[Bookman]

Our veterans organization has just lost our dear member, and the last of his unit paired with us of JG 27 and JG 26.
He was a torpedo mechanic, and also a qualified flight engineer, enough to fly on several missions. When describing a mission at a reunion, he mentioned a recon JU 88 flying by after reporting and shadowing a convoy, and it wackled the wings several times. Across the table shouted a fellow "when, where?". It was Roman Gastegger (who wrote "the Easter bunnies" about his experiences). Sure enough, it was his crew. At our reunions, they were inseparable. Stefan also was fluent in Italian , from his time in Grosseto, Italy . He was indispensable when we hosted Italian airmen, most of whom flew the 109. One in particular, Franco Benetti, attended yearly until his passing, often driving long distances. All three now joined , inseparably higher up as they were during our earthly reunions.
We miss them deeply.