Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Hello,

I have been conducting some researching regarding the fighting on Crete during May 1941. My main interest is with the fallschirmtrupp. However during my research i have come upon some information regarding Luftwaffe pilots taken prisoner of war on Crete. I have identified the individuals associated to LG 2, JG 77, LLG 1 and so on. However there are a number that i can associate to a unit, they probably belong to ZG 26, StukaG 2 or KG 2 perhaps?

Names:

Volk
Plattfaut
Schilling
Schmitz
Kollnberger
Fandrey
Eichhorn
Degenhardt
Becker von Sothen

Are there any experts with the units that can help? Thank you in advance! Please do not hesitate to send private messages.

Regards

David

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Hi David

Have you access to my co-authored 'Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece & Crete'? If not, you should be able to get a copy from your local library (assuming you're in the UK). A few of the names appear and could possibly be your chaps:

Schilling - I have a Ltn Hugo Schilling who was shot down on 20 May while flying Do17 U5+OR of III/KG2; and also Ltn Deiter Schilling of 8/StG2 shot down in Ju87 T6+HS on 21 May (although I note he was killed)

Fandery - could possibly be Fw Georg Fanderl of 1/KG51 shot down on 3 May in Ju88 9K+LH that crashed on Crete (so possibly captured if survived).

Eickhorn - the only Eickhorn I have listed was Hptm Siegried von Eickhorn, Gruppenkommandeur of I/LG1 but I don't think he was shot down over Crete.

Do bear in mind that my book was reserached in the 1970s/80s and published in 1987, so more recent research may provide better/additional answers to your queries.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

A bit strange that we couln't find more names,

Eichhorn is Major heinrich Eichhorn, VM, 210541 III.KG2, of the same crew is Schilling hugo if the Schmitz could be Schmidt I hv 2, Fanderl was noted
as wounded..

remi

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Thank you for the information so far.

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Schilling - I have a Ltn Hugo Schilling who was shot down on 20 May while flying Do17 U5+OR of III/KG2; and also Ltn Deiter Schilling of 8/StG2 shot down in Ju87 T6+HS on 21 May (although I note he was killed)


Brian[/quote]


Thanks for your input Brian, i have just purchased the book you mentioned so i can add this to collection.

I notice you have included the above statement regarding the Lt Dieter Schilling of 8/StG2 shot down in Ju87 T6+HS on 21 May. Was he killed on Crete or elsewhere?

Regards

David

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Schilling, with is bf fw Erich Schütt, were lost during a mission above Kreta

Remi

Re: Luftwaffe POW May 1941, ZG 26, KG 26?
 

Hi David

All will be revealed when your copy of 'Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece & Crete'
arrives, but in the meantime Ltn Dieter Schilling's Ju87 of 8/StG2 was shot down by gunfire from the Royal Navy's Force D out to sea.

Cheers
Brian