Unidentified JG 51 Aces

[Leo Etgen]

Hello guys

I recently came across this photograph of a couple of JG 51 aces, two Ritterkreuzträgern and one Deutscheskreuzträger, on a Russian language Luftwaffe forum: http://reibert.info/forum/showthread.php?t=84412. Could anyone help in identifying these three fellows, particularly the Deutscheskreuzträger? The only information about this photograph is that it was taken at Bobruisk most likely in 1944.



Horrido!

Leo

[Nokose]

The pilot on the left looks like Anton Hafner from a side picture that I've seen.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Nokose

On the Russian forum the general consensus is that the fellow on the left is Oskar Romm, the fellow in the middle is Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber and the fellow on the right is unknown. I certainly wish that we could find out who he is although on the same thread the possibility is raised that he might be Helmut Holtz. Unfortunately I have never seen a photograph of him so am unable to confirm or deny this. It is unfortunate that we know so little about the Deutscheskreuzträgern of JG 51 and other Eastern Front units as they often had quite interesting careers in their own right as well.

Horrido!

Leo

[Nokose]

Leo,
On page 168 of Werner Held's "German Fighters in World War II THE DAY FIGHTERS" (English) there is a picture of Anton Hafner in almost similar profile. Also I looked at the picture on the Russian site. He's wearing a oakleaves with the Knights Cross. I can't make out the rank on the shoulder but maybe a Hauptmann. I know he became Staffelkapitan of the 8/JG51 but don't have anything with his rank beyond a Lt.

[NoNo01]

Hello Leo,

dacore with Hptm./Maj. ?? Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber.

But the person to the left don´t looks like Oskar "Ossi" Romm to me.
Rather like Ofw. Kurt Tanzer.
Tanzer and Eichel-Streiber where together in the Stabsstaffel/JG 51 around May-June 44.

The gentleman on the right is a mystery for me too. But i´m shure i have seen this face before!! I keep looking.

Hope this help´s a little.

Norbert

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Many thanks for your comments. I have not seen too many photographs of Leutnant Anton Hafner in profile but he was serving with the Stabsstaffel of JG 51 when Hauptmann von Eichel-Streiber, the unit's Staffelkapitän, was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 5 April 1944. The trouble with Tanzer is that by most accounts he had been transferred to Jagdabschnittsführer 6 at Priluki on 1 April 1944 so it is doubtful that he would have been photographed at Bobruisk together with von Eichel-Streiber following the latter's awarding of the Ritterkreuz five days later. Hopefully we will be able to identify the Oberfeldwebel at some point as well.

Horrido!

Leo

[Don Pearson]

The guy one the right looks a bit like Willi Hubner... the one on the left looks nothing like Hafner to me; Hafner had a rounder appearance.

Don