Oblt Henney Passier

[Chris Goss]

The above, formerly of V./KG 40, claimed a Sunderland over the Bay of Biscay 2035hrs 7 Aug 43 with 11./ZG 1. I can find no losses or combats or even a mention of 11./ZG 1 so can anyone solve this?

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1695

Hi Chris,

I read 10./Z.G. 1.

best regards,

Jim

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Jim. Agree 10./ZG 1 but this unit did not exist until the end of the year. Can see time, location, type and but cannot make out his name for certain

[Nick Beale]

According to ZIP/No. 892, 'GAF Sea Reconnaissance (Home Area and Atlantic) for 7th August 1943' (TNA HW 13/36):

No indications of Heavy Fighter Patrols by V./KG 40 (LORIENT-BORDEAUX).
G.S. active 1523–1524.

I think G.S. means ground station. Times are BDST.

By the way, I'm having real difficulty reading the type as a Sunderland, even allowing for the free-for-all that was German handwriting of the era. The first letter looks far more like a Sütterlin uppercase L than an S, the fourth letter has a descender (which a d shouldn't) and the fifth looks like an i and what should be an r in 'Sunderland' also has a descender. I've no idea what it does say though.

Even after some photoshopping I can't get the claimant's name any clearer although I read the initial letter as more like a V, W or X. Since there is no dot for an i or stroke to indicate a u, what about Werner or Wenner?

[Karoband]

The type is Beaufighter. Hansen?

[Chris Goss]

I have no claims for V./KG 40 on this date and Lt Ulrich Hanshen of 15./KG 40 was not flying and not promoted to Oblt until 1 Jun 44. Mysterious!

[Karoband]

Hi Chris,

May I suggest that in light of:

1. The colour of the ink and the handwriting of this entry does not match the above entries,

2. The unit did not exist until the end of 1943, and

3. Hansen/Hanshen/Hanschen (deZeng & Stankey) was not an Oberleutnant until June 1944:

that this entry was misplaced by a clerk. Did Hanshen have a claim of a beaufighter while an Oberleutenant?

Jim

[John Manrho]

I also have a note that a Ofw. Hans Gryz of 1./SAGr 128 claimed Beaufighter at the same date and time 20.55 hrs..... is that somehow related?

[John Manrho]

Looks to me a claim of Oblt. Heinz Wurm?

[Chris Goss]

I think I have sorted this out. The aircraft lost was Beaufighter JM347/D of 248 Sqn (Sqn Ldr R G Winncott/Fg Off A F Stocker). This has in the past been attributed to Ofw Friedrich May of 8./JG 2, Ofw Hans Gryz of 1./128 and Ofw Helmut Haase of 1./128. You can discount May and the 248 Sqn ORB supports the time of combat, the loss of this Beaufighter to 4 x Fw 190s which pounced on the Beaufighter's return flight. The last I have on Passier is 17 Sep 42 when he was wounded by 235 Sqn. Lots of red herrings but still doesn't explain why 1./128 or Jagdkdo Brest was recorded as 10./ZG 1 and agree that the name does look like Oblt (Heinz) Wurm the St Kap. You have to remember that 1./128 was less than a Staffel in size so perhaps it was credited to the St Kap initially?