Lt Hans Schuster, 2./JG103, EKdo262

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

Does anybody have information about Lt Hans Schuster who was attached to 2./JG103 and then transferred to EKdo262 in summer 1944. He flew the Me 262 and went to Kd Nowotny.

I assume he was an experienced pilot (Lt) and was flying as a teacher at 2./JG103. He got an award (KvK mit Schwerter 1. Klasse) at the EKdo262 for suggesting technical improvements related to the Me 262.

Regards
Roger

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Roger,
Could he be an engineer? I do not remember to have read this name on the various books that deals with the Me 262 and which talks about the Kommando Nowotny...I mean on the roll of pilots or airmen. ( JG 7 by Prien; The Me 262 Combat Diary at least! ). I will have a check on them while home.
Yours
Adriano

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Adriano,

I have most of these books as well. I think he may have been an engineer but was at the same time also a pilot. An original document signed by the IIb of the Kommando (Lt Krüger) confirms that he received theoretical and practical training on flying the Me 262. He was also a member of the detachement that first arrived at Achmer. One document states that he belonged to Techn. Grp. / E.-Kdo. 262.

I don't think that the published books have information about him. I think he is a so far unknown member of EKdo 262. But perhaps someone came across his name during research at archives?

Cheers,
Roger

[Dan O'Connell]

Hello Roger,
Please forgive me for not answering an earlier email, I have been very busy with non-Luftwaffe interests.
I simply have nothing on him, no flights, nothing. I always list pilots with known 262's in my data base, yet he is not there. A mystery man....

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Dan,

Thank you for checking your data. I think there is an agency in Germany where one can ask for personal records of WWII soldiers. I may try to find out more through this way. One document is even signed by Nowotny himself and states that he can decide himself if thinks the weather conditions are good enough to risk a flight.

No worries about my earlier email. I sometimes also have lots of other things to do and am not that quick in answering all my e-mails.

Kind regards,
Roger

[Dan O'Connell]

Best of luck Roger, I'd be interested to hear of any progress.

[Karl]

Hi Roger,

I have a Schuster as Mtt-Einflieger in March 45. Do you have his birth date? Mine one was born in 1917.

Greetings, Karl

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Karl!

Interesting, that may well be him. Unfortunately, I couldn't find his birth date. There is no WP or SB or any official document with his birth date. I only know that he flew with 2./JG103 (I think it was 2nd Staffel, would have to check again to be sure). One document from the time with JG103 about the funeral of a pilot has a list of pilots. He was Leutnant at that time and had a speech at the funeral and was tasked with organizing the funeral. I guess he was a teacher pilot with JG103 and may have been with an operational unit before that.

Do you know the rank of the Mtt-Einflieger? Did he fly Me 262? Do you have his logbook?

Cheers,
Roger