Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hallo,

does anybody have some information about this Night Fighter?

Thanks

Michal

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hi Michal,

Ofw Hans (Karl?) Maisch: 26 claims (maybe 28 claims)

4/NJG3, 11/NJG5, 2/NJG100

Not much but hope it helps. Not really sure what his first name is.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hallo Michal,

On the 03.09.42 Obfw. Karl Haisch was involved in an aircraft accident, sadly his flight engineer, Obgefr. Adam Gerhardt was killed. At this time Karl was serving in the 4th Staffel NJG3, the aircraft was a Dornier Do 217 Wnr.1328 and the accident happend at Vilslev, Denmark.
I have some photos of Karl Haisch in my archive if you contact my e-mail address I can help!

Regards,

Melvin Brownless
Anglo-deutsche
Vermissten & Gefallen
Foto Archiv 1939-45

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hallo,

thank you both for reply.

Just I am in doubt if ofw. Maisch served with 4/NJG 3, 11./NJG 5 and 2./NJG 100 is the same person.

Reason: he claims (not counting all the planes but just for illustration) one Whitley on June 11 1943 and one DB 3 on July 20 1943 as member of 11./NJG 5 (East Prussia), 4 planes between Septemeber 21 and 22 1943 as member of 4/NJG 3 (Western Front), one DB-3 on September 18 as member of 2./NJG 100 (eastern Front) and other plane on October 4 1943 as member of 2./NJG 100.

So I think - I am not sure - that we are speaking about 2 different Night Fighters with name Maisch - one served with 4./NJG 3 on Wetsren Front and second one with 11./NJG 5 and then with 2./NJG 100 on Eastern Front.

ps I am sending you e-mail

Best

Michal

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hi Michal,

It is possible that there was an Ofw Karl Haisch (4/NJG3) and an Ofw Hans Maisch (11/NJG5, 2/NJG100). If you manage to find out if they are different individuals I would be greateful to know what you find out.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

They must be two different persons! Ofw Karl Haisch born 06.01.1914 served with 4/II/NJG 3! According to an entry on the WASt accident-report, from 03-09-1942 he was killed 20.03.1943!!

Junker

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Junker, are you sure? I have Ofw. Karl Haisch, born 6.1.1914 Marktgröningen and wounded on 3.9.1942 with 4./NJG 3 as killed on 20.3.1945 (and not 1943). This would make him a candidate for the mysterious "Ofw. Maisch". Ofw. Karl Haisch is buried in his hometown so he must have been killed on German held territory. John.

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Oeps, made a mistake......VDK-Datenbank is wrong, he is killed on 20.3.43 so he is NOT the mysterious Ofw. Maisch. Apparently Ofw. Karl Haisch, *6.1.1914 was killed in a Bf 108 with 3 others near Hohenweststedt on 20.3.1943. Unit 4./NJG 3. So, if Ofw. Maisch also belonged to 4./NJG 3, there must have been a Ofw. Haisch and a Ofw. Maisch....very confusing....I would say the changes that the claims of 4./NJG 3 belong to Ofw. Karl Haisch and the claims of 2./NJG 100 belong to the mysterious "Ofw. Maisch" is a possibility that should be further explored....

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Pffff, seems that I am correcting myself continuously....."Ofw. Maisch" of 4./NJG 3 claimed two Abschüsse in September 1943.....So, there must have been a Ofw. Haisch and a Ofw. Maisch in the same Staffel!

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hi Friens,

A five years later I've got the same question: does anybody have some information ( bio and photos ) about this Night Fighter?

I was looking for the information concerning Ofw. Karl Maisch from the 2. NJG 100 who shot down KH 152F Liberator at the night between October 16 and October 17 1944.
Unfortunately, I still have no information about this pilot what makes it really hard for me to reconstruct the history of the last flight Liberator KH 152 "F", thus my question.
How could I get some data concerning Karl Maisch? Is there no information at this topic in your archives ?
I will appreciate any help and suggestions how to solve this problem.

LIBERATOR KH-152 "F" - Story:

1) On October 16th, 1944 at 4:30 AM the B-24 “Liberator” bomber from the 34. Bomber Squadron SAAF (205. Bomber Group RAF) no KH-152 “F” took off from the Celone airport near Brindisi in the southern Italy.

2) The main aim of the operation was to help the Polish guerillas (AK – Armia Krajowa, Polish Home Army) with food, arms, medicines and money. The release point was over the ,,Buk 201” area in the south from Warsaw – the capital of Poland.

3) The crew: 5 South Africans and 3 British:
- Lt. (por.), J. A. Lithgow, the first pilot, SAAF
- Lt. K. B. Mac William, co-pilot, SAAF
- Lt. E. Colbert, Obs., SAAF
- Lt. G. C. Dicks, Air Gnr., SAAF
- Lt. S. I. Fourie, Air Gnr., SAAF
- Sgt (sierż.) T. Myers, Bomb Aim, RAF
- Sgt G. F. Ellis, Air Gnr., RAF
- Sgt. W. F. Cowan, Air Gnr., RAF

4) At 8:30 AM when the bomber approached the Wisła river in the sector between Kraków and Tarnów, at the altitude of 3100 meters it was shot down by the German night fighter (probably Junkers JU-88 ) piloted by Ofw. Karl Maisch from the 2. NJG 100, which took off from the Udefeld airport (Mierzecice – Zendek today). The aircraft crashed 110 kilometers in the east from the Krakow in the “Czarnowka-Leg” village near Szczucin in the land of Franciszek Szczupak ( see photo )

5) The crew of the aircraft:

- Lt. James Arthur LITHGOW, record number: 79528V, 23 years old, son of James and Violet nee Fraser, born in Johannesburg (RPA-RSA), decorated with the ,,D.F.C. Cross’’ for sinking on the 26th October 1942 the Italian tanker ,,Prosperina’’ delivering food to German general-marshal Rommel to Africa. It was his second and last flight ever. He was buried in the land of Władysław ‘’Selwin’’ Szarek in the Brzezowka village. After the exhumation in 1947 he was re-buried in the Rakowicki cemetery in Krakow (grave no 12, lot 1, line B).
(D.F.C. – Distinguished Flying Cross), (RPA – Republika Południowej Afryki), (RSA – The Republic of South Africa, Republiek van Suid-Afrika)
- Lt. Keit Bernnand MAC WILLIAM, record number: 117609V, came from RSA, his wife was named Elisabeth (Rissik), his parachute didn’t open properly and as a result he crashed in the field of Szymon Dziekan in Brzezowka. After exhumation he was re-buried in Krakow.
- Lt. Evan COLBERT, South African from Johannesburg, he joined the air force (102502V) being 30 years old, he was on of three aviators who survived the Czarkowka thanks to help of Polish guerrillas: ‘’Stanislawa’’ in Szcucin, ‘’Malwina’’ in Medrzechow, Boleslaw – Mr Kochanek and ‘’Drewniaki’’, he was on the board of the Liberator in January 1945, in March he left to camp in Odessa from which he went to United Kingdom.
- Lt. Graham C. DICKS, record number: 313340V, managed to land safely. He was concealed by the AK in Kanna and Boleslaw villages (in the Sroczynski’s manor). Lt. Dicks went to Moscow in February 1945, from where he left for South Africa
- Lt. Samuel I. FOURIE, after the crash he was imprisoned by Germans. No more is known about him and his history.
- Sgt Tom MYERS, record number 629511, buried in the land of Szczupak next to the wreckage of the aircraft
- Sgt William Francis COWAN ‘’Billy’’, 31 years old Irish from Belfast, son of Rachel and Samuel, record number 1902826. He achieved professional qualifications in Bridlington and Bridgenorth where he was a student from January 17th. He was found by the Polish guerrillas in the land of Kazimierz Lachut in Brzezowka where he was buried afterwards. He widowed his wife Jane and orphaned his son Jack (presently living in Canada) and daughter Frances.

6) Thanks to Leszek and Zbigniew Szarek, sons of Wladyslaw ‘’Selwin’’ Szarek who did not forget about the crash of the KH-152 ‘’Liberator’’ throughout the years there is a plaque for Lt. James A. Lithgow from SAAF, at initial burial place.

7) The following details of the crash result from the report prepared by Ryszard Pietrucha from Szczucin who collected information from the residents of the village:
- Lt. Fourie, landed in Bukowiec near Szczucin safely however he was not recognized by one of the residents as the aviator of the Allied forces and as a result he was taken to the German soldiers who stationed in the farm nearby.
- The Colbert and Dicks lieutenants were found by the AK unit in Szczucin by Capitan F. Wiatr ‘’Duch’’ and his connector W. Duda ‘’Sarna’’ and concealed in the camp of the guerrillas.

8 ) Until October 1947 all the five graves were taken care by Polish Red Cross organization working in the Elementary School in Zabrnie. After the exhumation in 1947 the bodies of the soldiers were re-buried in the Rakowicki cemetery in Krakow.

9) In 1959 the ‘’How did the Lithgow pilot die?” article was published on the pages of the ‘’Przekrój’’ magazine November issue. It was the letter of Donald M. Lithgow who was looking for the traces of his brother died during his mission to Poland.

10) During that night the 34. Bomber Squadron SAAF lost the other ‘’Liberator’’ no EW-250 ‘’L’’ commanded by the Lt. D.O. Cullingworth too. It was the supplying mission to the ‘’Cukinia 202’’ AK area near town Konskie. The plane crashed in Krzczonow. Sgt R. T. Pither catapulted over the Wisla river near the Kocina – Czarkowy village and managed to survive. All the other crew members (Lt. Cullingworth – SAAF, Lt. Franklin – SAAF, Lt. Mac Leod – SAAF, Sgt Spad – RAF, Sgt Richmond – RAF and Sgt Bowden – RAF) unfortunately died. The are buried in the Rakowicki cemetery in Krakow. This bomber was shot by Ofw. Karl Maish too).

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Just wanted to resurrect this old thread for the second time because I am trying to answer some of the same questions.

I am interested in the Ofw Haisch (or Maisch) that served with 4./NJG 3 in 1942-1943.

This man is reported twice in Mr Balss Nachjagd book:
_ an Ofw Karl Maisch of 4./NJG 3 survived a Do 217 crash on 3 September 1942
_ an Ofw Karl Haisch of 4./NJG 3 was killed in a crash on 20 March 1943.

But the website "Airwar over Denmark" describes the first crash and listed the pilot of Ofw Karl Haisch.

By listing the claims of 4./NJG 3, we find ten claims of Ofw Haisch/Maisch:
_ one on 3-7 July 1942
_ two on 21-22 September 1942
_ two on 17-18 January 1943
_ two on 3-4 March 1943
_ one on 9-10 March 1943

_ two on 21-22 September 1943

But the claims on 21-22 September 1942 and 21-22 September 1943 are exactly the same: same types, locations and types, even if they come from two different Luftwaffe files. So my guess is that they are probably duplicates, and should be in 1942: there was no raid on this night in 1943, only 26 minelaying sorties, and no losses.

This is how the claims are listed in Tony Wood files (same in Jim Perry ones or in the book about Nachjagd claims):


Reichsverteidigung: R.A.F. Bomber Command: Mine-laying
21.09.42 Ofw. Karl Maisch 4./NJG 3 Wellington £ 8683 F1-4: 1.400 m. 23.28 Film C. 2035/II Anerk: Nr.Film
22.09.42 Ofw. Karl Maisch 4./NJG 3 Wellington £ 7689F9: 2.300 m. 00.18 Film C. 2035/II Anerk: Nr. –
22.09.42 Maj. Günther Radusch Stab II./NJG 3 Wellington £ 8511B5: 1.800 m. 01.01 Film C. 2035/II Anerk: Nr. -


Reichsverteidigung: R.A.F. Bomber Command:
21.09.43 Ofw. Karl Maisch 4./NJG 3 Wellington £ 8683 fo. 1-4: 1.400 m. 23.38 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.14
22.09.43 Major Günther Radusch Stab II./NJG 3 Wellington £ 8511 B5: 1.800 m. 01.01 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.13
22.09.43 Ofw. Karl Maisch 4./NJG 3 Wellington £ 7689 h 9: 2.300 m. 00.18 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.15

So my guess is that the claims on 21-22 September 1943 should be deleted and the Ofw Haisch/Maisch that scored 8 kills with 4./NJG 3 between July 1942 and March 1943 was Ofw Karl Haisch, who died on 20 March 1943.

But I would like any comment or correction of the above is somebody else had studied this case.

Best regards

Laurent

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Laurent

Foreman/Matthews/Parry makes the same mistake in their Luftwaffe Night Fighter combat claims 1939-1945, while Theo Boiten does not in his Nachtjagd War Diaries.

You can safely delete the three claims on 21-22.9.1943 since there were none made by Luftwaffe.

Both publications however consistantly used the name Karl Haisch

Cheers
Stig

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Hi Michal

Yes, there are two guys both fighter pilots with very similar names. The claims for Karl Maisch are:-(the first two as a Feldwebel with 11./Njg5, the other fourteen as an Oberfeldwebel with 2./Njg100)

11th June 1943 Whitley 0114hrs 3000 metres Nr.1
20th July 1943 DB-3 2156hrs 3000 metres Nr.2
18th September 1943 DB-3 2147hrs 2500 metres Nr.3
4th October 1943 R-5 North of Neu-Augustinowka 0012hrs 1000 metres Nr.4
7th May 1944 Wellington 0030hrs Nr.5
12th June 1944 Wellington 0241hrs Nr.6
10th August 1944 Lancaster North-West of Lom 0020hrs 20 metres Nr.7
14th September 1944 2 x Ps-84 both at 2139hrs 800 metres Nr.8-9
7th October 1944 DB-3 1922hrs 4400 metres Nr.10
7th October 1944 DB-3 1945hrs 3000 metres Nr.11
7th october 1944 DB-3 2016hrs 2400 metres A.S.M Nr.12
7th October 1944 DB-3 2040hrs 2300 metres Nr.13
15th October 1944 Ps-84 North-East of Tarnow 1937hrs 2600 metres Nr.14
16th October 1944 B-24 30th North-East of Tarnow 2034hrs 3100 metres Nr.15
16th October 1944 B-24 30km North-West of Tarnow 2046hrs 3400 metres Nr.16
23rd October 1944 Ps-84 East of Poprad 2037hrs 3000 metres Nr.17
23rd October 1944 Ps-84 East of Poprad 2107hrs 2600 metres Nr.18

During the night of 2nd/3rd September 1942 he force-landed hid DO217 at Vislev, Denmark after being wounded. Tarnow is in Poland, and Poprad in Slovakia.
Sorry, but I do not know his fate, he may have made later claims outside of the Micro Films covered time slot, or may have come to grief sometime after 23rd October 1944, also I have no date of Birth!

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Johannes, it was Ofw Haisch of NJG3 who crash landed at Vilslev on the 03.09.42 not Maisch. See the entry on our website, source of details WASt.

Kind regards,

Melvin

03.09.1942 4./NJG3 Dornier Do 217J Wnr.1328 Ofw Haisch
Location: Vilslev, Fanö, Denmark

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com

Re: Ofw. Maisch, NJG 100
 

Just for the record. Vilslev is not located at Fanö.

Junker