Deserters from JG 53

[GrafWolf]

Hello gentlemen!

On 26.04.1945 two Bü 181 Bestmann (W.-Nr. 210141,110215)
were flown to Switzerland by the deserters Oberleutnant Werner Stoll,
Feldwebel Joachim Engelbrecht and Obergefreiter Kurt Nüsken.
They should all be members of IV./JG 53.
There is no entry of these names at Prien`s "JG 53".
Only entry at deZeng/Stankey is Werner Stoll, DOB 23.03.1919.
Last known unit is 4./JG 104. Is this the same guy?
Is it possible that these Bü 181 took off from airfield Reichenbach ?
Maybe there is a entry at the still available flightbook of
W.-Nr. 110215?

Thank you very much in advance!

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

Wolfgang

[sidney]

By 26 April 1945 it was apparent that the war was lost for Germany for all intents and purposes. Further to the query above, I would like to learn what was considered the cut-off date, which would make distinction between desertion and honourable surrender to the victorious Allied forces?

[Graham Boak]

Flying to a neutral country cannot be regarded as an honourable surrender to the enemy forces. It is perhaps questionable whether any such surrender, without the approval of higher authority, can be regarded as "honourable". Sensible, maybe.

It is worth pointing out that even by 26th April severe fighting was still proceeding on several fronts.

[GrafWolf]

Hello Sidney!

I am far away to condemn these men!!!!!
What had been my decision instead of them? I don`t know!
My interests are JG 106,JG 53,TGr 30 and their time on
airfield Reichenbach.

Sorry if this was misunderstanding!

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

Wolfgang

[sidney]

Hello Wolfgang, there was no misunderstanding there, and I did not mean to get into an argument over it - sometime ago I came across either an article, or it was a book, where the author described a desertion/defection of a JG 26? pilot from late April/early May 1945 using the term that read something like "... a few days before it could have been considered an honourable surrender...".

So I decided to take this opportunity to find out which day in late April/early May could arguably be taken into consideration in this respect. It is perhaps worth pointing out that at that time the Wehrmacht soldiers surrendered to the Western Allies en masse, or individually, with or without the approval of the higher authority, whichever that authority might have been.

So why would not the same apply to the Luftwaffe pilots, whose chances of survival were either comparable, or even lower than those of the foot soldiers.

I did not mean to hijack your thread either. I hope that someone on the forum answers your query.

Best Regards,
Sinisa

[GrafWolf]

Hello Sinisa!

You are very welcome!

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

Wolfgang