Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

Hi everyone,

I would like some help in deciphering the signature of the Staffelkapitaen of 6./KG 1. Any help will be much appreciated. Could someone also recommend a good reference book on KG 1?

Thanks in advance, Elia

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

There is no published unit history for KG 1. All we have is the manuscript cited below. I extracted all of the names from the manuscript many years ago and found it to be very poor for identifying individuals. I have no name matching the signature you provided who would have been in 6./KG 1 in August 1942.

SPOHR, Wolfgang (Hptm.) - “Kriegschronik des Kampfgeschwader 1 ‘Hindenburg’”, a 78-page manuscript written late 1944/early 1945. Hptm. Spohr belonged to Geschw.Stab/KG 1 and used all KTBs and Anlagen in writing his manuscript. In: BA-MA Freiburg RL 10/529; NARA WashDC T-971 roll 50/f.965-1056; AFHRA Maxwell AFB Karlsruhe Collection K113.408-3.

L.

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

There is a unit history (rather a booklet) from Gerhard Baeker (ex-KG 1), named Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg" (ISBN 978-3-00-022380-8).

But AFAIK, this was printed in only limited numbers and is very hard to find.

According to this book, Oblt. Karl Gebhard was Staffelkapitän until 27.09.42, followed by mentioned Oblt. Wolfgang Spohr from 10.12.42 onwards.

Hope this helps,

Heuser

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

Thank you, Heuser. I and many others did not know about this book. It appears to be Selbstverlag (self-published), and that is probably why few have heard of it.

Opb. 274 S., [Regimentsgeschichte. Luftwaffe.], WKII., Meinerzhausen,2006

L.

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

Hi Elia,

One more resource that might be useful:

• "Die Ritterkreuzträger des Kampfgeschwader 1 'Hindenburg', 1939-45" by Ralf Schumann, published by VDM Heinz Nickel in 2000, ISBN: 978-3925480409, 200 pages

I would have checked its contents for you, but I'm away from my books for a few weeks.

Regards,
Leon Venter

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

The book Leon mentions says Wolfgang Spohr was a pilot and received the Ehrenpokal on 20th December 1941 and Deutschen Kreuz in Gold on 25th February 1942, while with 6. Staffel. He is not listed for the Ritterkreuz.

I cannot confirm he was a Staffelführer from the information available but I know from researching other airmen this is not very easy information to find!

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

SPOHR, Wolfgang. (DKG). 20.12.41 Lt., awarded the Ehrenpokal. 08.09.42 awarded DKG, 6./KG 1. 30.08.43 Oblt., appt Staka 13./KG 1 (to 19.02.44). 01.05.44 promo to Hptm. 09.44 Hptm. in Geschw.Stab/KG 1.

L.

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

Larry's date for the DKiG is correct - I transposed the date.

Re: Need Help! Staka 6./KG 1
 

In the book:"Die Ritterkreuzträger des Kampfgeschwader 1 'Hindenburg', 1939-45" by Ralf Schumann, published by VDM Heinz Nickel in 2000
The name of Wolfgang Spohr can be found in the list of the recipients of the DKiG and Ehrenpokal (EP).
DKiG granted on 08 september 1942 as a Oblt.
EP on 20 december 1941 as a Lt.

Only over the RK is a short career history written mostly on one page with a one or or more foto's.
Kind regards,

Dirk

Thank you all. It seems that Spohr would be the best candidate looking at the signature on the award document. I'm probably going to Freiburg in the summer and I'll have a look at the mentioned manuscript. Thanks all for the bibliographical suggestions and for your precious help!

Thanks all guys. You re help has been really precious. It ssems that the best candidate would be Spohr. I ll try to get my hands on the books you have recommended.

Cheers, Elia