Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Hi guy,

I'm seeking info about a Ju-52 that emergency-landed 02.01.1943 about 30km east of the Volga at Stalingrad. The plane would've been a total loss as it was deep in Soviet territory east of the Stalingrad Kessel. Presumably, the crew mistook the Volga for the Don and thought they were landing in the pocket.

Many thanks
Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Probably this (have no other Ju 52 loss in the East):
1943-01-02, 4./KGr.z.b.V. 900, Ju 52/3m g5e, 6913, Südlich Fl.Pl. Pitomnik
Flugzeugführer Ofw Schlicht, Adolf, verletzt
Bordfunker Uffz Fraas, Wilhelm, +
Bordmechaniker Uffz Schoon, Gerd, +
Bordschütze Uffz Kraft, Werner, verletzt
Notlandung infolge Vereisung. Bruch 80 %.


Matti

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Hi Matti,

Thanks for your help, it's really appreciated.

At first glance it looked right, but the two guys who died were buried at Pitomnik, while the plane I seek seems to have two survivors and two MIA.
Is there a Ju-52 loss for 01.01.1943 or 31.12.1942 east of the Volga?

Thanks in advance
Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Sorry Matti, my maths might be off. The two surviving crew members reported in on 02.01.1943 after a 2-day / 2-night trek through the enemy hinterland. That means their plane went down on either 30.12.1942 or 31.12.1942.

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

This is the only one, where there were two survivors:
1942-12-30, 1./KGr.z.b.V. 700, Ju 52/3m, 6658, 7V+CJ, (Stalingrad)
Flugzeugführer Uffz Harz, Karl-Heinz, +
Bordfunker Uffz Klubal, Johann, +
Bordmechaniker Uffz Scheichl, Josef, verletzt
Bordschütze Obgfr Jakobuwitz
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.

The WNr. is probably not correct, because a Ju 52/3m with the same WNr. is reported to be lost on 10 April 1943.

Matti

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Thanks again, Matti.

I'm not sure this is the right plane. If my information is correct, two of the crew were MIA and therefore could not be buried (Harz and Klubal died and were buried in the Kessel).

Are there any Ju-52s listed as missing between 30.12.1942 and 01.01.1943?

Sorry to be a pain about this. I'm trying to get to the bottom of a mystery.

Thanks
Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

1942-12-31, 4./KGr.z.b.V. 50, Ju 52/3m, 5863, 6N+EB, (Pitomnik)
Flugzeugführer Uffz Reif, Josef, vermißt
Bordfunker Obgfr Schreiber, Werner, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Obgfr Albers, Johann, vermißt
Bordschütze Gefr Mayer, Ludwig, vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
1942-12-31, 3./KGr.z.b.V. 900, Ju 52/3m, 6477, (Stalingrad)
Flugzeugführer Ofw Paust, Oskar, vermißt
Bordfunker Uffz Mania, Hans, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Fw Ruoff, Georg, vermißt
1.Wart Gefr Patzer, Hermann, vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %. Besatzung von Kurierstaffel O.K.M.

Matti

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Also the following on 1.1.1943:
1943-01-01, 1./KGr.z.b.V. 9, Ju 52/3m, 5924, 4V+FL, 15 km östlich Stalingrad
Flugzeugführer Ofw Scheinmann, Kurt, vermißt
Bordfunker Uffz Ohning, Hartmut, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Obgfr Kelbassa (Kelbasser?), Emil, vermißt
Bordschütze Gefr Kaminski, Heinz, vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.

This could be your case, because in the NVM only Kamiski and Kelbassa are reported as MIA. So, probably Scheinmann and Ohning returned.

Matti

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Thanks Matti, you're a champion.

Do you have a copy of the NVM that you can show me? I can't find the names of Kamiski and Kelbassa on Volksbund.

Thanks
Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

I don't have any NVMs. Have only copied at WASt the basic NVM info to my loss database. You have to ask for a copy of the NVM from BA-PA (former WASt).

Volksbund have still a lot of losses missing, especially MIA cases. I understand that their main purpose is to take care of war graves.

Matti

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

JASON: Congratulations for the wonderful site and magnificent books (Stalingrad related).....and yes if we could repay MATTI's help in beer, he would drink freely until the end of his life...so much we owe him!

By the way: A STALINGRAD LW airlift book would be most welcomed!

MATTI: INDEED you are an ACE man!

I do beg excuses to the Moderators but I could not let pass to: a) Congratulate Jason on his site and wonderful books; and b) to cheer again Matti, to whom most of us are in debt.

A.

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Hello. Ogefr. Emil Kelbassa is in the DRK Suchdienst on page LJ 421.


Regards,
Patrick

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Hi Patrick,

Yes, I went looking into the DRK VBL and found Kelbassa, but Kaminski is not there. I also search the following 5 or 6 pages, nothing. Strange. Maybe he belonged to another unit. Or his family, who provided the info, were mistaken (I've seen this several times).

Nevertheless, nice to have Kelbassa's face.

Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Thanks Adriano, I appreciate the kind words.

I know several other researchers like Matti and I'm always astounded by their selflessness.

Not sure if I'm the man to write a book about the Stalingrad airlift, but I'd be very keen to help the author in order to see the publication of such a book.

All the best,
Jason

Re: Seeking info Ju-52 crashed 02.01.1943 30km east of Volga/Stalingrad
 

Thanks again. The info you've provided has laid the foundations for further research. Scheimann was awarded the DKiG in February 1943, while Ohning received the Ehrenpokal (as well as the DKIG later in the war). It seems fairly clear that they survived the pocket.

Best wishes from Sydney
Jason