Hi Chris,
I checked two books:
- "Laurels for Prinz Wittgenstein" by Werner Roell, Independent Books, 1994, ISBN 1-872836-06-2
- "Princes of Darkness" by Claire Knott, Classic Publications, 2008, ISBN 978-1-903223-95-6
Roell is frustratingly vague about Wittgenstein's early years, but does state that he joined the Stab Staffel of KG 54 at Fritzlar in the winter of 1938/39. (Ditto in Knott.)
Knott's book is more detailed about the ensuing period (up to Jan 1942), but contains some errors and apparent contradictions.
Here's the chronology as best I can make out:
- From early 1939 to Dec 1939, Wittgenstein flew with Stab KG 54 as a Beobachter.
- In Jan 1940, he joined the Gruppe Stab of III./KG 1. He started flying operational missions in a He 111 as Beobachter from May 13 to 4 Sep 1940.
- From Sep to Oct 1940, III./KG 1 was re-equipped with the Ju 88.
- From mid-Nov to Dec 1940, he may (or may not) have flown night missions against England.
- In the winter of 1940/41, he went to flying school and got his qualification for blind flying. He was already applying for transfer to the Nachtjagd at this time.
- In Mar 1941, he returned to III./KG 1 as a pilot, flying missions against England until May 1941.
- In Jun 1941, the Gruppe was relocated to the Eastern Front, where Wittgenstein flew missions as a member of 7./KG 1 until at least Nov 1941.
- Around this time, it appears he was transferred to KG 51, because Knott states that he left KG 51 in Jan 1942.
- In Jan 1942, he joined the Nachtjagd and scored his first night victory on 6/7 May 1942.
I've enclosed photos of the relevant pages (44, 45, and 73) from Knott.
Hope that helps,
Leon Venter
