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Re: Major d.R. Helmuth Wendel - KG4 General Wever
This is from deZeng & Stanky's extensive listing of Luftwaffe officers:
WENDEL, Helmut. 06.43 Hptm., Staffelkapitän 2./Einsatz-KampfGruppe Ju 88/Chef Ausbildungswesens. Severely WIA 3.July 1943 in Ju 88 A-4* (GI+QD) while taking off from Sarajevo-Butmir on a combat mission when the starboard engine failed causing the a/c to skid into a parked plane** and catch fire, which detonated the on-board fuel and bomb load.
In your listing, "Ortslaz." is an abbreviation for regional hospital.
"Udets Kettenhund" may refer either to him having served with Ernst Udet in the First World War (considering his birthdate), or perhaps part of a trio on a flight-demonstration team. 'Kettenhund' translates literally as 'chained dog,' but can here mean a wingman in a three-plane ('Kette') formation.
GRM
*WNr.3929, the Beobachter Fw. Fritz Zircker and Bordfunker Stfw. Paul Mehl were also injured, and Bordmechaniker Ofw. Hermann Neiß, killed.
**Ju 88A-4 142088
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