Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

I am looking for help in researching Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1, KIA 02-December-1942 over Tobruk.

I have been able to find very little so far, snippets in 'Das Ritterkreuz' web site and the 'Kracker Archive', other than that I can find virtually nothing.

Any help with units, promotions, awards, any scanned images etc and even pointers into books that will help will be very well received indeed.

Hopeful in anticipation.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

That's because his name is:

SY, Erwin-Paul. (DOB: 21.08.15 in Angermünde).

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

I think you might have spelt his name wrong, I only have entries for Erwin Sy.

Nick

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Richard,

Sy's had a somewhat infamous demise in that he was lost with the Geschwaderkommodore of LG1 Oberstleutnant Franz v. Benda.

His a/c was lost to Flak over Tobruk along with the rest of the crew and oddly enough he is listed as the pilot even though he only had as far as I can find an Observers license.

Lost were:
Ju 88 A-4
L1+BA
WkNr 8610

FF Hptm. Erwin Sy
BO Obstlt Franz von Benda (DKiG) Geschwaderkommodore
BF Fw. ? Neumeister
BS Fw. Ewald Bauer

Awards:
01.10.35 Reichsportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.37 Beobachterabzeichen
01.07.39 Dienstauszeichung IV. Klasse
16.09.39 EK 2
08.04.41 Ehrenpokal
02.01.42 DKiG
22.05.42 Ritterskreuz
29.09.42 Frontflugspange f. Kampfflieger in Gold m. Anhanger

Rank:
01.10.36 Gefreiter
01.06.36 fahnrich
01.09.38 Oberfahnrich
10.01.38 Leutnant
01.06.40 Oberleutnant
01.09.42 Hauptmann
01.12.42 Major

Unit:
01.04.35-30.07.35 Landpolizei Kurmark
01.08.35-03.01.37 Inf. Rgt 9 (Heer)
04.01.37-01.10.37 Kriegschule Munchen
01.10.37-30.06.38 Grosse Kampffliegerschule Fassberg
01.07.38-31.10.38 III./KG152 "Hindenberg
01.11.38 II./(Kampf) Lehrgeschwader 1
10.05.40 shot down near Boulogne and taken captive by the French
00.00.40-00.02.41 Gruppenadjutant II./Lehrgeschwader 1
00.07.42-00.00.42 Staffelkapitan 4./LG1
00.00.42-03.12.42 Stabstaffel/LG1


Regards

Jeremy

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Fw. Neumeisters name was ERNST.

Byron

Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Jeremy and Byron

Thank you very much indeed for the info, I can assure you that it is very well received indeed and it is a great help in researching this KIA RKT.

As a result of this information, I do have a couple of further questions;

Might be a daft question but...........the position of Gruppenadjutant II./Lehrgeschwader 1, was this still an active flying assignment or an adminstatrative position? or both?

Also, are the details of the aircraft and crew known from the Luftwaffe QM returns concerning his crash and capture on 10-May-1940 following him being shot down near Boulogne? If so, I would again be very grateful indeed for any further information.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

1940-05-10, 4.(K)/LG 1, He 111, 20 km seewärts Boulogne, Von Angriff auf Berck-sur-Mer nicht zurück. Bruch 100 %.
F Olt Merkwitz, Horst
B Lt Sy, Erwin
Bf Fw Falkenhagen, Bruno
Bm Fw Martin, Rudolf, gefangen verletzt

Matti

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Matti

Thank you very much indeed for the additional information concerning the loss of Sy's aircraft and his fellow crew members in 1940, your effort is certainly appreciated.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Dickie-It is SY not CY!

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

I know, I know!

What started as a schoolboy error, has become an annoying habit!

Erwin Sy and not Cy.


Is anyone else able to offer any more information or images on this KIA RKT?

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Page 214 of Battle of France T&N has a photo of him and his He 111 on 10 May 40

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Excellent!

Thank you for digging that one out, I will check it out.

Regards Richard.

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

In continuing the research of Erwin Sy, I have found reference to an incident on 04-February-1941, flying in Junkers Ju-88 A-5 (Werk Nr: 2203) Sy was wounded with his Fliegerschützen Unteroffizier Ewald Bauer during a sortie near Malta.

I can find no mention of a Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz being awarded to Sy however, if anyone shed any further light on this incident, I would be interested in any details of the crew and aircraft.

Thank you in anticipation.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Accrding to NVM it was (88)0572. Bruchlandung infolge Feindbeschuß. Bruch 50 %.

Matti

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Matti

Thank you for your help with this matter.

My source for Werk Nr:2203 is Band II of the recent 'RKT der Kampfflieger' book and is obviously very different from the NVM listing!

Do you have any further information from the NVM such as crew listing etc? or even an idea where the author may of come up with that Werk Nr?

Any help whatsover will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Three losses perhaps mixed up (of course it might be a mix up also in NVMs):
1941-02-04, 4.(K)/LG 1, Ju 88A-5, (88)3215, Catania, Bruchlandung infolge Feindbeschuß. Bruch 60 %.
Bordschütze Fw Müller, Lothar, verletzt
1941-02-04, 6.(K)/LG 1, Ju 88A-5, (88)2203, Catania, Bruchlandung infolge Feindbeschuß. Bruch 15 %.
Flugzeugführer Lt Drognitz, Horst, verletzt
Bordfunker Ogfr Puchert, Herbert, verletzt
1941-02-04, Stab II(K)/LG 1, Ju 88A-5, (88)0572, Catania, Bruchlandung infolge Feindbeschuß. Bruch 50 %.
Flugzeugführer Olt Sy, Erwin, verletzt
Bordschütze Uffz Bauer, Ewald, verletzt

Matti

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Matti

Thank you very much indeed for the NVM listings for LG1 on this day. It has been a great help in the overall research for Erwin Sy in adding details of a significant event to the story.

I note that although he is listed as 'verletzt' I can find no mention of a Verwundetenabzeichen being awarded.

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Ju 88A-5, 0572, SY, Oblt. Erwin, , II., Stab II., LG 1, , L1+_C, , , 04-Feb-41, Injured in Bruchlandung due to pilot error. Bs also injured. Luftkampf with Hurricane?, RK. Enemy fire per loss., X.Fl.Korp/Mittelmeer, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.4; Taghon, LG 1, I, p.450, , Catania, 50%, F, Bs Uffz. Ewald Bauer, 19.45,

I haven't yet gotten to checking "Kaiser, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger, V.2" to see if it has more.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

The final loss for Sy:

Ju 88A-4, 8610, Benda, Oberstltn. Franz von (B)/SY, Hptm. Erwin (F), , St., Stab, LG 1, blaue B, L1+BA, , , 02-Dec-42, Ges.Kom. Both MIA with crew due to Flak., B DKiG, F RK., Ob.Bhf.Süd/Mittelmeer, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #7)-Vol.12; Taghon, LG 1, II, p.505, , (Tobruk), 100%, F, Bf Fw. Neumeister & Bs Fw. Ewald Bauer, ,

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Jim

Thank you for your help with this.

I must admit that I am a little confused in that he was involved in combat with a Hawker Hurricane, enemy fire causing the loss(?) and then crash landed due to pilot error?

Do I have the right end of the stick here?

Regards Richard.

Re: Major Erwin Cy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

That's how it was reported in the sources I have, but Matti has the NVM so his information should supercede what was reported in the Gen.Qu. reports.

Major Erwin Sy RKT 4(K)./LG1
 

Jim, many thanks indeed for your help with this, it really is appreciated.

Regards Richard.