[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

One more case:

Uffz. Gabriel Tautscher of 9./JG 51 was demoted to the rank of Flieger after he has shot down by error the reconnaissance Ju 86 R of 1.(F)/100 (returning from the sortie to the Moscow area) near Vjazma on 9 February 1943. Apparently, Tautscher was not familiar with the recognition chart of a Ju 86 R (which was moreover reported as an enemy aircraft) and had experienced problems with icing of his windshield that further obstracted his view. Nevertheless, after his demotion Tautscher continued to add to his score, was promoted back to Unteroffizier and awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold before being killed by a flak hit east of Osaritchi on 12 January 1944 (with at least 58 kills on his credit).

Source: Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe Part 12/II by Prien et al., pages 72-73.

Ota