[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have on this guy:

FRANK, Heinz.
(DOB: 12.12.14 in Arnstadt/Thüringen).
1934 entered the Luftwaffe.
08.39 pilot in II.(Schl.)/LG 2.
01.42 appt Staffelführer 3./Schl.G. 1.
06.03.42 Oblt., awarded DKG and appt Staffelkapitän 3./Schl.G. 1.
03.09.42 Oblt., awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka 3./Schl.G. 1.
08.01.43 Oblt., Staka 3./Schl.G. 1, awarded Eichenlaub (No. 172) on completing 700+ combat missions. 03.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. Erg.Schlachtgruppe at Dęblin-Irena/Poland (to 31.05.43).
01.06.43 promo to Maj. (DOR advanced from 01.05.44).
09.43 Maj., appt Kdr. II./Schl.G. 1. *
13.10.43 Maj., appt acting Kdr. II./St.G. 1 (to 18.10.43). *
18.10.43 Maj., appt Kdr. II./SG 1? or provisional Kdr. II./SG 1? (to ?). *
c.30.06.44 Maj., appt (permanent?) Kdr. II./SG 2 (to 29.07.44). *
06.44 appt Kdr.I./SG 152 (renumber IV./SG 151 in 08.44).
07.10.44 Kdr. IV/SG 151 but KIA during operations in Yugoslavia while flying with I./SG 151 (other sources state that he died in a hospital this date from wounds suffered earlier during a shooting accident).
Credited with c.1,000 combat missions.

*needs corroboration to clear up confusion. Apparently, Frank was acting Kdr. from 13.10.43 until Otto Ernst recuperated and resumed command after position was renamed II./SG 1. This seems to fit although the resume date is unknown.


We hope that this helps.

LdZ
DGS