluttig was Frey's wingman. If this was the case, then Lange would have flown as Hackl's wingman for this mission. Incidentally, Lange flew back toward Germany and due to lack of fuel, he had to make an emergency landing in Rheda/Westfalen. The landing took place at 1600 without damage to Lange's Fw 190. Lange would be wounded in aerial combat on 8 March 1944.

Barry