[edwest]

I acquired a copy of his book and soon learned this was a life history. The combat experiences are brief, although clearly the selling point of the book. What follows is the relevant information I could find.

Three months of basic training in Oschatz.
Assigned to Air Academy No. 2 at Berlin-Gatow in February 1, 1944.
Training with gliders, FW44D, then the Jungmann, a Jungmeister, an Me-108, and finally, an Me 109E.

The photos show him more outfitted as a soldier than a pilot. There is one showing him standing in front of a Kranich coded L(?)A+JM.

Then we have this quote: "Near Aaachen on the western side of Germany, to the north of Koln (Cologne) was the Air Field of JG 53rd Squadron called 'Pik-As' (Ace of Spades). About five or six of us new Fahnenjunker (Cadets) from Berlin-Gatow were assigned to that Squadron."

He flew as a wingman to an Oberleutnant who is unnamed. His first victory was against a Spitfire piloted by Leftenant Fred Browning from London.

Another quote: "At the beginning of October the greater part of our group received orders to re-locate to the Russian front at an Airfield near Budapest, while the rest of the group remained at the area near Aachen."

Later, he reports being located "just North of Budapest," and the following: "We had a new Group Commander Hauptmann Helmut Lipfert because our former one had transferred to the new Messerschmitt 262 outfit located in Bavaria." Apparently, his unit was encountering Ratas south of Budapest. He shoots down his fifth aircraft and is awardeed an EK1. He is then shot down in March, 1945.

There is an illustration of his Me 109G-14/AS of 3./JG 53 with the number 6, Budapest, March 1945.




Ed