Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Hello,

At the EoE Project we're seeking identification of this photo which purports to show a pilot from JG53 next to the rudder of a Bf109E displaying ten victory tabs. The fresh yellow ID paint on the top of the rudder suggests Sept., 1940, and the Battle of Britain. Dr. Jochen Prien, who is the world's expert on JG53, cannot ID this photo which he has been aware of for many years. This suggests to me that it is likely not a JG53 pilot. The fact that the victory tabs are painted in white should drastically reduce the possibilities of the unit assignment of this a/c and may well provide the needed clue as to who this is.

Who can help us correctly ID the person in the photo and presumably the rudder of his ac?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300829901847...847%26_rdc%3D1

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

If the Tally's are confirmed post war.?
the jacket pilots his 1940 alright. I see iron cross 2rd class on jacket.
so a seasoned flyer..
but was they confirmed post war...
I'm useully good at BoB german aces.
ill keep a look out.
__
Sharon

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Hello Larry,
That pilot is Lt. Alfred Zeis of 1./JG 53. His tenth victory was a RAF Blenheim on 12th September 1940. The story is in Prien's JG 53(Schiffer) on page157,158 with a photo of Zeis's "White 3" Bf 109 on page 158.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, Jerry

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Jerry beat me to it-it looks like Zeis and I have photos of him with exactly the same jacket-see page 144 of 'Brothers in Arms' which shows his White 3 with 10 kills on the rudder.

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Jerry & Chris,

Thanx. You guys nailed this one.

My appreciation, and I'm sure, that of Jochen Prien as well.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Larry
Please check your mailbox, Lt Alfred Zeis seems right.
Regards, Thierry

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

I note that this went for over 200 Euros. An amazing sum for a photo of a pilot who was POW by 5 Oct 40. I am seriously considering selling my original photos if people want to pay this much!!!

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Hey Chris, why not? With today's tech you can scan all your stuff, then put the selling proceeds towards really obscure books that only we idiots buy!;)

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

John: You are right (albeit I would not call you and others an idiot!). The scans are invariably better than the original and, for example, if I can sell the originals I have of Priller's rudder, Mayer's rudder and Galland's rudder, I could retire and take things much easier. However, Mrs Goss would have designs.............

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Let me guess, new curtains, new sofa....... my wife keeps looking at my library, "How much did you say that one is worth?"

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Sounds familiar but at least mine keeps out of the study & doesn't object but just makes a mental note for later!

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Yes, I have a "secured" area where no one, grandchildren included, are allowed to fool around.

But, my lovely bride says to me, "if you croak on the tennis court, what am I going to do with all this stuff and these books?". I tell her I will not be worried about it!

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

My 'trouble and strife' said something along similar lines. "What will I do with all these books? How do I know how much their worth?" so I told her about a thing called eBay then one called Amazon and a search engine called Google and a website called BookFinder.com ..................... :D

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

Gentlemen,
uahuahuahuahuah....I laughed quite a lot indeed...Since you are all seasoned and veterans writers...it really seems amazing how similar "wives can be" from one point of the Globe to the other one...In my case I noticed a friend of mine (second in command), who will be in charge of helping her (my wife) to sell part of the books and artefacts and donate other things to museums, if I ever join the veterans on their last flight...But am currently charged by the OC (wife) to spend with her the same amount spent on books and Ebay...(a fair play...).
It seems we do have the same "Aeronauticus Historitis" health (and mental) problems guys....
All the best and thanks for the good laughs, from a very interesting thread.
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: Seeking ID of photo of 10-victory "ace" reportedly from JG53 on eBay
 

by the way...have some of you noticed a Dornier Do 217 N-1 picture that went up to 800 US$ some 2 months ago at Ebay?
One of the highest bids I ever saw...