Wilhelm Balthasar of 2.J/88

[Håkan]

Hello everybody,

Wilhelm Balthasar claimed his first “official” victory on 20 January 1938 when he claimed an I-16 while flying a Bf 109.
However, he seems to have claimed another I-16 a year before on 20 January 1937 while flying in the Aufklärerkette of K/88. This claim is recorded as an “unconfirmed”. Is there anyone, who knows which type aircraft he was flying at this time?

Best wishes/Håkan

[kglass]

W. Balthasar was assigned as an observer/gunner in A/88 when he arrived in Spain. Perhaps that is where he gained his first success. He later flew the He-112 prototype under questionable circumstances and again met with success. I would be interested in learning the matricule(s) of the Bf-109s he flew when he later joined J/88.

HTH,
Ken Glass

[Håkan]

Hello Ken,

Thanks for your answer. Your answer is just the reason why I forwarded the question to the forum, i.e. why such a well-published and well-knowned pilot's first claim isn't known?


Best wishes/Håkan