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Old 7th December 2011, 08:43
RossGmann RossGmann is offline
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Re: Service of Uffz Albert Espenlaub with 4./JG26

Hi Larry
The following link http://tinyurl.com/7suvgq6 may be of help/interest
Extracts as follow
Oberleutnant Albert Espenlaub, the brother of the famous
sailplane pilot Espenlaub, continued the shooting match on
21 April. The Hurricane he shot down was piloted by Sergeant
Castelnau of 73 Squadron.

As proof of his abilities, Hauptmann Redlich shot down
a Maryland near Sidi Barani on 21 August. Oblt Schneider
and Ofw. Espenlaub were also victorious this day.

By the afternoon of the 18th the runways had dried out
to where 1/JG 27 could launch two Schwärme against the
nine attacking Marylands of 21 SAAF Squadron. Hptm.
Redlich and Ofw. Espenlaub each shot down a bomber. These
bombers had not been carrying bombs, but were dropping
leaflets. Upon the leaflets were written:
"German fighter pilots, you are beaten! Give up your
struggle!"

Uffz. Grimm and Ofw. Espenlaub with one apiece.
Hauptmann Lippert, Kommandeur of II/JG 27, bore the
brunt of the attack during on this date, as I Gruppe had few
aircraft still fit for combat.

Three Hurricanes fell
to Hptm. Redlich, while Ofw. Espenlaub brought down two.

Ofw. Espenlaub and Uffz.
Grimm also pounced on the Hurricanes. All three shot down
one opponent each.

Numerous dogfights took place over the front lines on
13 December. During the course of these engagements
Marseille succeeded in once again scoring a double when
he brought down a Hurricane at 1600 hrs and another at
1610 hrs in the airspace over Martuba and near Tmimi.
The day was overshadowed by a deeply felt loss. During
the early morning hours Ofw. Albert Espenlaub of 1/JG
27 became involved in a dogfight with an experienced British
pilot by the name of Captain Walker, during which he
took several hits in his radiator. When the engine gave out
due to overheating, he was forced to make an emergency
landing in enemy territory near El Adem. He was taken prisoner
by a British patrol. While attempting to escape he was
shot by the guards. Espenlaub was numbered among the
most successful of the desert pilots. Within the short space
of a few months he had scored 14 kills in Africa.

This heartache was compounded by the fact that a few
of Marseille's friends were no longer among them.
Espenlaub, with his 14 kills, was gone.

Kind regards

Ross
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