Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Hi All,
Has anyone a copy of the NVM for Enßlen's loss?
Thanks
Joe

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Here you go, Joe!

Please remind me your address - I need to mail you something.

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Andy,
Thanks, I'll PM you my address.
Regards
Joe

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Hi Andy, Although I understand the problems of accurate information on wartime documents I am confused by his EM Nummer, listed as 53539/1. The following is a quote regarding Hptm.Enßlen from the book: "The Blitz Then and Now Volume 2" (edited by Winston Ramsey):
"He remains buried at Folkestone New Cemetery (Hawkinge) in Plot O, Grave 404, under the plain inscription "A.Schenck". The reason behind this is unknown, but the only identification found on the body were the Hauptmann’s shoulder flashes and an Erkennungsmarke ‘67005/1’ confirming the identity of the body. In the light of post-war research there would seem to be no doubt that this is the grave of Hptm.Ensslen."
Do you think this is more likely to be an error in the book that the NVM?
Regards, Mike

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

67005/1 was Hptm Hans-Karl Mayer of I/JG 53 who is also buried at Hawkinge. It would appear to be an error in the book

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Thanks for the clarification Chris. Much appreiated.
Mike

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Perhaps I should also add that the VDK have accepted that the grave marked A.Schenck is that of Hptm Ensslen and will be marked with a named headstone in due course. (This is largely due to Joe Potter's persistent work on this case.)

As Chris says, the number quoted in 'Blitz Then & Now' was a foul-up in that publication between Ensslen and Mayer. The number on the NVM is certainly accurate.

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Good evening Gentlemen,

can anybody tell me if Wilhelm Ensslen scored any Spanish Civil War kills in the Bf109E ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Hello Michael.
I would say not, unless some of the pre-production batch of 8 109E-0 went to the Legion Kondor and he was privy to flying one of them. I have no info about them. Osprey's Air Vanguard 018 states the E-1 did not arrive in Spain until the end of March 1939 when 40 arrived, and Ensslen's last SCW kill was 5/2/39.
Attached table of kills for Ensslen in the SCW from Osprey Air Vanguard 018.
Interestingly, in a list of all WW2 kills (up to a point, and I think it is Tony Woods' list) shows 4 kills for Ensslen in 1940 - 2 in May, one in Sep and one in Oct. In the end, I think he was only credited with 3 kills in WW2, but I can't tell you which ones they were.
Peter

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Good morning Peter,

this is of help thanks.
Is there any info about the the use of the Bf109C and Bf109D by Ensslen or 2.J/88 ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

26.5.40/0625 Curtiss Hawk, Diedenhofen area
Day's Hawk losses include No. 106 of GC I/4, Lt. Stiquel. Same unit also lost Sgt-Chef Bes and No.109 of Adj. Jean Hotellier POW (the unit is said to have been in action against I/JG 21 so possibly not actually Ensslen's victory)

27.9.40/1345 Spitfire Chatham
Were these claimed against 19 and 41 sqns? Likely too far north....

8.10.40/1247 Spitfire SW of London
66 sqn. Overclaiming, only one loss at this time: N3043/LZ-K of Sgt. Rufus Arthur Ward KIA (also claimed by Gefr. Bernhard Wilsky)

Sources: Battle of Britain then and Now, Tony Wood listings (checked against Mathews and Foreman)

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Michael, you can have a look for yourself. The whole Osprey book is available on the 'net.

https://issuu.com/arielbarbuio/docs/...18_messerschmi

Cheers
Peter

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Just a comment, Enßlen is still awaiting a named gravestone, along with two others at Folkestone, plus five more at other sites in England.
The VDK plead poverty, no funding available.

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Hi guys

Small correction and complement about his claim on the 26/05/40:

His claim was against Curtis of GC II/5 ( NO LOSSES),6h.25 "Diedenhofen", "Thionville" in French.

VERY FAR from the place of losses of GC II/4 ("ARRAS/CAMBRAI/LENS/DOUAI)
The fight took place between I/JG 21 and GC II/4 (Curtis:3 losses) and GC III/1 (Morane:4 losses)....9h05/9h40.

So his claim ("abschuss"?) is totally unfounded.

Regards

michel

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Michel,
Thanks for removing all doubt. Appreciated.

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Good morning Peter,

at last the link works well. Thanks.
Scrolling through the pages I don't find any equipment data for 2./JG88 in Aug38-Feb39.
But intriguingly, I learned that Johannes Gentzen had 8 Bf109D kills. Thus, he narrowly misses the joint top ace rank for that subtype.

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

You'd think Gentzen would be a topic for a different thread, but anyways....

Hannes Gentzen
2.9.39/1800 PZL P.23B "Karas" Gidle village, S of Radomsko (crashed Wygoda, Czestochowa area) 44-185 of 21 EB, Pchor.Obs. Wilczak, Sierz.Pil. Urycaj and Kpr.Stz. Schibich all KIA

3.9.39/1055 PZL P.23B "Karas" 8km NE of Radomsko 55 EB. Crew of Ppor.Obs. Podogrodzki, Plut.Pil. H. Borys (Pilot) was the only survivor, WIA

13.9.39 PZL P-37 Jaroslaw

14.9.39 PZL P-23 S of Brody

14.9.39 PZL P-23 S of Brody 64 EB. This was probably the machine of Pchor. Obs. Stanislaw Kon

14.9.39 PZL P-23 64 EB. At least one other loss: Por. Obs. Eugeniusz Rudowski, crashed at Podgaje near Brody

14.9.39 PZL P-23 64 EB. At least one other loss: Por. Obs. Eugeniusz Rudowski, crashed at Podgaje near Brody

Tentative info:
6.11.39 Curtiss Hawk GC II/5. Sources differ: either Lt. Pierre Houze or No. 57 of SLt. Tremolet damaged and belly-landed back at base as did Sgt Legrand. Possibly also Hurricane of 73 sqn, Sgt. Ayerst only damaged

8.11.39 MS 406 5km NE of Edenkoben Probably overclaiming

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Hello Peter,

at page 47 there's a Mölders photo. The caption say it shows him in a Bf109E in August 1941. Wasn't he flying a Bf109F in this month ?

Michael

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Clearly a Typo, because it mentions it is "just over a year before he was killed in a flying accident". Easy enough to spot.

Like spotting that keyboards in Brandenburg, Germany don't seem to have a "ß" key... Strange that.

Re: Hauptmann Wilhelm Enßlen, StabII/JG52, Lost 02.11.40.
 

Good morning Gentlemen,

can anybody tell me when 2./JG88 received Bf109D's ?

Cheers,

Michael