I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

Hi guys

Not sure whether this has been previously discussed, but do we know the identities of the ZG2 pilots (and their gunners?) who claimed the 17 victories credited on 11 August 1940?

I have the following from various sources, but .............

Stab I/ZG2
Obsltn Frederich Vollbracht ? Hurricane
Oblt Wilhelm Schäfer Hurricane

1./ZG2
Uffz Siegfried Becker 2 Spitfire/Hurricane
Ltn Gerhard Granz ? Hurricane

3./ZG2
Oblt Harald Zimmermann ? Hurricane

II/ZG2
Ltn Hans Schmid Hurricane

Any information will be helpful.

Cheers
Brian

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

Luftwaffe claims for the Portland attack were way over the top with Stab/ZG 2 claiming a Hurricane and a Spitfire (which you have incorrectly listed as Stab I/ZG 2), 7 Hurricanes & 4 Spitfires for I/ZG 2 and 2 Hurricanes and 2 Spitfires for II/ZG 2. The total claims for the day for Luftflotte 3 was 57 which was then upped to 59! I have no more names

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

Thanks again, Chris

Perhaps you, or John, can help with the following. please. It's purported to be an extract of Wilhelm Schaefer's account of 11 August:

I'll now supplement tills with my own personal experience. The' Stab' (Staff Flight) machines of ZG 2, flown by Gescbwader kommodore Oberstleutnant Friedrich Vollbracht, and Geschwaderadjutant Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schaefer with Bordfunker Oberleutnant de Wilde, flew this mission with the Staff Flight of 1. Gruppe, ZersfOrergeschwader 2 under Major Otto.

Within this formation I flew on the left side of the Kommodore's machine. When the English aircraft attacked, a Hurricane from the right got into position right behind him. I got into a good firing position and, with a smoking engine, he dived steeply downwards.

So, according to the above, Schaefer was the pilot and Oblt de Wilde his observer.

But, John records in his excellent Zerstorer book that Schaefer was the observer in Oblt Gunther Hensel's aircraft! Something is amiss, methinks!

Perhaps this has been discussed previously?

Cheers and thanks
Brian

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

I'm aware that John has deposited the bulk of his research material so is now probably unable to respond to such a specific query. Your translation of SCHAEFER's written account of events on 11 August 1940 is correct and we deliberated this very question most carefully almost exactly 16 years ago. Our conclusion was (and remains) that he was simply mistaken in recollecting DE WILDE as his Bordfunker on that sortie. Thus, I currently show this loss as follows:

Stab ZG2 Messerschmitt Bf110C-2. Shot down by fighters during escort sortie to Portland and ditched in the Channel 25 km north of Cherbourg. FF Oberlt Wilhelm Schäfer (Geschwaderadjutant) wounded in left arm- took to dinghy and rescued by Seenotdienst, BF Oberlt Günther Hensel (Geschwader NO) missing. Aircraft 100% write-off.

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

Many thanks, Peter

That's another small mystery solved!

Cheers
Brian

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

Brian,
What has to be borne in mind is that the Namentliche Verlustmeldungen returns by Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe ZG 2 at that time were horrendous for later researchers, in that it was impossible from those returns alone to match aircrew. What came into the mix in this instance was Schaefer's account of having a non-flying officer of the unit, De Wilde, along for a taste of combat action. A huge problem in separating fact from fiction, and tying things up, Pilot-to-Bordfunker wise. Contrast this to the 110 losses of Erpr. Gr. 210 on August 15th, when the Nam Vers have Pilots & Bordfunkers neatly connected by a simple reference on the return.

There is more than one example of two officers flying in a 110, and the records not stating who was pilot and who was doing Bordfunker duties.

Re: I and II/ZG2 11 August 1940
 

John

Good to hear again from a fellow East Anglian!

Thanks for the information and explanation.

I hope you're still scribbling and not just twanging!

Cheers
Brian

PS: I played the Triangle in my junior school's band!