Eastern-Front Transporter losses - need help !!!

[bakerman]

Hi Friends !

Need help for this two losses, both successful transporter-pilots, decorated with the Ritterkreuz/ Knights Cross and killed in Russia:

1. Major PETER INGENHOVEN, Commander of KGr. zbV 900, killed 01.FEB 1942 (not 01.12.42) near Beljaevo/ Velish area.

2. Oberfeldwebel OSKAR KRÄUSSEL, pilot in KGr. zbV 172, KIA 06. March 1943, area of the river Kuban.

Any infos about this two losses ?

[Jim P.]

Ju 52/3m, 6063, Ingenhofen, Major Peter (B)/Fillner, Oblt. Bruno (F), , , KGr.z.b.V. 900, , , , , 01-Feb-42, Kommandeur. Both KIA due to enemy fire. 3 others KIA, 1 MIA., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #5)-Vol.8, , bei Welish, 100%, F, ,
Ju 52/3m, 6275, Kräussel, Ofw. Oskar, , , KGr.z.b.V. 9, , , , , 06-Mar-43, Killed in crash. 2 others killed, 1 injured., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #9)-Vol.15, , Warenikowskaj, 100%, H, ,

[Doug Stankey]

We have no information about the losses but here’s what we have on these guys:

INGENHOVEN, Peter.
Date of birth: 16.12.94.
1937 Hptm., appt Kdr. KGr. z.b.V. 1? (to 30.09.37).
09.04.40 Hptm., appt Kdr. KGr.z.b.V. 103 (to 05.05.40).
11.05.40 Hptm.d.R., awarded Ritterkreuz, acting Kdr. KGr.z.b.V. 103.
05.40 Hptm., appt Staka 3./KGr.z.b.V. 106.
22.08.41 Maj., appt Kdr. I./LLG 1.
c.16.12.41 Maj., appt Kdr. KGr.z.b.V. 900 (to 01.02.42 †).

Replaced by :
Maj. Hans-Joachim Bittner.

The unit at about this time was apparently based at Sverevo 85 km south-east of Voroshilovgrad.
31.01.43 KGr.z.b.V. 900 was ordered to transfer without aircraft to Münster-Handorf to rest, refit and re-quip
(no date) Gruppe’s personnel were then ordered to either Leipheim /south Germany or Regensburg-Obertraubling to begin conversion training on the Me 323 6-engine transport




KRÄUSSEL, Oskar.
Date of birth: 18.06.13.
04.08.42 Fw., awarded DKG, 2./KGr.z.b.V. 9.
24.12.42 Fw., awarded Ritterkreuz, KG.z.b.V. 172.
06.03.43 KIA.

around mid-February 1943 KG.r.z.b.V. 172 was assigned to the Kuban airlift into North Caucasia, particularly the Taman Peninsula.
07.03.43: 2 Ju 52 accidents reported at airfield of Mariupol/SE Ukraine.

[Doug Stankey]

Oops!

I was a bit too hasty. That’s Feb 42 not Feb 43!
At that time KGr.z.b.V. 900 was based at Vitebsk to start supply ops for the Demyansk pocket.
Sorry about that!


DGS

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Guys

We have a problem here. Jim P lists Kräussel as belonging to KGrzbV 9 while Doug at least indicates he was with KGrzbV 172.
Unless he was a fast mover only one unit can be true at the time of his death, but which one?

Cheers
Stig

[Doug Stankey]

Actually, we see no problem here.

On one hand, it was quite normal for aircrew (or aircraft for that matter) to be shuffled around between units, especially during periods of chaos.

At the same time, there was an enormous bureaucratic time lag that has distorted the time element in the surviving records. The unit association mentioned with the Ritterkreuz award was that of the fellow at the time that he was recommended for the award. This could be months or even years earlier! Similarly, the time lag in FPN records are typically 3 to 6 months behind reality.

In our rather extensive compilation of officer careers, we observe that relatively rapid reassignments were common, even the norm. Thus we hold that such an apparently "abrupt" reassignment is not something to be concerned about.

Incidently, I see that no one caught the difference between KG.z.b.V. 172 and KGr. z.b.V. 172. As I./KG.z.b.V. 172 became KGr.z.b.V. 172, my statement stands correct for the time point in question!

LdZ
DGS

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Doug
I plead total ignorance of any German records or recordkeeping, but someone at least transfering people had to be updated otherwise they would constantly send orders to the wrong units for transfer of staff. Someone at least was updated enough (in this case) to know that when the decoration of the RK was to be issued they did so to an individual in KGzbV 172 and (at least hopefully) they didn't do it first to his old unit!

So what you are telling me is that some part of the bureaucracy knew where he was (to get the award right), but the other part of the bureaucracy had not a clue where he was even when he was killed?

Who in fact gave orders to staff to move from one unit to another? Surely this was not done on a between-unit-level-basis was it? But on the other hand if it was it certainly would explain the time lag in much of the paper work....

Cheers
Stig