Tenente Cuervo, 15.(Span)/JG 51, WIA 12 January 1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

On 12 January 1943 3a Teniente Carmelo Lacruz Cuervo of the third Spanish Azul Staffel, integrated in the Luftwaffe as 15.(Span)/JG 51, crashes during a scramble at Orel and is so seriously injured that he will be evacuated to Spain shortly thereafter.

In January 1943 all losses reported by this Staffel were Bf 109 F-2.

Sources:
Aéro-Journal n° 11 (Fleurance, France, February-March 2000)
http://www.taringa.net/comunidades/2...Luftwaffe.html
http://www.escuadrillasazules.es/ind...illa&Itemid=60
http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/b15jg51.html

Can someone confirm the type of aircraft involved, and provide the WNr and the percentage of damage ? A wounded pilot did not imply that the aircraft was lost, it could have been repaired.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[Miguel]

Hi Laurent:

The Third Escuadrilla Azul started operations at the end of November 1942 flying Bf 109 F-2s. At the end of April 1943 they were replaced by FW 190's, mostly A-3.
Sorry but I do not have any additional data on the mentioned incident

Regards

[Nokose]

Even in Prien's JFV 9/II all it states is Oblt. Cuervo (verw.) Start ausgebrochen, Orel-Nord, b Bf 109 F-2. It does show on 27Dec42 at 13:12 that he shot down an Il-2 at Tschulkowo for his first victory.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks,

Feeling a bit dumb not having checked Prien books, for one reason I always forgot that this book also includes 1943 up to 4 February.

For me the damage being shown as "b." means that the aircraft was only damaged, probably too slightly (below 10%) to be reported so.

Best regards