Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello,

Bio info and first name needed for Hptm von Klitzing, who was Gr Kdr of III./StG 51 during the1939 Polish Campaign and the 1940 Blitzkrieg in the West. He was no longer the Gr. Kdr of II./St.G. 1, the successor unit, by the beginning of the Battle of Britain. Additionally, is there any chance someone knows what his family crest or coat of arms looks like? Maybe this is posted on internet or something? I'm particularly interested in the color of the shield.

Thanx,

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

A search of of officer career files reveals:

KLITZING, Heinrich von.
(DOB: 22.12.02).
10.09.24 entered service with the Heer (Infanterie).
01.07.31 Segelfliegerschule (glider school) Rossitten (to 10.08.31).
01.10.32 flight training in Russia (to 31.05.33).
01.07.33 Beobachter (observer) training in Italy (to 30.09.33).
01.10.33 trf to the Luftwaffe and sent to Berlin for navigation training (to 31.01.34).
01.02.34 aerial photography training (to 31.03.34).
01.04.34 fighter pilot training at Jagdfliegerschule Schleissheim (to 31.10.35).
01.11.34 Generalstab and technical training at the Lufttechnische Akademie Berlin-Gatow (to 30.04.37).
01.12.34 promo to Hptm.
03.01.35 navigation and radio course at Ln.-Schule Halle (to 31.01.35).
03.06.35 attended Luftkreisschule II in Berlin (1. Lehrgang) (to 28.09.35).
01.05.37 trf to LKS Dresden.
01.08.38 appt Staka in III./KG 255.
01.05.39 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./St.G. 51.
09.05.40 Maj., Kdr. III./St.G. 51 (to 17.05.40).
17.05.40 KIA – in Ju 87 B-2 shot down by RAF fighters N of Landrecies.


Does this help?

HLdZ
DGS

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Doug,

It absolutely does. Thanx. I'm still hoping that someone can provide a copy of the family crest in color. Also, is anyone aware of a more specific location for the crash other than N of Landrecies? Has anyone located contemporary photos of the crash site?

Regards,

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klitzin...sgeschlecht%29

Hope it helps!
Andrzej

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello,

another link: http://www.von-klitzing.de/ (only in german)

Regards,

Bf 110

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello,

Thanks guys. Now all we need is to locate a specific crash site for the loss of Maj. von Klitzing north of Landrecies, France, and (long shot) a contemporary photo of the crash site or his field grave. Does anyone know if there has ever been aviation archaeological work done on a Ju87 crash site from 1940 in that area? We have excellent photos of von Klitzing's a/c prior to his death, which will probably be the subject of color profile artwork for the first EOE Project volume on the WC, but it would really complete the story with a contemporary photo of the actual crash site.

Regards,

Thanx,

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello Larry,

We all are looking for those Ju87 (and their French 'counterpart' LN 401/411) in that area! However no known dig there.
Best regards.

ClinA-78

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

ClinA-76,

Thanks for your comments about the unknown location for the Klitzing Ju87 crash. Would you please contact me by a PM with your personal email address, as I'd like to correspond with you about crash sites in northern France from the 1940 period.

For the record, here's what we carry in the EOE Luftwaffe Loss Data Base on this one:

May 17, 1940:
Stab III./StG51 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron in combat north of Landrecies, France, at 10.30 a.m. Possibly one of those claimed by S/L Donaldson. FF Major Heinrich von Klitzing (Gruppenkommandeur) and BF Uffz Fritz Zander both killed. Aircraft 6G+AD 100% write-off.

Thanx,

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello,

Further to this line of research: including Maj. Klitzing, there were seven Ju87s of III./StG51 shot down in the same action around mid-morning on May 17th, 1940. Three of the crews were either rescued by German forces or became POWs. The others were killed. Does any of our board readers know of ANY Ju87B crashes in the general area north or northeast of Landrecies France, or photos that could be from these crashes? I'd sure like to hear about them if there is, including about modern aviation archaeology that might concern any of these Luftwaffe losses.

I currently have in the EOE DB photos of a 9 Staffel Ju87B that FL and was abandoned that could be one of these Stukas. However, the crew of the 9 Staffel loss reportedly bailed out, If the crew did NOT bail out, this could be that a/c. If the crew did bail out, there should be a crash site somewhere in the Liniers area.

"9./StG51 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron in combat north-east of Landrecies and reported crashed near Liniers 10.30 a.m. Possibly that attacked by P/O Hamar. FF Lt Wilhelm Schwarze and BF Uffz Julius Dörflinger believed baled out and both rescued unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.

I have a photo of another Ju87B with a "6G" code crash-landed into some trees and bushes, with the center section burned out that also could be either one of these fatalities, or one of two 7 Staffel crew that was captured WIA. The burn damage could well have been initiated by the crew after the landing.

The two 7 Staffel crews that became POWs were:

"7./StG51 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron in combat north-east of Landrecies 10.30 a.m. Possibly one of those claimed by S/L Donaldson. FF Oberlt Walter Klemme (Staffelkapitän)and BF Uffz August Jaspers both captured wounded – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off." I note that this could obviously be 6G+AR, for which photos exist prior to any possible loss.

"7./StG51 Junkers Ju87B-1. Crash-landed damaged by Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron in combat north-east of Landrecies 10.30 a.m. Possibly that claimed by F/O Milne. FF Lt Helmut Glöckner and BF Uffz Hermann Pfauth both captured badly wounded – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off."

I note that in our loss DB that one of the 8th Staffel losses came down near Aulnoye-Aymeries.

"8./StG51 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron in combat north of Landrecies and reported crashed near Aulnoye-Aymeries 10.30 a.m. Possibly that claimed by P/O Bushell. FF Lt Max Rentsch believed baled out unhurt, BF Uffz Günther Feist killed. Aircraft 100% write-off. (OUR NOTE: Bock says, , Lt. Rentsch and Uffz. Feist on separate aircraft) Dispute this interpretation. Feist was with a ‘Klaus Thismar’ according to Perry but this is believed to be the ‘Kurt Thiemer’ shown above."

Surely there are photos out there somewhere of either crash sites or field graves from some of the 7 Stukas from III./StG51 that came down that day. There may also be local historical material or police or POW reports that give us more information on the events that day. Who can provide some additional help here?

Regards,

Re: Bio info needed on Hptm. von Klitzing, Kdr III./StG51 Poland and WC
 

Hello,

Further on the a/c of Maj. Klitzing: in the ECPA Luftwaffe Collection is a photo of his a/c before it was shot down. This a/c appears to carry the W.Nr.5331 (or something similar) on the rudder. Does anyone have a very sharp, high-resolution scan (or a high-quality print) of this photo of the Staff section of III./StG51, with the nearest a/c, 6G+AD, showing the W.Nr. clearly enough to reliably read? This is ECPA-D photo #DAA 493 L10.

Thanks,