Ltn Ewald april 45
 

Sta.führ of which unit ??

Location Fels am Wagram..

Remi

Leutnant Ewald in April 45
 

Hello Remi

The last information that I have on this fellow was that on 16 April 1945 he claimed a Yak-9 at 10:00~ possibly in the Lah area as his 84th and final victory while serving with 7./JG 52. I have read that Lipfert took command of 7./JG 52 from 17 April 1945 so perhaps Ewald was Staffelführer of 7./JG 52 prior to that date? Who can clear this up?

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

He still undersigned a Log-book on 12.mai 1945 as sta.führer, to say that the two terms recover in many case the same function.
you are right he was credited with a Jak9 on 16.april a bit before 11, that day the st. operated from Brünn, nd Ltn Bleichert was posted as missing,
any other detail on this Loss ???

Remi

Leutnant Günther Bleichert
 

Hello Remi

The only thing that I can find on this pilot of 6./JG 52 was that he was listed as missing in action on 16 April 1945 following aerial combat in the Hodonína (Göding) area. Hopefully someone else can add additional details. I have read that Leytenant Machaldiani of 151 GIAP, VVS claimed a Bf 109 that day in the Kobyli area and that this may be related to Bleichert's loss although the location does not appear to match.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

Kennzeichen of the planes are given as Weisses ... so the 7.Sta. at that time

Rémi

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

When Lipfert left the 6./JG52 and took over I./JG53, Ewald became his successor. But only some weeks later, JG52 adopted to the "4 Staffel per Gruppe" rule, so the old 6.Staffel became the 7. Staffel.

So I guess that Ewald was Staffelführer (afaik not Staffelkapitän!) of the 7. Staffel on 8th of May '45.

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

Yogybär,

I must humbly disagree with you regarding the existence of a fourth (presumably blue) Staffel in II./JG 52.

In AIRFOIL #2 (spring 1984) I included a “Last of the Luftwaffe” article on the aircraft found at Neubiberg after the surrender. In that article, I made several errors: First, I incorrectly listed Bf 109 G-10 22+ - as being found at Neubiberg, when in fact, it was abandoned at Zeltwig, Styria, Austria. Second, I listed its Werknummer as being 613153 (actually a WNF WNr.), when it was probably 151536. Finally, I illustrated it as being “22+ - Red,” outlined in white.

Mr. Jochen Prien kindly responded with an extensive letter correcting my errors on the above-mentioned Bf 109, and outlining II./JG 52’s bases and markings in the last days of the war (far too much text to include here—I published his complete letter in AIRFOIL #3 in 1985). The gist of it is the fact that, in August 1944, II./JG 52 lost its 4. Staffel to JG 3 (where it became 8./JG 3). Its replacement Staffel became 7./II./ JG 52, and took the old 4. Staffel’s white markings. II./JG 52 therefore, finished the war with only three Staffeln, which sported these non-standard markings:

5. Staffel = Black markings
6. Staffel = Yellow markings
7. Staffel = White markings

Also, no loss list have been found listing any late-war II./JG 52 Bf 109s with other than the above-noted black, yellow, or white markings. In studying II./JG 52 photographs for years now, that unit appears to have been scrupulous in applying these unique markings.

Regarding Bf 109 G-10 22+ -, Mr. Prien noted that it clearly resembles other II./JG 52 109s in that it featured small numerals and a corresponding small II. Gruppe bar, and, bore the yellow cowl band and rudder ordered for aircraft serving on the southern eastern front. Therefore, 22+ - was probably not marked in red or blue, but rather, in the expected black outlined in white. Additional photographs and other research have shown that the light appearance of its markings in my AIRFOIL photo were the result of a wet or waxed surface and/or the angle of the sun. Finally, I have documented two additional 5./II./JG 52 Erla-built Bf 109 G-10s with black markings outlined in white at Neubiberg.

Steve Sheflin

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

If it was at Zeltweg, it wasn't among the aircraft listed by RAF Field Intelligence. There doesn't seem to have been a "22" of any description, in fact.

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

Mr. Beale,

Thank you for the correction. There is no excuse for misreading my own database file. After publication of your “No. 1 FIELD INTELLIGENCE UNIT (AUSTRIA) RAF, Report No. 61, ZELTWEG Airfield, STYRIA, S.E. AUSTRIA,” I had intended to correct my files and never got to it.

I should have said that the location of Bf 109 G-10 “22+ - Black” was unknown, but that it definitely was not Neubiberg.

Steve Sheflin

Re: Ltn Ewald april 45
 

Getting back to Remi's original question, the following information comes from Bernd Barbas' Geschichte der II. Gruppe des JG 52.Ewald was appointed Staffelführer of 6./JG 52 on 15.02.45. The unit was redesignated 7./JG 52 on 01.03.45. On 15.04.45, Ewald reverted to Staffeloffizier after which Lipfert took command on 17.04.45.

Regards,
Tom