[Johannes]

Hi

The Micro Films produce clues here with his rank. his first eighteen were with 6./NJG 2 not 5./NJG 2. Between his eleventh on 25th July 1944 and twelvth on 7th august 1944 he was promoted from Leutnant to Oberleutnant i.e the first eleven listed as a Leutnant the 12-18 as an Oberleutnant, all with 6./NJG 6.

24th December 1943 Lancaster 0230hrs 6400 metres Nr 1
28th April 1944 Lancaster ESE Neufchateau 0310hrs 3200 metres Nr 2
28th May 1944 Lancaster Brussels area 0227hrs 2200 metres Nr 3
25th June 1944 Stirling Amiens area 0028hrs 2100 metres Nr 4
25th June 1944 Lancaster Amiens area 0034hrs 2000 metres Nr 5
5th July 1944 4-eng 0128 hrs 3500 metres Nr 6
5th July 1944 4-eng 0103hrs 3700 metres Nr 7
5th July 1944 4-eng North of Paris 0136hrs 3400 metres Nr 8
8th July 1944 B-17 10km North of Creil 0113hrs 3600 metres Nr 9
8th July 1944 Lancaster 50km North of Creil 0135hrs 3200 metres Nr 10
25th July 1944 4-eng SE Orleans 0012hrs 3100 metres Nr 11
7th August 1944 P-38 0231hrs 1800 metres Nr 12
2nd November 1944 Lancaster 10km NW Dusseldorf 1935hrs 5000 metres Nr 13
2nd November 1944 Lancaster NW Dusseldorf 1938hrs 4800 metres Nr 14
2nd November 1944 Lancaster 25km NW Dusseldorf 1943hrs 5000 metres Nr 15
4th November 1944 Lancaster 1937hrs 4500 metres Nr 16
4th November 1944 Lancaster 1944hrs 4200 metres Nr 17
21st November 1944 Lancaster 1913hrs 5000 metres Nr 18

These should all be taken as fact. For his 1945 claims, they are not recorded on the micro Films, and should be quite reliable, but also open to question. They are all stating his rank as Oberleutnant, and with I./NJG 2, however Oberleutnant he may very well have been, but with I./NJG 2 I think not, infact I should think he was with II./NJG 2, and with all probability 6./NJG 2.

1st February 1945 Lancaster 1943hrs Nr 19
7th March 1945 4-eng Dessau Nr 20
7th March 1945 Lancaster 2208hrs Nr 21
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 2112hrs Nr 22
16th March 1945 Lancaster Crailsheim 21??hrs Nr 23
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 24
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 25
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 26
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 27
16th March 1945 Lancaster West of Nuremberg 21??hrs Nr 28
16th March 1945 Lancaster 20km East of wurzburg 2143hrs Nr 29
27th April 1945 Lancaster Nr 30

The last look especially suspect in light that it seems to fall after his last official sortie!
He should very well have been awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, however records end the before October 1944, so all we have are evidence from the pilots themselves and photo's. He have have been awarded one in late 1944 or 1945. Seems never to have been shot down or wounded

Regards

Johannes
July