Werner Baumbach
 

Hello!

What unit did he fly with during the Polish campaign?
Most sources state KG 30, but at that time KG 30 did not officially exist and AFAIK did not take part in this campaign.
Thanks in advance.

Chris

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Heya,

...with 6./L.G. 1.

Best regards
ghost

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Are you sure, Ghost?
LG 1 did not convert to Ju 88 before early 1940.

Chris

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Hi,

I can confirm this. I also have Lt. Werner Baumbach with 6./LG1.

Regards

Robert

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

To my knowledge only I./KG 25 with a dozen Ju 88s from EKdo 88 took part in the Polish campaign.
Where does this info come from?

Chris

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Ju 88 over Poland in 1939? It`s rather a nonsense.

Regards

Robert

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

As far as I know the first combat mission of Ju 88 had been flown on 26.09.39 over North Sea.

Regards

Robert

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

He is supposed to have been assigned to EKdo 88 before the war broke out and was posted to 5./KG 30 after the Polish campaign.
This interlude on He 111 makes no sense.

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

What we have about Werner, for his early time period:


BAUMBACH, Werner.
06.04.36 entered the Luftwaffe and ordered to Luftkriegschule Berlin-Gatow as a Fahnenjunker.
01.01.38 promo to Lt.
1938 became a Kettenführer in the Erprobungsstelle der Luftwaffe in Rechlin – aided in the creation of the later KG 30.
15.06.39 trf to II.(K)/LG 1.
09.39 Lt. in 5./KG 30.
19.04.40 severely damaged (sunk?) the French cruiser Emile Bertin.


During the Polish campaign the II./LG 1 was equipped with He111. I have seen photos of LG 1 He 111s with the appropriate codes. Also, these Heinkels show up in the order of battle for 01.09.39.


According to Larry’s notes, Werner was with 5./LG 1 and not 6. Staffel at this time. You say you can substantiate this 6.Staffel connection? Please, lets hear more about this.


LdZ
DGS

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Hi,

I didn`t noted my source for 6.(K)/LG1 so now I`m not 100% sure.

Regards

Robert

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

The French cruiser Emile Bertin was only slightly damaged. The bomb, probably settled for thicker armour, went through the deck, the Captain's toilets and exploded under the hull, causing few damages. The cruiser was sent back to Brest via Scapa for repairs and later shipped the gold reserve of Banque de France to Africa.

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Heya and salut,

Sorry, but I cannot not see any reason for fixing him to the Ju 88 only.

Actually, according to his flightbook summary (which is part of the "RLM Personakten"), he is credited with having flown 14 missions over Poland between Sept 01 and 11, 1939, plus another one against the british fleet on Oct. 9, 1939 - all with He 111. The noted mission targets fit exactly to the known records of II./L.G. 1 (and to the 5.th Staffel).

IMHO his conversion to the Ju 88 took place in early November 1939 only, with the Lehrgruppe 88.

I appreciated your opinion,
greetings

ghost

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

OK, Ghost.
Thanks for all these details.

Chris

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Hopefully, Monsieur le capitain didn't have stomach cramps at that very moment. :D

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

Some interesting Werner Baumbach videos,

Starts at 5.15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGY24...BCC32&index=47

Starts at 5.23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Hm6...eature=related

Re: Werner Baumbach
 

I came across Baumbach's name in Wikipedia as today is the anniversary of his death in 1953. I'm very interested in the details of his postwar career as a test pilot in Argentina: the German wiki reports that the aircraft he was flying on that fateful day was a LANCASTER. Strange, isn't it?