Re: Hans Hahn
 

Hi Nokose, just for clarification, there are two Thorney Islands. Check out Wikipedia's disambiguation page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorney_Island

The other Thorney Island had a RAF Coastal command base which is a fact that might cause a confusion here.

Nick

Re: Hans Hahn
 

Thanks for the link Nick but it seems none of the RAF losses came down in his area.

23 Sep 1940 10:00-1050 (09:00-09:50 British)
Hptm. Karl-Heinz Greisert Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 10:30 no location
Oblt. Hans Hahn 4/JG 2 Spitfire 10:30 London

I(J)/LG 2 claimed five Spitfire at Dover during this time period
Adolf Galland Stab II/JG 26 claimed two Hurricanes at 10:45 north of Rochester

RAF losses;
257 Sqn Hurricane I (P2960) Sgt D.J. Aslin (WIA) over the Thames Estuary at 09:50.

The last two "Matching" German claims for this time period and location.
Gefr. Helmut Hornatscheck 9/JG 26 Spitfire 10:45 Themsemündung
Lt. Gustav Sprick 8/JG 26 Spitfire 10:35 Themsemündung
These two could have shared but given the time it is more then likely Hornatscheck for his 1st victory.

To be fair it would probably take some one sitting down and reading all the after action combat reports (RAF since they survived) to determined who was involved along with how much damage was done. RAF claims during this period I've read didn't always match German losses. Still no post-war confirmation for Hahn's claim for this day.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

On going through Norman L R Franks book for this day there is some strange times for the loss of RAF fighters which don't match any of the times for the claims made by German pilots. German Summer time did not end for 1940 until Nov 1942 on the change back. Is there missing claims from Tony Woods list for this daylisted in Prien's JFV series?

Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 13:35 Southampton
Oblt. Hans Hahn 4/JG 2 Spitfire 13:35 Southhampton
Obfw. Siegfried Schnell 4/JG 2 Spitfire 13:39 Southampton
Spitfire 13:42 Southampton

Nick, you listed for this day 609 Sqn Spitfires of F/O John C Dundas and P/O Noel Le Chevalier Agazarian as being damaged so that is the closes possible for Hahn's. Unless someone else has better information. So no actual victory this day.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

For the 6 Nov 1940 Frank's book lists only the following RAF losses which he gives no times but for the most part gives the credit to Maj Helmut Wick Stab/JG2 for some reason.
145 Sqn Hurricane I P/O JK Haire (KIA) time PM, over Isle of Wight (to Wick)
145 Sqn Hurricane I Sgt J Weber, same as above
213 Sqn Hurricane I Sgt HH Adair (KIA) time PM over Portsmouth (to Wick)
238 Sqn Hurricane I P/O J Tillett (KIA) time PM, over Fareham (he stated only JG 2)

Oblt. Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Hurricane 15:50 east of Southhampton

So any comments with more information would be interesting on this one as Wick claimed five fighters, Oblt. Erich Leie Stab/JG 2 two Hurricanes (at Southampton at 15:35 & 15:37) and Obfw. Siegfried Schnell of 4/JG 2 claimed a Hurricane 1340 to the east of Southampton.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

24 June 1941 (Circus 21)
Hptm. Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 21:00 NW Calais

RAF losses:
603 Sqn Spitfire
603 Sqn Spitfire damaged and forced landed at Walmer
611 Sqn Spitfire

German claims during this raid were three Spitfires by JG 26 and ten Spitfires by JG 2 (including Hahn). So a very unlikely victory with all this overclaiming.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

25 Jun 1941 (Circus 23)
I have very little on Circus 23 but on this one the chances of Hahn's actually scoring a victory are a lot better.
German Claims:
Oblt. Erich Leie Stab 2/JG 2 Spitfire 16:30 NE Boulogne (No witness)
Hptm Wilhelm Balthasar Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 16:45 no location
Lt Siegfried Schnell 4/JG 2 Spitfire 16:32 no location
Spitfire 16:40 no location
Lt. Günther Behrendt 4/JG 2 Spitfire 16:35 no location
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 16:31 Marquise
Lt. Egon Mayer 7/JG 2 Spitfire 16:35
Lt. Walter Höhler 7/JG 2 Spitfire 16:35
Obfw Rudolf Krull 7/JG 2 Spitfire 16:40
Lt Johannes Schmidt 3/JG 26 Spitfire 16:45 10 km north of Dünkirchen
Oblt Walter Schneider 6/JG 26 Spitfire 16:40 south of "

RAF losses:
54 Sqn Spitfire (three)
303 Sqn Spitfire
610 Sqn Spitfire and Sgt Davies Spitfire damaged and he was WIA.
616 Sqn Spitfire (two over St. Omar)

Re: Hans Hahn
 

26 Jun 1941
I have very little again on Circus 24 for this day but there is only three RAF losses with no location and time of losses

RAF losses:
92 Sqn Spitfire (POW) Sweep
145 Sqn Spitfire (POW) Circus 24
603 Sqn Spitfire P/O C A Newman (KIA) Sweep

German claims;
Lt. Siegfried Schnell 4/JG 2 Spitfire 11:42 no location
Fw. Edgar Brandt 4/JG2 Spitfire 11:43 no location
Oblt. Helmut-Felix Bolz 5/JG 2 Spitfire no location
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 11:35 Dunkirk
Lt. Horst Sternberg 5/JG 26 Spitfire 11:50 Dunkirk
Hptm Walter Adolph Stab II/JG 26 Spitfire 11:55 Mardyck

So six claims for Spitfires and three losses again is hard to determine without locations and times of the RAF losses.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

02 Jul 1941
Circus 29 to Lille

RAF escort losses:
303 Sqn Spitfire S/L M. Wojciechowski (KIA) over the channel
303 Sqn Spitfire (pilot rescued) over the channel
303 Sqn Spitfire damaged returned to England

On looking at the locations of the German claims at least one possibly can be linked:
Oblt Walter Schneider 6/JG 26 Spitfire 12:55 Mardyck

RAF sweep losses:
74 Sqn Spitfire (POW)
74 Sqn Spitfire (POW) near St Omer

Circus 29 losses:
71 Sqn Hurricane (linked to Pingel JG 26)
308 Sqn Spitfire F/L E.S. Kawnik (KIA)
308 Sqn Spitfire Sgt. P. Kowala (POW)
308 Sqn Spitfire damaged

German claims:
Obfw. Rudof Täschner 1/JG 2 Spitfire 12:45 no location
Oblt. Jürgen Hepe 4/JG 2 Spitfire 12:55 no location
Lt Bruno Stolle 8/JG 2 Spitfire 12:35 west of Armentieres
Fw Heinz Jahner 9/JG 2 Spitfire 12:37 no location
Lt Friedrich Kellner 7/JG 2 Spitfire 12:45 " "
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire unk hrs Hazebrouck
Oblt Josef Priller 1/JG 26 Spitfire 12:45 10 km west of Lille
Lt Rolf Pingel Stab I/JG 26 Hurricane 12:50 South of Dunkirk (71 Sqn)
Lt Jorst Ulenberg 2/JG 26 Spitfire 12:50 östw. Bouckerque (this location I couldn't find)
Hptm Gerhard Schöpfel Stab III/JG 26 Spitfire 12:50 south of Lillers ( on checking this location it is not in the exact area of the raid and I wonder if it might have been a reconn. Spitfire)

I didn't include the bomber claims as Hahn only claimed a Spitfire. So two possible ID'ed claims which leaves five shot down and two damaged. Josef Priller lists his claim at 10 km west of Lille which seems to indicate a ground verification. So if someone has a loss at Hazebrouck Hahn's claim could fall in the damaged or the one that got away status.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

Nick, Sgt WG Lockhart from 74 Sqn Spitfire Vb (W3317) was shot down on the 06 Jul 1941 and not the 7th.

07 Jul 1941 Three Circuses to France this day according to Donald Caldwell's JG 26 series. JG 26 claimed five Spitfires in the morning. One of these was by Josef Priller which was possibly G/C Harry Broadhurst who landed his damaged Spitfire in England.
The details of these three Circuses I do not have to examine.

RAF losses:
74 Sqn Spitfire Sgt C Stuart (WIA) Sweep, into the sea & rescued
145 Sqn Spitfire Sgt GF Silvester (WIA) Circus 37 written off after landing
609 Sqn Spitfire Sgt G Evans (WIA) Sweep, bailed out over the sea off Boulogne & rescued

German claims:
Obfw Kurt Bühligen 4/JG 2 Spitfire 15:32 no location
Lt Erich Rudorffer Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 15:35 east of Boulogne
Spitfire 15:40 " "
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Hurricane 15:36 7 km west of Le Touquet
Hurricane 15:37 7-10 km west of Le Touquet
Lt. Hans-Georg Dippel 2/JG 26 Spitfire 15:20 Samer

Hahn's claims would have fell into the English Channel but no Hurricanes were lost which doesn't rule out that he misidentified. Still without more details it is hard to determine and verify his claims.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

Hi Michael,

Here's the source of the confusion regarding Sergeant Lockhart

Target-Support Wing B: Biggin Hill
RAF 11 Gp. 74 Sqn. 7 Spitfire Vb 14.30-16.14 Circus 38 0 - 0 - 0 n/a 1 Cat.3m Fighters H-BS: Chocques

Cat.3m 07.07.41 Sgt. W.G. Lockhart: mia-e 11 Group 74 Sqn. Spitfire Vb: ZP - Me 109s: France


From Tony Wood's listing of RAF Fighter Command missions 1941.


Nick

Re: Hans Hahn
 

08 Jul 1941 Circus 40 to Lille power station

Escort cover
303 Sqn
Spitfire S/L T.A. Arentowicz (KIA) over Dunkirk
Spitfire F/O W.S. Strzembosz (KIA) over Dunkirk
Spitfire Sgt W. Giermer (WIA) over Dunkirk and returned damaged.
These possibly belong to 1/JG 26
Uffz Ulrich Grebe Spitfire 15:40 SE of Dunkirk & Spitfire 15:45 N of Dunkirk
Oblt. Werner Kakse Spitfire 15:45 20 km NNW of Coxyde

RAF losses (other)
308 Sqn Spitire Sgt J. Biel (POW) over Lille
611 Sqn Spitfire Sgt B.W. Feeley (KIA) target support
145 Sqn Spitire P/O P.R.I. Pine (POW) target support
145 Sqn Spitfire F/O J.J. Machacek (KIA) target support
610 Sqn Spitfire P/O J.R. Stoop (WIA) came down in sea & rescued
610 Sqn Spitfire P/O F.G. Horner (POW) over France
603 Sqn Spitfire Sgt. B.H. Wood target support damaged forced landed near Canterbury and burnt out

German claims:
Oblt Josef Priller 1/JG 26 Spitfire 15:30 N of St. Omer
Uffz Hans-Jürgen Fröhlich 2/JG 26 Spitfire 15:50 NE of Calais
Lt Paul Schauder 3/JG 26 Spitfire 15:50 NE of Graveslines
Hptm Walter Adolp Stab II/JG 26 Spitfire 15:30 Graveslines
Obfw Walter Meyer 6/JG 26 Spitfire 15:40 Hazebrouck
Uffz Karl Finke 6/JG 26 Spitfire unk hrs S of Ypern

Lt Siegfried Schnell 9/JG 2 Spitfire 15:45 SW of Bergus
Obfw Magnus Brunkhorst 9/JG 2 Spitfire 15:48 Unk
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 15:52 Calais-Marck

Without better information on crash locations I can't determine who shot down who but the majority appear to be to JG 26. Where and who engaged the 603 and 610 Sqn Spitfire would also have to be determined.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

10 Jul 1941 Circus 41 Chocques
Still not enough details of how everything took place but the "overclaiming" was not that bad. Still not possible to link except maybe one.

RAF losses
72 Sqn High Cover
Spitfire Sgt A.J. Casey (KIA)
Spitfire Sgt C.L. Harrison (KIA)
Spitfire F/O J.M. Godlewski (KIA)
Spitfire (damaged)
92 Sqn High Cover
Spitfire Sgt Walden (rescued at sea. This was possibly by Josef Priller)
611 Sqn
Spitfire F/Sgt L. Hemingway (KIA)
Spitfire (damaged)
Spitfire (damaged)
Spitfire (damaged)
610 Sqn Target Support
Spitfire Sgt HCD Blackman (KIA buried at Mazieres)
Spitfire Sgt JE Anderson (POW)
Spitfire P/O P. Ward-Smith (POW)
Spitfire (damaged)

German claims
Stab-Fw Franz Willinger Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 12:10 NW St Omer b. Watten
Fw Günther Seeger Stab/JG2 Spitfire 12:15 SE of Cassel
Obfw Kurt Bühligen 4/JG 2 Spitfire 12:18 & Spitfire 12:21 Unk locations
Lt. Erich Rudorffer Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 12:20 Unk location
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 12:08 & Spitfire 12:12 Unk location

Oblt Josef Priller 1/JG 26 Spitfire 12:30 N of St Omer & Spitfire 12:40 NW of Boulogne (The last possibly 92 Sqn because he went down in the channel but still nothing to truely confirm)
Lt. Robert Unzeitig 1/JG 26 Spitfire 12:43 Cape Griz Nez

Eight Spitfires lost and five Spitfires damaged against 10 claims is fairly good but still can't determine which Hahn ecountered.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

21 Jul 1941 Circus 54 to Lille

RAF losses
602 sqn close-escort wing
Spitfire F/Lt T.G.F. Ritchie (KIA) buried Reningelst, Belgium
609 Sgn escort-cover wing
Spitfire Sgt K.W. Bramble (KIA) near Lille
611 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt W.E. Grainger (KIA) near Lille
None listed as damaged

German claims (the first three match Circus 54 losses)
Hptm Johannes Seihert Stab I/JG 26 Spitfire 08:25 SW of Ypres
Oblt Waldemar März 5/JG 26 Spitfire 08:35 W of Lille
Uffz Fritz Schellbach 7/JG 2 Spitfire 08:35 Unk

Not matching RAF losses (these appear to be the withdrawn)
Oblt Sigmund Kahse 1/JG 26 Spitfire 08:40 15 km Calais rtg Dunkirk
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 08:50 unk
Lt Egon Mayer 7/JG 2 Spitfire 08:52 Unk

Re: Hans Hahn
 

21 Jul 1941 Circus 55 Marzingarbe

RAF losses
616 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt S.W.R. Mabbett (MWIA) near St. Omer
Spitfire Sgt F.A. Nelson (KIA) into the sea off worthing
19 Sqn Sweep
Spitfire F/O H. Oxlin (KIA) near Montreuil
Spitfire P/O M.D. Tucker (KIA) near St Omer
Spitfire Sgt S.F. Brooker (WIA) damaged

German claims
Fw Günther Seeger Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 20:45 unk
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 20:45
Uffz Gottfried Dietze 2/JG 26 Spitfire 21:00 SW of Cape Gris Nez

Oblt. Schmid /JG 26 Spitfire 19:00(?) unk location (not on the 21st but the 22nd)

Actually matching. Not sure on the time for Oblt. Schmid.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

22 Jul 1941 Circus 58

RAF losses;
54 Sqn Spitfire P/O Jones (POW)
308 Sqn Spitfire F/O W. Boszek (KIA) and Spitfire P/O M.M. Orzechowski (KIA)
603 Sqn Spitfire P/O P.J. Delrome (KIFA) possible Oxygen failure

German Claims
Oblt. Josef Priller 1/JG 26 Spitfire 13:40 10 km west of Gravelines (It is widely accepted that he shot down one of the 308 Sqn Spitfires).

Stab-Fw. Erwin Kley 1/JG 2 Spitfire 13:33 no location
Uffz Kuno Dollenmeier 2/JG 2 Spitfire 13:40 " "
Hptm. Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 13:45 " "
Spitfire 13:53 " "
Oblt. Rudolf Planz Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 14:01 " "
Uffz Theodor Zingerle 8/JG 2 Spitfire 14:02

Okay, two Spitfires with seven claims by JG 2. Either Hahn shot down both, shared or his victims escaped but I think it probably fell into the shared as a group status to be fair.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

07 Aug 1941 Circus 62 to Lille

RAF losses
308 Sqn Sweep 17:01-18:42
Spitfire P/O L. Stampel or Stapel (KIA)
Spitfire Sgt S. Brazda (KIA) Buried Longuenesse which is northeast of Fruges.
92 Sqn Circus 62
Spitfire Sgt G.P. Hickman (WIFA) on return with battle damage. Area of dogfight at Gravelines.
41 Sn
Spitfire F/Lt G.G.F. Draper (POW) over Lille but bailed out over Merville(?).
610 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt F. McWatt (WIA) damaged
401 Sqn
Hurricane P/O R.T. Coupland (KIA) buried at Dunkirk
19 Sqn
Spitfire P/O H.B. Milman (MWIFA) on return
Spitfire Sgt S Plazak (KIA)
257 Sqn
Hurricane Sgt Cowan (WIA) damaged

German claims
JG 26
ObsLt Adolf Galland Stab Spitfire 17:40 10 km west of St Omer
Oblt Johannes Schmid Stab Spitfire 17:43 St. Omer - Ardes
Hptm Gerhard Schöpfel Stab III Spitfire 18:00 SW of Dunkirk (possibly 401 Sqn Hurricane)
Oblt. Walter Schneider 6/JG 26 Spitfire or Hurricane(Don Caldweel lists latter) 18:05 Gravelines (possibly 92 Spitfire?)
Oblt Josef Haiböck Stab III Spitfire 18:05 near Boulogne
Oblt Josef Priller 1/JG 26 18:20 8 km west of Calais

JG 2
Obfw Josef Wurmheller 4/JG 2 Spitfire 17:47 no location
Obfw Kurt Büligen 4/JG 2 Spitfire 17:48 no location
Obfw. Wolfgang Wehrhagen 4/JG 2 Spitfire 17:55 no location
Fw. Ludwig Spinner 4/JG 2 Spitfire 18:09 near Fruges (I suspect that he probably shot down 308 Sqn Spitfire of Sgt S. Bruzda)
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III Spitfire 18:17 no location on Tony Woods list but Nick has Calais on his list on page 1 of this thread.

So four Spitfires shot down and two damaged. One Hurricane shot down and one damaged. I suspect the 41 Sqn Spitfire probably was shot down by one of II/JG 2 or maybe a shared kill. Hahn's victory will probably remain a mystery on this one.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

12 Aug 1941
Starting this day out before Hahn's claims to clear up the losses of the 41 Sqn during this day.
41 Sqn near Hazebrouck
Spitfire Sgt A.L. Bull (POW)
Spitfire Sgt R.L. Chapman
German Claims
Maj. Walter Oesau Stab/JG 2 Hurricane 11:43 no location
Fw Günther Seeger Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 11:45 10 km NNW of Calais
Lt. Arthur Beese Stab III/JG 26 Spitfire 11:50
Seeger's location clearly puts him out of these losses.

Donald Caldwell's JG 26 puts them out of the claiming in France regarding the RAF circus missions.
Circus 69 area of St Omer 09:48-
RAF losses
54 Sqn Spitfire P/O R. Powling (WIA) damaged St. Omer
222 Sqn Spitfire P/O Christie (KIA) St. Omer

Circus 70 Gosnay 11:03-
RAF losses
485 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt Russel (POW) Gosnay
Spitfire damaged
602 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt H.J. Bell-Walker (POW)
Spitfire damaged

German claims have no locations listed
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 12:45 and Spitfire 12:50
Uffz Ernst Federle 8/JG 2 Spitfire 12:46
Maj. Walter Oesau Stab/JG 2
Spitfire 12:50
Spitfire 12:54
Spitfire 13:06
Oblt. Erich Leie Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 12:54 and Spitfire 13:08

So for three Spitfires shot down and two damaged against eight claimed there appears to be a number of shared, especially on looking at the times and there being no locations to check against.

Circus 71 Le Trait shipyards 17:29-
RAF losses
485 Sqn Spitfire Sgt G.M Porter (KIA) Rouen, France
611 Sqn Spitfire P/O R. van der Honert (WIA) damged

German claims
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 18:51 Ramsgate
Oblt Erich Leie Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 19:28 12 km SE of Dungeness
Maj Walter Oesau Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 19:27 15 km S of Dungeness
Obfw. Kurt Bühligen Stab II/JG 2 Hurricane 19:07 no location
I think that Bühligen is the possible victor over the 485 Sqn fighter as Hahn and the others are clearly off the coast of England.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

20 Sep 1941
Thanks to Donald Caldwell's JG 26 series it was possible to separate the three raids for this day. Circus 100A to the Hazebrouck motor yards fell to JG 26 and Circus 100C to the Rouen Shipyards fell to Jagdfliergerschule 5 Ergänzungsstaffel which claimed three Spitfires (Actually no RAF losses).

That leaves JG 2 handling Circus 100B to the Abbeville motor yards.
RAF losses
92 Sqn Spitfire Sgt G.P. Hickman (POW)
452 Sqn Spitfire Sgt I.A.L. Milne (POW)
602 Sqn Spitfire Sgt C.J. Squibb (KIA) and Spitfire Sgt. W.L. Brown (KIA)
Four Spitfires with no location and times of loss.

German claims
Oblt. Josef Puchinger Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 16:36
Lt. Egon Mayer 7/JG 2 Spitfire 16:38
Oblt Rudolf Planz Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 16:40
Obfw Günther Seeger Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 16:41 bei Somme-Mündung
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2
Spitfire 16:42 10 km SW of Somme-Mündung
Spitfire 16:43
Lt Walter Höhler 7/JG 2 Spitfire 16:42
Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 16:50
Fw Horst-Benno Krüger Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 16:53
Lt Wolfgang Wehrhagen 4/JG 2 Spitfire 16:55
Lt Erich Rudrffer 6/JG 2 Spitfire 16:55
Uffz Richard Übelbacher 6/JG 2 Spitfire 16:55
Fw Paul Marx 4/JG 2 Spitfire 17:05

So thirteen claims for four Spitfires and no known damaged. Again on looking at the times it could appear that some "might" have been shared instead of actual single victories but Hahn actually gaining two seems a little hard to determine as possible. Nick, Tony Woods list does not show a Spitfire for 16:30 which would put him in even a more bad light for this day.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

Hi Michael,

Thanks for all these assessments, it's been a big help to have a second opinion on Hahn's victims and overclaims. Incidentally, Ian Milne was the "local" Spifire pilot where I came from and if it helps, I long ago determined that if he was a victim of a famous ace, then he was more likely downed by Rudorffer than Hahn.

Nick

Re: Hans Hahn
 

27 Sep 1941 Circus 103A Ameins motor yard
I looked at the losses for this raid and in the accessment it states there were four losses but I only saw three listed.
RAF losses
Escort-Support Wing
129 Sqn Spitfire Sgt. Ross (POW) Pas-de-Calais
616 Sqn Spitfire P/O R.G. Sutherland (KIA) Gamaches/Somme
High Cover Wing
308 Sqn Spitfire Sgt E. Watolski (POW)

one unknown

German claims
Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 15:30 Le Touquet
Fw Horst-Benno Krüger Stab II/JG 2 Spitfire 15:30
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 15:35
Lt Erich Rudorffer 6/JG 2 Spitfire 15:40
Lt Jakob Augustin 8/JG 2 Spitfire 15:55

Obfw Rudolf Krull 7/JG 2 Spifire 16:43 (after the raid was over)

So five pilots claiming five (three known as of this post but possibly four) isn't bad. Strange the timing of the Stab II claims. To be fair for two battle damaged forced landings by JG 2 the RAF claimed for Circus 103A seven Bf 109 shot down, two damaged and three proables so not all one sided in these exchanges.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

02 Oct 1941 Circus 104 Le Havre

RAF losses
92 Sqn
Sptfire F/Lt J.W. Lund (KIA)
Spitfire Sgt K.G. Port (KIA)
Spitfire Sgt H,N, Edge (KIA)
Spitfire P/O D.A. Bruce (Crash-landed at Ashford)

German Claims
Lt Walter Höhler 8/JG 2 Spitfire 15:03
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 15:05
Oblt Werner Stockelman Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 15:07
Lt Egon Mayer 7/JG 2 Spitfire 15:14
Gefr Helmut Ellenberger 8/JG 2 Spitfire 15:14

I believe that Hahn's claim was correct in this instance and Mayer might have shared his kill with Ellenberger to help him in "breaking in".

Fighter-Sweeps to Pas-de-Calais by 11 Group 16:35 - 17:45
485 Sqn No losses
452 Sqn No losses

Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2
Spitfire 18:50
Spitfire 18:52

Re: Hans Hahn
 

13 Oct 1941 Circus 108A Arques ship lift
This raid is interesting as Hans Hahn actually appears to have a good chance of being correct as both JG 2 and JG 26 were involved. I will list the German claims under the RAF losses in this one.
RAF losses
Close-Eescort Wing 12:35-15:00
452 Sqn (Dogfight at 13:30-13:40)
Spitfire Sgt E.P. Jackson (KIA) St. Omer
Spitfire Sgt. J.R.H. Elphick (Possibly damaged over St. Omer but rescued at sea)
602 Sqn 12:35-14:20
Spitfire Sgt L.L. Ford (POW) St. Omer
Spitfire Sgt. E. Brayley (KIA) St. Omer

Target Support Wing
129 Sqn 12:39-14:07
Spitfire F/Lt R.R. Macpherson (KIA) Arques
Spitfire P/O G.S. Walker (KIA) Arques

German claims
Obstlt. Adolf Galland Stab/JG 26 Spitfire 14:17 St. Omer
Lt. Paul Schauder 3/JG 26 Spitfire 14:30 W of St. Omer
Hptm Johannes Schmid 8/JG 26 Spitfire 14:35
Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 14:30
Uffz. Heinrich Ziehl 8/JG 2 Spitfire 14:35

Target Support Wing (continued)
65 Sqn
Spitfire Sgt D.H. Warden (KIA) Boulogne - East
Hptm Joachim Müncheberg Stab II/JG 26 Spitfire 14:33 Samer
Look at the location of Samer compared to Boulogne so it might be possible.

Target Support Wing
41 Sqn 12:35-14:07
Spitfire Sgt S.J.L. Whitefoed (KIA) Boulogne
Spitfire F/Lt. L.L. Bache (KIA) Boulogne
Maj Walter Oesau Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 14:32-35 15 km SW of Boulogne
Uffz Werner Brychy 4/JG 2 Spitfire 14:37 25 km west of Boulogne
Oblt Erich Leie Stab/JG 2 Spitfire 14:40 15 km west of Boulogne
Spitfire 14:43 no location
Oblt Fritz Schröter 4/JG 2 Spitfire 15:00 25 km west Boulogne

Rear Support Wing
411 Sqn 13:00-14:45 (dogfight in the area of St. Omer 13:30 by sqn.)
Spitfire P/O R.W. McNair (sea rescue)
Fw. Emil Babenz 3/JG 26 Spitfire 14:43 10 km east of Dungeness
Babenz could be a "possible" for this one.

Circus 108B did not involve Hahn so I didn't go into it. There is one Spitfire listed for the St. Omer area that does not have someone claiming so it possibly it could have been chased to Samer by Münchberg.

Re: Hans Hahn
 

I have far to little on RAF losses for 1942 and some sources do not match other sources so this will be the last post concerning Hans Hahn in the west.
12 Feb 1942 the German naval channel dash
RAF losses
19 Sqn Spitfire unknown cause, time and location
41 Sqn Spitfire unknown cause, time and location
118 Sqn Spitfire by Bf 109 location and time unknown
234 Sqn Spitfire by Bf 109
401 Sqn Spitfire one source states JG 26
Hurricane 607 Sqn in one source it states flak at Le Touquet and another Lt Friedrich Graf von Uiberacker 1/JG 26 50 km sw of Vlissingen

Hptm Hans Hahn Stab III/JG 2 Spitfire 14:38 no location
The Germans claimed five Spitfires by JG 2 and five Spitfires by JG 26 this day.

Last that I can decide on is Ramrod 21 on the 06 Jun 1942
Hptm Hans Hahn JG 2
Spitfire 17:25 location unknown
Spitfire 17:25 " "
Spitfire 17:27 " "
For JG 2 in total there were 13 Spitfire claims against RAF losses of two Spitfire and a damaged Hurricane. In this case Hahn's chance of a victory are almost nil.

So even though Hahn made the necessary five to be listed as an "Ace" he was far from his claimed number in "Western" victories that he claimed.