Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

This photo(from my collection) shows at least two later-to-become Knights Cross pilots. In the middle we have Hermann Graf and far left is Anton "Toni" Lindner. The photo is probably taken in Merseburg where Graf was an instructor in the beginning of 1940.
"...On 20 January 1940, his Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) Hans-Heinrich Brustellin had Graf transferred to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Merseburg (a supplementary training unit stationed at Merseburg) where he provided newly trained fighter pilots from the fighter pilot schools with combat experience as an instructor." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Graf.

Can someone confirm this - and perhaps also put some names to the other faces on this photo...?

Hans K

Re: Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

My uncle, Major Dr. Albrecht Ochs, was an instructor at Merseburg at this time. I believe Ernst Boerngen was also a member of the unit at the same time.

Re: Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

Hello and thanks for this information!

AFAIK, most or all of the pilots on the photo afterwards landed in JG 51 for the BoB, so I've got another question for you, if I may...

I see that in another post in this forum a couple of years back you wrote about your uncle that, and I quote, "He had a "personality conflict" with Moelders..." and therefore was sent to JG 53...
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=18676

As I'm researching some aspects of JG 51 and then of course also Mölders, it would be most interesting to know a little more about this "personal conflict". If you don't mind telling us...

Hans K

Re: Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

Hi Hans,

My uncle was a bit of an egomaniac, and he did not see things eye-to-eye with Moelders. I have a very unflattering Zwischenbeurteilung written by Moelders in 1941 stating that my uncle considered himself to be 'den Mittelpunkt aller Vorgaenge'. I think this is why my uncle was never promoted beyond Major for the next four years, in spite of his excellent combat record.

Re: Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

Thanks for this very interesting story - so, another question...was your uncle in the beginning of 1940 an instructor in the same Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe in Merseburg as Hermann Graf?

Hans K

Re: Hermann Graf at Merseburg?
 

That's right, before he joined 4. JG 3 for the French campaign.