Oblt Wilhelm Hobein question
 

Hi gents!

All I know on this pilot, that he served with 2./J.Gr.176 in 1939, and with 5./ZG76 during 1940 and early 1941. Around autumn 1940 he led 5./ZG76 after previous StaKa was injured. Then he lead 12 Bf110's of 4./ZG76 and 2 Bf110 of 4./ZG26 in Sonderkommando Junck.

After his Iraq trip I lost his sight. I cant see him among noghtfighters, day destroyers, and even through my lists of Erganzungs Zerstorer Command officers.

What happened with him after may 1941?

Re: Oblt Wilhelm Hobein question
 

UPD: Found him with I./Nachtjagdschule1 during 16.9.41 - 31.10.42 as Gr.Kdr., and later with I./St.G.2 as Gr.Kdr. 4.43 - 24.9.43.

Another II./ZG76 pilot from 1939-40 and ace with 6 victories, Siegfried Göbel, became Gr.Kdr. of Erg.Gruppe St.G.3 during 4.43 - 16.5.43, Kdr. I./St.G.102 during 9.43 - 28.10.43, and I./SG102 during 18.10.43 - 19.6.4., III./SG3 during 15.10.44 - 25.1.45

Re: Oblt Wilhelm Hobein question
 

Here is what we have about this fellow:

HOBEIN, Wilhelm.
11.39 in 2./JGr. 176.
05.40 with 5./ZG 76.
08.05.41 Oblt., Staka 4./ZG 76.
1942 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./Nachtjagdschule 1 (to 31.10.42).
09.42 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./ZG 1 (to 15.02.43?).
(n.d.) awarded the Ehrenpokal?
04.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./St.G. 2 (to 23.09.43).
12.04.43 Hptm., awarded DKG, I./SG 2.
1943 in 2./Schl.G. 2. Promo to Maj. (DOR not assigned).
Credited with 10 victories.

This is what Kracker has:


Hobein, Wilhelm. "Fritz" - Hptm. 10 victories - 2./JGr. 176 (11/39), 5./ZG-76 (5/40), Stfkpt. 4./ZG-76 (6/41), Kdr. III./ZG-1, Kdr. I./StG-2 (9/43), I. /Sch.G.2 Bf 110C in ZG-76, Ju 87D in StG-2DK-G(4/12/43), EP, EK 1 & 2, Destroyer Operational ClaspOne known victory, a Fesselballon at Colmar, east of Mainz, 10 November, 1939. His 2nd, a Amoit-341 at Amiens, 17 May, 1940. His 3rd, a Hurricane south of Douai, 18 May, 1940. His 4th, a Spitfire at Dunkirk, 2 June, 1940. A 5th, a Spitfire in the London area on 2 September, 1940. Nos.6, 7 & 8, all three Spitfires S of London on 4 September, 1940. Nos.9 & 10, both Spitfires in the London area on 7 September, 1940.


We hope that this helps

HLdZ
DGS

Re: Oblt Wilhelm Hobein question
 

Hi,

Wilhelm Hobein joined the I. Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader 2 in North Africa on 13 November 1942, and served with distinction over southern Tunisia as leader of the 2. Staffel, receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 12 March 1943. Several photographs of him appear in Morten Jessen and my book, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in the Battle for Sicily.

Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com