[VtwinVince]

I knew Heinz fairly well. He flew with JG 53 7. Staffel from the start of the western campaign, and claimed his first victory flying as wingman for Werner Moelders. I believe he scored seven victories in the west before being transferred the east at the start of the Russian campaign, where he scored a further 17 victories. He was then sent to North Africa, where he was shot down by AA fire from a tank column and taken prisoner. He had just been awarded the German Cross in Gold and at the time of his capture had the most missions of any fighter pilot. I asked him the details of his capture, and he told me that he mistook the allied tank column for axis, but by the time he realized his error, he was hit. Heinz was a really great guy, always willing to spend time with enthusiasts such as myself. He did spend several years as a POW here, along with other fighter pilots such as Jupp Buerschgens and Ekkehard Priebe.