5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Gentlemen,

can anyone tell me the christian name of Uffz. Rohde, a fighter pilot in 5./JG 77 in 1943 ? He scored several aerial victories and was himself shot down at least once in 1943 and yet none of the documents I have at my disposal shows his christian name - so ?

And while we're at it: Could anyone tell me what would be the US equivalent to the ordinary German 50 kg explosive bomb ? In several documents concerning A-20, B-25 and B-26 attacks on airfields in Sicily mention is made of fragmentation and "50 kg" bombs. So what would they have been ?

Many thanks in advance and

Regards

Jochen Prien

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Joachen...

Possibly Karl-Ulrich...?

As per http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories...laims-p-51.pdf

If you scroll toward bottom of first page, you will see details there, under 19.08.1943. Hope this helps.

Regards...

Paul

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Dear Paul,

looks like that's him - where did he get his name ?

Anyway - many thanks !

Kind regards

Jochen Prien

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Hi Jochen:

50kg would be the equivilent of 110 lbs. There were small frag bombs but I am not sure if they were 100 or 110 lbs.

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

I'd guess it was the Germans using a familiar measurement. I'm pretty sure I've seen Allied references to German aircraft dropping "500 lb" bombs.

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

The guy can be found in Tony Woods Claimlists including his forename, i.e. in the one "Mediterranean & Southern Front 1943. Vol II":
http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Dear Jörg,

many thanks, and of course you're right - I just tried the first and the last entry in the Wood's list and there was just Uffz. Rohde. I should have dug deeper.

Dear John and Nick,

thanks too for your responses; however, my question was or still is: What was the the kind of bomb the USAAF used as explosive bomb equivalling the German 50 kg bomb - was there in fact a 110 lbs. explosive bomb that was used beside the fragmentation bombs or what other size / caliber / designation did it have ?

Kind regards

Jochen Prien

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

If anyone reading this has a copy of Roger A. Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Manual" (which I don't, unfortunately) then they will be able to answer Jochen's question.

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Well... my copy is in Germany and I am in Korea :roll:

Re: 5./JG 77 - looking for a pilot's name
 

Well Guys

According to Freeman there were the

M1 120lbs fragmentation cluster bomb (containing 6 x M41 bombs)
M6 150lbs incendiary cluster bomb (consisting of 34 x M50A1 bombs)
M12 100lbs incendiary cluster bomb (consisting of 14 x M69 bombs)
M30 100lbs general purpose high explosive bomb
M47A1 120lbs incendiary bomb (white phosphorus)
M47A2 100lbs incendiary bomb (petroleum gel)

These are the only ones listed in the correct weight range.

Cheers
Stig