Hptm Adalbert Sommer

[Andy Fletcher]

Until what date did Adalbert Sommer serve as St.Kap. 7/JG52. The last claim I can find for him with 7/JG52 is 10Feb43. He next shows up early in 1944 as St.Kap. 3/JG2 (KIA 14Mar44). When did he become St.Kap. 3/JG2 and what did he do between serving with 7/JG52 and 3/JG2.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Tom Semenza]

Andy,

According to Fast's history of JG 52, Sommer was replaced as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 52 by Walter Krupinski in March of 1943. The exact date is not given. The three claims with JG 2 which I found in Tony Wood's list show him as a member of Stab I./JG 2. The last claim was dated 7.03.44, so if this is correct he must have given command of 3./JG 2 sometime between 7.03 and his death on 14.03.44.

Tom

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Tom,

Many thanks for the info.

Tony Woods claims lists show Krupinski making claims on 27Apr43 and 01May43 but the unit is given as 5/JG52

Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Tom,

Nick Beale's excellent Ghost Bombers site states that Sommer was St.Kap. 3/JG2 for his 29Feb44 claim and at the time of his death on 14Mar44. Nick's work is very well researched, data is usually from primary documentation.

http://www.ghostbombers.com/JG2/jg2frame.html

As for the claims for 29Feb44 and 03Mar44 being listed as Stab.I/JG2 maybe Sommer was also acting Gr.Kdr. at the time (Erich Hohagen Gr.Kdr. I/JG2 at the time is conspicuous by his absence of claims for this period).

Maybe Nick could shed some light on the matter.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Andy Fletcher

Hi Tom,

Nick Beale's excellent Ghost Bombers site states that Sommer was St.Kap. 3/JG2 for his 29 Feb 44 claim and at the time of his death on 14Mar44. ...Maybe Nick could shed some light on the matter.

I think I decided that the "Stab I./JG 2" entries in the claims list were likely to have been mistaken given that everything else pointed to Sommer as Sta.Kap. of 3./JG 2. Claim and loss lists aren't infallible - they were compiled by people!

The idea of him deputising for Hohagen for a few days could certainly make sense but can we read anything into the absence of claims by the Kommandeur? Maybe he didn't fly, maybe he did without success.

Another angle: does anyone know who was Kap. of 3./JG 3 before Sommer and for how long?

If anyone can sort this out, I'll update the site with due credit to them.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Nick,

Olt Herbert Huppertz was St.Kap. 3/JG2 late 42-Spring 43, but I don't know if Sommer was the next St.Kap. or if there were other individuals in between.

Regards

Andy Fletcher