Kunstflugstaffel –the Experte Staffel!

[Rob Romero]

In 1938 Hptm. Hans Trübenbach hand picked 12 pilots from his command (I.(I)/LG2) to compete as the Kunstflugstaffel (Aerobatics Squadron) at the military air show in Arion, Belgium. Training began in May 1939 in Rangsdorf. Their light grey Bü 133Cs biplanes were graced by a green stripe which tapered to a point along the fuselage -the Jüngmeister (Young Champion) was considered among the world’s best aerobatic platforms. On 8 Jul 39 they performed a 25 minute program over Brussels to rave reviews. Lt. Karl Helmer went on to win the individual Aerobatic Championship, but Hptm. Joachim Wille was killed that day -apparently in the same competition. The Kunstflugstaffel managed a few more demonstrations before war broke out. The quality of this aerobatic team (analogous to the Blue Angels or Red Arrows) is reflected in the fact that 6 of the 10 known surviving team members became aces and 2 of these became 100 victory experte! It is also interesting that 1939’s individual European Aerobatics Champion Lt. Karl Helmer (4) later flew with 5/ ZG 76 in 1940 -anecdotal evidence supporting the contention that the best pilots were indeed selected to fly in Zerstroyer units. Trübenbach, himself went on to become a minor 9 victory ace with JG 52 on the Ostfront.

Lt. Herbert Ihlefeld (132)
Obfw. Erwin Clausen (132)
Oblt. Gerhard Homuth (63)
Uffz. Josef Heinzeller (35)
Obfw. Hermann Staege (20)
Hptm. Hans Trübenbach (9)
Lt. Karl Helmer (4) 1939 European Aerobatics Champion -later of 5/ZG 76
Lt. Hans-Wedige von Weiher (2)
Lt. George Graner (1-)
Obfw. Siegfried Krause (?)
Hptm. Joachim Wille -KIFA on 8 Jul 39 -apparently while competing for the individual Aerobatic Championship.

Can anyone name any remaining flight members?
Can anyone indicate the fate of Lt. Karl Helmer (4) the 1939 European Aerobatic Champion who claimed 4 victories with 5/ZG 76 in 1940? Was he killed during the Battle of Britain?

Thanks,

Rob Romero

[Juha]

Rob
I cannot answer your question but in an old Air International there is a short article on Kunstflugstaffel, IIRC one page of text and one of colourprofiles.

Juha

[robert]

Hi Rob,

Lt.Karl Helmer claimed six victories while with 5/ZG76:

18.05.40 Hurricane 20.05 S of Douai
07.06.40 Curtiss 06.40 (actually MB-152 from the GCIII/10)
14.06.40 Curtiss 20.35
15.08.40 Hurricane 18.45 Portland
25.08.40 Spitfire 18.20
04.09.40 Spitfire 14.23 S of London

Regards

Robert

[Rob Romero]

Was Helmer Officially credited with 6 victories?

Thanks,

Rob Romero

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Rob,

I think there was an article on this unit in SCALE AVIATION MODELLING in one of its earliest issues, probably in the early 1980s. Unfortunately I do not have that issue. The author might have been the late great Michael Payne.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Snautzer]

Info on Uffz. Josef Heinzeller

lemb

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/fo...showtopic=4347

regards

[Kurt Braatz]

Hermann Staege was killed as member of 11./JG 2 on El Aouina airfield/Tunisia, Jan 22, 1943, in an RAF bombing. Josef Heinzeller became an U.S. citizen and lived in Conneticut at least until late 1985.

[Frank Olynyk]

Kurt,
The Social Security Death Index, on ancestry.com has an entry for a Joseph Heinzeller, born 10 June 1915, died 9 Nov 1989, Social Security Number issued in New York in the 1955-56 period; last residence given as Cornwall Bridge, Litchfield, Connecticut. Further, Elizabeth Heinzeller, born 25 June 1913, died Aug 1990 (exact date not given); SSN issued as above. They obviously applied together, since their SSNs are one digit apart. A check of the obituary sources I use on the Internet came up empty.

Frank.

[Dean M. Wick]

Gentlemen: Karl Helmer was KIA as a Hauptmann with 8/NJG3 on the night of July 29th/30th,1942 near Hirson,during an engagement with a Bomber. Both his crew succeeded in bailing out, but he failed to leave the A/C (bf-110, D5+FE). Sorry, I don't have a time. Source is "Luftwaffe NF claims" Foreman,Matthews,Perry.Like many former Zerstorer pilots, he went to nightfighters, but apparently did not have any claims at night,prior to his death. Cheers. Dean.

[Rob Romero]

Thanks a lot Dean!

Rob Romero