Hptm Gerhard Wendt

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello,

Who can provide more info on the carreer of Hptm Gerhard Wendt - from Aug - Nov 42 Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 3? Thanks in advance.

Regards
Rob

[Serge Garces]

Rob:

Hpt Gerhard Wendt (known as "Kuno") was the Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 26 on the Western Front from 16 March 1940 until 7 August 1940, when he was transfered out. His replacement was Oblt Gustav Sprick.

He later served as Staffelkapitän of 4/JG 3 on the Eastern Front from 1 August 1942 until sometime in November 1942, when he was replaced by Hpt. Werner Lucas, who was a very successful fighter pilot. Wendt was transferred to a staff position. According to some sources, Wendt's lack of success in air fighting may have been partly responsible for him being relieved. According to contemporary guidelines, the successes of the staffelkapitäne in combat were supposed to provide an inspiration for their pilots and spur them to similar successes.

Known victories (4):
14.05.40 Oblt. Kuno Wendt: 1 8./JG 26 Morane 406 S.E. Mons 18.25
02.06.40 Oblt. Kuno Wendt: 2 8./JG 26 Battle N.W. Dünkirchen: 3.500 m. 15.25
02.07.42 Hptm. Kuno Wendt: 2 4./JG 3 MiG-1 Eastern Front 17.57
10.07.42 Hptm. Kuno Wendt: 3 4./JG 3 Boston III Eastern Front 04.36

Sources: Tony Wood (4 listed above), Caldwell JG 26 (1 with JG 26), Priller JG 26 (1), Prien JFB 3 (2 with JG 26) and Prien II/JG 3 (3, of which 2 with JG 3 listed). Prien II/JG 3 lists Wendt's victories of 2 July 1942 as his 2nd and 10 July 1942 as his 3rd, but does not list his 1st., which presumably he would have achieved with JG 26 (where he actually was credited with two as shown above).

Best regards,

Serge

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello Serge,

Thank you very much for your input and interesting info and also wellcome to TOCH!

Do you know what happened to Kuno after 4./JG 3 and did he survive the war?

BTW Werner Lucas became official Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 3 on 1 May 43; so there might be another pilot who replaced Wendt.

Best wishes,
Rob

[Xerzis]

Hi,

just in the case that Kuno Wendt is the "Cuno Wendt", I personally have known.

He lived until 1999 in northern Germany. After being seriously wounded in Russia, he came to Africa and served as a shuttle/staff pilot (I think it was a Me 110) for high ranking officers. From there a came to Italy. I am not so sure to remember right what happened until the end of war.

After the german surrender he certainly was POW, but I think in 1946 he was already student at a University in Germany and became teacher at a little school.

When active flying was permitted again, he was among the first relaunching flying respectively gliding in Germany. He was instructor for several hundred young pilots, until he had to give it up about 1988-90. I think he made his last flight as PIC in 1994. One of his sons and one of his grandchildren became pilot of the Lufthansa.

Best regards
Xerzis