Re: Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53
R. and T.M. -
Yep, that's the correct Hagen - Walter Hagen. As Fliegerfuehrer Albanien and then Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien, he was the boss of air operations there and Joachim's kroatische Kampfgruppe was tactically subordinate to Hagen during the first half of 1944.
Joachim's Kampfgruppe was reorganized and consolidated into a single Staffel on 28 July 1944. Croatian Satnik (Hptm.) Franjo Gospodaric took over the Staffel, now named 1. kroatische Schlachtstaffel, and departed Croatia for East Prussia without aircraft.
Joachim was now redundant and was most likely either absorbed into the Stab of Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien or returned to Germany for further assignment.
L.
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