Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I video interviewed a Luftwaffe stuka pilot: Heinz Midgeod last week at his house.

He was with I./St.G.3 / I./St.G.76 and served in France, BOB, Balkans, Crete and Africa.

Here a clip on how he was shot down in France:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxaOhs0Z1JM

I will see him next week again, if there are specific member questions unanswered from existing library material then I could attempt to get answers from Dr Migeod.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Thanks for posting.

Chuck

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Hi,
I agree, a great post. What a treat to meet him as well.
Could you ask for a copy of a period photograph of him and his aircraft and post them here for us to see?
Cheers
Gerry

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I have an appointment with Dr Midgeod next week Wednesday to take photographs of all his war time pictures and military documentation and will then post the interesting info here. At this moment he is in hospital but is expected to get out on Tuesday....

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Please give him my best.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Nice video- thank you :)

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Very nice narrative. I'd like to see more of it.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I presume the the story he relates of being shot down is that shown on page 254 of 'The Battle of France, Then & Now' by Peter Cornwell. The 2./StG 76 loss showing his Bordfunker, Uffz. H Gäth, as killed in action.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I would appreciate additional narratives from Dr. Midgeod's BoB service. Specifically the difference between action in the WC and BoB missions. Any memories of specific missions (witnessed victories or crashes, important targets, etc...) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I spoke to Heinz today; he confirmed that this was the person that he buried. He told me that the girlfriend of Uffz Gath kept on writing letters to their squadron and it was the duty of his next gunner, Uffz Motzel (not sure of spelling), to reply to all these letters.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

Heinz told me today that they did very few missions (3 or 4) before the Stuka attack was cancelled. They did attcks on targets in the Southhampton areas as well as the Isle of White. They were stationed in Normandie and did then nothing except the occasional attacks on enemy shipping in the channel. I must still get all his experiences during BOB on camera. Next week he is going to show me his flight book in his posession, he had originally 3 but 2 were lost, hopefully the BOB missions are in there.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

His aircraft in Crete (Maleme)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...9_554166_n.jpg









http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3949539_n.jpg

Portrait of Heinz:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...8_860914_n.jpg

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

He does not recall this person. He said that they were stationed at another airfield during the Metaxas Line attack.

Re: Stuka Pilot Interview
 

I asked Heinz about this today. He remember this incident very well. He said this happened about 2 weeks before the attack on Poland. He said the following:

They had a live ammunition excercise with the army. Two of the three stuka squadrons under leadership of Sigel made the dive but there was fog. Sigel thought that the fog will be high enough for them to dive through and then have clear viewunder the fog. At 1000 meters Sigel realised the fog was still there and ordered the pilots to pull out. This message was not heard by the 2 squadrons and they crashed into the ground. Sigel pulled out at tree top height. The 3d squadron realised there was trouble and did not dive. Sigel was put under military arrest for three days but was eventually bailed out by Kesselring. He said the group strengh was quickly replaced and ready for the attack in Poland.

Heinz himself was still in training at that stage and was not involved.