Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Hi Guys

Helmut mischke is a bit of an enigma. I have sixteen claims for him from 26th May 1943 until 8th April 1944 with 6./SG2. Then I have thirty-five with III./SG4 in 1945, however 1945 documents mention some of his later claims Nr. 40-42 on 3rd March 1945 with III./SG3, Nr. 43-44 on 8th March 1945 with 13./SG151, and Nr. 45-48 on 10th March 1945 with III./SG1. With these being numbered he seems to have had at least sixty-two victories! his DKiG is disputable, never received the Ritterkreuz. But it's the units that get me, was he on secondment to them?, 6./SG2 left behind a schwarm(Lambert being the foremost) after attacks, to fend off Russian fighters, yet Mischke seems to be jumping from unit to unit again I suspect he was on secondment to provide protection from Russian fighters! He survived the war, yet we hear nothing about him, can anybody enlighten me?

Grateful for any assistance on this.

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Interesting fellow! I did find his DK award on http://www.ww2awards.com/person/25026

Rank: Oberfeldwebel Unit: Schlacht-Geschwader Awarded on: January 1st, 1944

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

There were 8 victories achieved on 20.02.1945 and according to KTB Lfl. 6 he belonged to III./SG 1 at that time. As stated:

"Dabei zeichnete sich der Ofw. Mischke (III./S.G. 1) in einer beispielhaften kämpferischen Einzelleistung durch besonderen Mut und Angriffsgeist aus. Als Schlachtflieger schoß er mit eingehängter Bombenlast im Luftkampf 4 Feindflugzeuge ab. Danach erfüllte er seinem Auftrag durch Bombenabwurf und schoß kurze Zeit später in 2 Einsätzen 4 weitere Flugzeuge ab. Um Nennung des Ofw. Mischke in Wehrmachtbericht wird gebeten."

Cheers,

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Again KTB Lfl. 6, now 3.3.45;

40.-42. Abschuss Ofw. Mischke (III./SG 1):

15.35 Uhr, 1 Jak 9 in 54537
15.37 Uhr, 1 Jak 9 in 54529
15.42 Uhr, 1 Jak 9 in 54536

Cheers,

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Again Lfl. 6 KTB, now 8.3.45

12.50 Uhr, 1 Jak-9 in 44625
12.51 Uhr, 1 Jak-3 in 44625

43.-44. Ofw. Mischke (III./xx).

The xx is unreadable but the note is ment to refer to III./SG 1. When you review the document quickly you might think he belonged to 13./SG 151, but that is a mistake.

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Again KTB Lfl. 6, now 9.3.1945 (yes March 9th not 10th)

6 Abschüsse III./SG 1, darunter 45.-48. Ofw. Mischke.

KTB Lfl. 6 now for 11.3.1945 (unfortunately no more details);

"...Davon in beispielhafter Einzelleistung Ofw. Mischke in 2 Sätzen allein 9, davon 4 mit eingehängter Bo.-Last. Ofw. Mischke als Schlachtflieger eingesetzt schoß damit in 19 Tagen 30 Feindflugzeuge ab und erzielte seinen 57. Abschuß."

Cheers,

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Thanks guys.

With regards to his DKiG I also found a date of 1st January 1944, however this is a speculative date!
With which unit, I should think that III./SG1 is the correct one!

His claims, I have eleven on 21st February 1945, of which the last three were La-5's. A Jak-9 on 28th February 1945. The nine unknown on 11th March 1945, and finally five unknown on 18th March 1945.

Still he remains a bit of a enigma.

Regards

Johannes

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

I think you need to check your sources.....there were on 21.02.1945 11 Abschüsse in total within Lfl.6 but none for Mischke. Note the remark for March 11, 1945 above....30 Abschüsse in 19 days. This is 20/2/45-11/3/45;

20.02.1945, 8 Abschüsse
27.02.1945, 3 Abschüsse, all La-5 S Pollnow (65854)
28.02.1945, 1 Abschuss (his 39.), Jak-9 (64219)
03.03.1945, 3 Abschüsse (40.-42.), see above.
08.03.1945, 2 Abschüsse (43.-44.), see above.
09.03.1945, 4 Abschüsse (45.-48.), see above.
11.03.1945, 9 Abschüsse (49.-57.)

Exactly 30 victories so the ones on 27.2.45 are his 36.-38. and the 8 on 20.02.45 are his 28.-35. Abschuss....

18.03.1945, 5 Abschüsse (58.-62.), Ofw. Mischke, III./SG 1.

All victories listed above were with III./SG 1...

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Hi John

Thanks for that. Strange that Mischke seems not to have made claims after March 1945, well not on the days the KBT paper exist. He was probably just flying with a schwarm as defence for the rest of III./SG1!

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Johannes,

I did not check any dates after 18.3.45.....the KTB is over 6,000 pages so without some good leads it takes me too long to look for Mischke...

After Mid March 1945 till 16.04.1945 not too many missions flown probably. After ~23.04.45 records become fragmentary. Who knows, maybe he achieved more after 18.3.45.

Even if he flew in a Schwarm to provide cover for the rest of III./SG 1, his achievements are extraordinary. Would like to know more about him.

Thanks,

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

His recieving the DKiG is mentioned in the Luftwaffe Verordnungsblatt 01.01.1944 so he did get it.

Junker

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Well that's hard to prove, obviously he had earnt one, if not the Ritterkreuz, but I have never even seen a photo of him(which should give proof)if it wasn't for micro film and KBT evidence I would have said he was a phantom! More likely if he was awarded the DKiG it would have been in late 1944 or even more likely early 1945. His claims didn't really amount to much until 1945, don't know what happened to him between April 1944 and February 1945, but he would appear to have gained eleven additional aircraft shot down during this period!

Regards

Johannes

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Johannes,

I think your judgement of the validity of a pilots DKG based on his aerial victories in this case is a bit unfair. Schlachtflieger pilots were ground attack pilots first and their awards were based on their ground attack success. For example Hermann Buchner received the DKG on 17 October 1943 and he had only 3 of his eventual 56 aerial victories at that time. I’m not sure what his ground attack success was at that time but he was also credited with the destruction of 46 Tanks by the end of the war.

Mischke’s DKG would have been based on his ground attack success.

Regards,

Craig...

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

I agree with Craig, it is more than likely that he received the DKiG for his Schlachtflieger missions.

John

Re: Ofw Helmut Mischke SG2 e.t.c
 

Sorry should read 01.01.1945.

Junker