Fate of Hptm. Helmut Kornagel of II./KG(J) 54

[Karoband]

Gentlemen:

From Dan O'Connell, Me262 Production Log 1941-1945, (2005), p. 218:

"29/04 An Me 262 A-1a, 'red1', suffered an engine failure on take-off from Prag-Ruzyne, and was 100 % destroyed. The pilot, Hptm. Helmut Kornagel, Staffelkapitan of 6./KG(J) 54, escaped safely from the wreakage."


From David E. Brown, etal. Me 262 KG & KG(J) Units, (2010), p. 43:

"Ausbildungskommando II./KG(J) 54 in Praha was disbanded with its personnel to move to Munich-Riem ... The airborne section consisting of four Me 262s was delayed and set off only on the morning of 29th April. However shortly after take-off, the engine of leader "Red 1" caught fire and the Me 262 crashed a few moments later. Commander Helmut Kornagel was killed in the accident."

From DeZeng & Stankey's website, Luftwaffe Offiziers G to K, (2016):

"... 29.04.1945 Hptm. and Staka 6./KG(J) 54, WIA - Me 262 A-1a (Red 1) due to an engine fire on take-off from Prag-Rusin..."

My question is what was the fate of Kornagel in this accident?

Best regards,

Jim Geens

Gentlemen,
I read that you want to know about the fate of my father in Prag Rutin. As you can easily see, my father has survived in Prague. On 28th April, the non-flying staff went by train to Fürstenfeldbruck, the four still flight-able ME 262 should start on 29 April. The three others already started when my father noticed that a turbine had caught fire. He brought the machine to the stand before taking off, he jumped out, the fire department immediately extinguished the fire. The commander of the airfield gave him a place in the last Lufthansa machine, which left Prague. On the same day he was in Salzburg and tried to find the KG 54 in Holzkirchen. On April 30, he took over the leadership of a squadron of hitherto to him unknown soldiers in Miesbach. Together, they tried to get to the Schliersee.
If you are interested, I will be pleased to provide you with further information, my father, who died in 1977, bequeathed to me his personal account of his experiences in war.
Best Regards
Claudia Kornagel
ac_kornagel@yahoo.de

[Jaap Woortman]

I am trying to find the daughter of Hptm. Kornagel.
Until now I have had no reaction on the by her mentioned email address.
Has someone her present email address or is in contact with a family member?
Jim could not help me.

Jaap