Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hello,

I have the original logbook of a Fw Stedem (later Ofw) who flew about 80 combat missions with 1./ZG1 in 1942 before he went back to Germany to become a pilot teacher.

Most missions he flew in +JH. 2nd crew member was a man called Mutke.

Does anybody have more information about this pilot?

Is there a book or other source that tells the story of ZG1 in 1942?

Regards
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hi Roger,
I know that Leutnant Werner Stedem flew with SKG210 until that unit was renamed ZG1 on 4 January 1942.

Regards, Mike

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

There is very nice and detailed book by John Vasco:
The Sting of the Luftwaffe: Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 and Zerst¿rergeschwader 1 "Wespengeschwader" in World War II

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hi Mike,

Interesting! I have his logbook but it only starts at the beginning of 1942 (when he already had more than 4000 flights). So, I didn't know what he did before that. Do you know anything about his missions with SKG210? I checked again and there are a few flights with Me 210 at the beginning of the logbook.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reference. Do you know if Werner Stedem is mentioned in that book?

Thanks!
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Sorry, do not have this book in my hands as it is in archive of my friend.
But John Vasco is active in here at the Forum;) Maybe he will be interested to change info.

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hello Peter,

I'll ask him :-) I hope to fiind out as much as possible about the career of Fw Stedem.

Thanks,
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Werner Stedem. Corresponded with him briefly during my research period, but got nothing of any value out of him. Unfortunately his replies were rather rambling and not specific about his war service at all. I had to respect the fact that he did not wish to/was not able to provide information. I was advised by other members of the 'Wespengeschwader' at their reunions in the mid-1980s that he was not in the best of health. What was particularly frustrating for me was that I believe he flew with Erprobungsgruppe 210 during the Battle of Britain, but was unable to ever confirm this.

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hello John,

Interesting, thanks! I have his original logbook from January 1942 until the end of the war. Is this log already known to you? Unfortunately, I don't have anything else from him. It is marked as "Nr.4" so I guess there were 3 other logbooks covering the time before 1942.

But the 80+ missions in Bf 110 with ZG1 are interesting. He documented every single mission with typically two lines of text at the right side of the log. I'd like to find out more about these missions. Do you know if there's a book that covers ZG1's 1942 history?

Regards,
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Roger,

As it's marked as 'Nr. 4', I think there is a good chance he flew in the Battle of Britain.

There isn't a book that covers ZG 1's 1942 history - my work was a photo history, and there was no opportunity to go deeper at the time because Russia still had the Communist regime in place, so getting info out of there at the time was almost impossible. Perhaps now, particularly when our forum member Evgeny re-appears from army service, there is a better chance of eventually seeing a ZG 1 history, with coverage of events from both sides...

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Roger,

Could you please advise if Stedem had any victories on Stalingrad or Caucasus sectors in 1942 or was he shot down by Russian fighters on the same period, as per info from his logbook?

TIA

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Good evening Roger !

Does anyone has an idea, where Stedem was born and where he grew up pre-war ?

Thanks !

Horst Weber

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Nikita - very happy to see You!

10.08.1942 1./ZG 1 flew missions: 1st to attack Anapa airfield, and next to attack shipping to Temrjuk Bight. During first combat mission Zerstorers were intercepted by 7 Yak fighters, and 1 of them was claimed by Ofw Stedem (claim was confirmed by Uffz Nuske). PlQ 75 452. 1./ZG 1 had no loss on this day.

For sure he had no claims in period from 7.6.42 to 18.9.42, he mentioned in I./ZG 1 only once.

BTW: on next day in combat against "6 Lagg-3, 8 Ratas, 3 J-153, 5 unkwn" over Novorossijsk-Temrjuk area 1./ZG 1 lost 2 Bf110, both crew KiA. As noted, Bf110E was shot by LaGG and Bf110F - by I-16. Could You check it please?

P.S. Roger - I have here a photo of Bf110E, with marks S9+JH. Unfortunatly, top of fin (abshusse marks area) is not seen. If You interested, let me know, I'll sent You it.

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Privet!
Welcome back!

In both cases interceptors were from VVS ChF. Unfortunately, I have no more info on this, because they were not VVS KA or PVO fighters. 62 IAP VVS ChF lost two Lagg-3 on August 10, I think, it is better adress Miroslav Morosov on this particular dogfights.

Let us move to PMs...

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Hello John, Evgeny and Nikita,

Very interesting indeed. Actually, until now I haven't studied every entry in detail. Also because the handwriting is not that easy to read.

First, I went to 10.8.42 and indeed I can read "Abschuss" and another word which I can't read. He had 3 mission on that single day! His next mission was only on 23.8. so I can't tell what happened on the 11 August.

I have attached a photo. I can only read "Abschuss" and "Bomben auf Frachtschiffe bei...". The rest of the 10 August entries I can't decipher.

Is anybody better in reading hand-writing?

Evgeny, yes I would be very interested in the photo. That's exactly the 110 that he flew on the mission on 10 August 1942 (but also on many other flights).

Cheers,
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

OK, I am going through the remaining missions. Here's what I could decipher related to air combat:

- 11.7. +LH: Luftkampf
- 1.8. +JH: Bomben und Tiefangriffe auf ? Nördl. ? (Luftkampf)
- 10.8. +JH: Abschuss ?

From 23.8.42 onwards Stalingrad:

That's it. 90% of the missions: tanks and other ground targets were attacked with bombs.

Cheers,
Roger

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Here You are :)

I think it is Bf110E - nose air intake is seen(so it is not a C or D), aircraft has DB601A engine (so it is not F-G), with SKG210 fus band (yellow), without Wespe. John, correct me please if I am not right , I think that it is 1941 photo showing "Emil" of 1./SKG210.

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Bf 110 Es with the rectangular intake on the nose. Lack of 'Wespe' emblem on the nose would point to the unit most likely being 1./SKG 210. It would seem that the shield emblem only was used in I./SKG 210, and when they became I./ZG 1 in January 1942, the shield and Wespe emblem together were seen for a time.

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

2 Roger - 10 aug. 42 attack on Temrjuk shipping was discussed on russian air history forum. I'll try to find that thread, but at moment I could remember only that ZG 1 had a overclaim at that ships destroyed :) I'll try to contact with Miroslav and check that, as abschuss of Fw. Stedem.

P.S. A little OT: Does J.Kaufmann's book about his combat expiriense with SKG21/ZG 1 aviable SOMEWHERE? Cannot find it even in online bookstores...

Re: Fw Stedem 1./ZG1 Stalingrad Flight Log
 

Evgeny,

Try here: http://www.worldwartwobooks.com/ I sold my copy to them about 8 months ago, and with it being German language, they may not have sold it yet. If you contact the shop, tell them it was in my collection.