Flying Amputees
 

Hi guys

I am interested to establish identities of WW2 aircrew from all nations who continued to fly on operations (or even non-operations) following the loss of a limb. Any suggestions?

I am aware of the obvious (Bader, Hodgkinson, MacLachlan) but there were many others. Who were they?

Franek - I understand there was a Polish pilot named Grzanka who had lost a leg (or both) but after being fitted with artificial limb/s continued to fly with 307 Squadron before being killed in a flying accident on 2 August 1943. Have you details of his accident?

Over to the knowledgeable!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Flying Amputees
 

The most famous Italian is Ernesto Botto (http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_botto.htm) also known as "Gamba di Ferro" ("Iron leg"). He lost a leg during the Spanish Civil War but this dind't prevent him to continue to fly and lead his men. He claimed the first Italian victory over Malta on 3 July 1940.

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Thanks Hakan - we're on our way!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Hello,

Three more pilots, this time from the VVS:

Alexei P. Marasyev, 11 victories
Zakhar A. Sorokin, 18 victories
Leoinid G. Belousov, 5 victories

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Flying Amputees
 

The two french crew

Jacques GUILLOUX DE MEZILLIS (loss of an arm when he was with GB1 Lorraine. De Mézillis KIA in march 1943

Ricardou (W/G) with 342 Lorraine. MIA on 4/8/1944.

I remember Colin HOGDINCKSON.

HTH

Bertrand H

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Hello,

A few Luftwaffe Experten:

- Obfw. Walter Brandt (43 vic.) – 2./JG 77 - wounded on 12.01.1943 (lost his leg) – he returned to duty in August 1944 as St.K. 2./JG 3 and claimed 6. victories;
- Lt. Walter Wever (44) – St.K. 3./JG 51 – wounded on 10.07.1944 (lost his foot) – he returned to duty in February 1945 as St.K. 7./JG 7 – claimed no victories. Wever was killed in action on 10.04.1945.
- Obfw. Viktor Petermann (64) – 6./JG 52 – wounded on 01.10.1943 (lost his arm) – he returned to duty in the autumn 1944. He served in Stab III./JG 52, than in 10./JG 52 and JG 7. He claimed 4. victories against Soviets in March 1945.

Cheers,
Artur

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Brian
It is a better story. Indeed F/O Roman Grzanka had one artifical leg, but as his r/o F/O Henryk Łepkowski was a little bit deaf, their loud talks at readiness caused anger among other pilots trying to get a nap. In the effect he got another r/o, Juliusz Baykowski, a veteran of 1920 war with Bolsheviks, who had a better hearing and also an artifical leg. Since that time crew Horlick 53 had a full pair of legs. ;)
Since then Grzanka had a couple of other operators and saly was killed on 27 June 1943 when testing a freshly overhauled Mosquito DD644. The aircraft flew into a hill and Grzanka was killed instantly, while F/S Wacław Oyrzanowski, groundcrew chief A Flight died in hospital.
Another airman attempting flying without a limb was Zdzisław Radomski, who lost a hand over France in 1941. He did some training flights in a Spitfire but as the latter was not very ergonomic, flying with only one hand was very risky and I do not think he attempted any operational sorties.
Another airman flying Spitfire in combat single handedly was G/C Jerzy Bajan of 1936 Challenge fame. He had his hand paralysed, so not sure if he qualifies.

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Don't forget the Australian, Flt. Lt. Roberts Dunstan DSO. He lost a leg as an infantryman at Tobruk and returned to active duty as a Lancaster rear-gunner with 460 Squadron.

And also Aleksey Maresyev who flew combat missions at Kursk with two artificial legs....

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Sgt. Ladislav Kadlec, 311 (Cz) Bomber Squadron, born April 14 1917. Lost leg during combat with Bf 110 Nightfighter as rear gunner of Wellington P 1451 on July 7 1941. He probably shot down attacker. After 7 months in hospital he continued to fly. MIA on March 13 1944 somewhere over Bay of Biscay together with 7 other flyers in Liberator. His last rank was W/O in RAF and štábní rotmistr in CzAF.

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Lt Doug Rogan 1 sqn SAAF lost a leg in the Western Desert and went back toFly with 1 sqn again.Stefaan Bouwer

Re: Flying Amputees
 

Hey - this is great stuff, guys! Can anyone put dates and background to the incidents when those mentioned required amputation?

I believe there was another French pilot by the name of Zevacco-Lamour who lost a leg/arm? He was sadly later shot down by own AA when chasing a V-1 flying bomb. There was also a pilot on 41 Squadron involved in flying agaianst the V-1s who had only one leg, having been seriously injured by a bomb in Palembang, Sumatra in 1942. This was Flt Lt (later Grp Capt) Tom Burne, who was again seriously injured towards the end of the war (awarded the DSO). And wasn't there a German pilot at the beginning of WW2 who flew with an artificial leg - and how about those who had only one eye? I am sure there are many more of these gallant gents to identify - could be a book here!


Cheers
Brian

PS: The German pilot mentioned above was Huth, I believe

Re: Flying Amputees
 

From Don Caldwell's JG 26 War Diary, Oblt Viktor Hilgendorff rejoined JG 26 in May 1944 as CO of 9/JG 26, having had his right leg amputated above the knee due to injuries suffered when shot down on 8 June 1942, when flying with JG 26. Claimed a victory on 17 July 1944, Caldwell reports as a 354th FG P 51.

KIA the next day in combat with P47s.

According to Caldwell, Hilgendorff was shot down in combat with B24s on 15 June 1944 and had to detach his artificial leg and carry it under his arm while parachuting!