Major Anton Lerschen 6/KG51

[steve sheridan]

Evening, could anybody help with the loss details of Mjr Anton Lerschen 6/KG51 lost on 6.7.41 in Ju88A-4 W.Nr6308 9K+FP.

Im particularly keen to establish his function within II/KG51, i have contradictory notes stating he was Staffel Kapitan, and also that he was Gruppe Kommandeur?
Any info on his crew welcome as would crash location, if known.

Best regs,
Steve.

PS. Would also appreciate loss detail for Ju88A-5 W.Nr6231 lost 7.7.41

[G.R.Morrison]

Ju 88A-5 WNr.6231 of 2./KG 51, coded 9K+BK (SKZ: KB+SF)

Reported lost 7.July 1941, cause unknown, location unknown, Luftflotte 4 / Eins. Osten.

F Fw. Fritz Klingenriehl, B Fw. Ernst Koser, Bm Ogefr. Franz Christaszak & Bs Uffz. Walter Preisser. F and Bs returned WIA, rest MIA.

[Reiner]

Hi Steve,

The correct name is Major Anton Serschen. After a crashlanding Major Serschen was murdered by Russians. Bordfunker and Beobachter survived and returned to own troops.
Sources: Klaus Häberlen: Davongekommen.
Somewhere I have a photo from Maj.Serschen

Rene

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have in our Officer Career Database about this fellow:

SERSCHEN, Anton. (DOB: 24.12.05). 04.04.27 entered service with the Austrian Army (Kavallerie). 12.10.36 Austrian Army general staff training in Vienna (to 06.38). 01.06.38 trf to the German Luftwaffe and assigned to Ob.d.L./RLM pool. 27.06.38 ordered temporary duty to Höh.Lw.-Schule Berlin, Schule/Flieger-Ers.Abt. 11 (Neukuhren), I./KG 254 (Lippstadt) and FFS B Schönwalde for orientation and training (to 22.12.38). 05.01.39 Generalstab training at the Luftkriegsakademie Berlin-Gatow (to 31.03.39). 12.04.39 ordered temporary duty to FFS C Sorau for advanced pilot training (to 11.07.39). 12.07.39 Hptm., temporary duty from RLM pool to Stab/Fliegerführer z.b.V. Berlin (to 02.10.39). 03.10.39 ordered temporary duty to Abt. Ia op in Stab/VIII. Fliegerkorps (to 31.12.39). 01.01.40 permanently trf to Abt. Ia op in Stab/VIII. Fliegerkorps. 15.08.40 trf to Ob.d.L./RLM pool. 24.10.40 trf to Erg.Kampfgruppe 4 (Ju 88). 11.01.41 trf to KG 51 and appt Staka. 01.06.41 promo to Maj. 06.07.41 Maj., in (Staka?) 4./KG 51 (KIA).

LdZ
DGS

[steve sheridan]

Thanks to all for your information.

Doug, i tried the Officer Career Database first without result, but then i was looking for Lerschen and not Serschen!

Reiner, if you have a photo of Serchen that would be most appreciated.

G.R Morrison, do you have anything on W.Nr 6308 as regards Stkz, or Serchen's crew?

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[G.R.Morrison]

No Stammkennzeichen, and the location is again "Ort unbekannt." The crew list may also be incomplete:
F Maj. Anton Serschen, B Ltn. Werner Rintelen, Bf Ofw. Otto Hermann, Bs Gefr. Ludwig Pechaigner, Fw. ????? & Gefr. ????

But WERE there SIX crammed into that tiny cockpit? That doesn't seem likely.

You know that this is a research field with more questions than likely answers, and the 'complete' answers are even more rare. But we chip away at Gibraltar...

GRM

[Reiner]

Hi Steve,

Left Major Serschen and right Oberleutnant Küchle. On the backside of the photo I can read: "Two officers of my group, both KIA in the first days of the Russian campaign. Last photo of the two men."
This photo is from a album of Lt.Werner Poppenburg, 7./K.G.51.

Rene

[steve sheridan]

Good evening GRM, thank you very much for the crew names very helpful.
I have Lt Werner Rintelen listed with the 9/KG51 during the BoB period, and possibly the BF Hermann also.

Interesting remark about a crew of 6! Where were they stowed, in the dinghy compartment??? Certainly not in the cockpit surely.

Reiner, thanks for the great photo of Serchen and Kuchle.
Oblt Fritz Kuchle was another veteran of the Battle of Britain airwar over the Uk of 1940.
Im somewhat puzzled regarding Poppenberg saying Serchen was with " his Gruppe" at the beginning of the Russian conflict, i have only seen his service listed so far with the II/KG51 although we dont have a concise listing of his postings, nor probably wont!

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[edNorth]

(088)6308 Ju 88 A-5 9K+FP II/KG 51 (Luftflotte 4 East)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location 06.07.1941 (F Major Anton Serchen, B Lt. Werner Rinteln and BF Ofw. Otto Herrmann <amd>mis/rep killed in h/11.11.41, BS Gefr. Ludwig Pechaigner mis/rep ret allright h/11.11.41, BS Fw. Helmut Cheder mis/rep allright on 15.07.41 and BS Gefr. Otto Lelbt mis/rep allright 16.07.41)

Seems two extra gunners were brought along :-) and who forgets not there were two extra guns fittable to later rear-upper canopy, on either side (making them total four in rear upper canopy), and possibly three gunners needed for operating these, and one gunner in nose, and one gunner in gondola. Total six crew. (Note: This explanation is pure and only my own thoughts, not based on references).

regards
Ed

[Reiner]

Hi,
In Lt.Poppenburgs diary I find the information that Major Serschen made a crash landing at the Lezany airfield on 18/6/1941 after the ferry flight from Wiener-Neustadt. Several days later Hptm Henne become the 9./K.G.51.


BS Gefr. Ludwig Pechaigner mis/rep ret allright h/11.11.41, BS Fw. Helmut Cheder mis/rep allright on 15.07.41 and BS Gefr. Otto Lelbt mis/rep allright 16.07.41) -- I cannot find this men and names in my files.

Rene