23.10.44 who was the Gruppenkommandeur.....?

[byron-]

A german war diary refears to a loss of an He 111 on a flight to Rhodes on 23.10.44 with a Gruppen Kdr. on board.

Any farther information on the plain, crew and Gr.Kdr. would be appreciated.

[John Manrho]

My best guess would be Hptm. Hans Schumm, Staffelkapitän 6./KG 4 (DKiG 03.10.1942) who was commanding a group of He 111 of II./KG 4 stationed at Polikastron, north of Saloniki to supply Rhodos in October 1944. He was reported missing on one of those missions. His Beobachter was Lt. Walter Dörfer. Unfortunately I don't have an exact data, so this is not 100%. Lt. Walter Dörfer is in the DRK-Bildlisten (German Red Cross) so I presume crew is still MIA.

John

[byron-]

Hello John,

Parts of Gruppe II./KG 4 were stationed in Greece at the end of the year 1942. During Oktober 1944, I think, they were acting in Hungary.

It would be very interesting to know, if parts of Staffel 6 under his command, were serving for trasport duties and if he lost his life in the mentioned aircraft.

[John Manrho]

Well, that's what I tried to say....the main portion of KG 4 was stationed in Hungary, but mid October 1944 a part of II./KG 4 under command of Hptm. Schumm transferred to Greece. This was called Kommando Schumm. Some details are in Karl Gundelach's book on KG 4 General Wever.

John

[byron-]

Thank you John,

all clear now

Byron