Werner Hensgen I./ZG 1/15./KG 40

[Johannes]

Morning fellow enthusiasts

I am investigating a claim for a B-24 on 23rd March 1943 a V.N.E claim without time or altitude with I./ZG 1

It's for a Leutnant "Heusgen" or "Hensgen". There is a Werner Hensgen(geb 02/10/1921) MIA on 17th May 1943 in a JU88 flying for 15./KG 40. At this time I./ZG 1 was in Russia so it just shouldn't be. Around October 1943 I./ZG 1 goes through a huge change and is reformed from V./KG 40, this would be too late to explain the above, but I just wonder if the mikrofilm itself is at fault at I./ZG 1 should read 15./KG 40 or V./KG 40.

What do you all think.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A possibility is that with the long Luftwaffe claim verification process, this claim made in March 1943 was approvided after the renaming of V./KG 40 in I./ZG 1 in fall 1943, and so the kill was attached to I./ZG 1.

Chris Goss in the book "Bloody Biscay" show on this date a Liberator claimed by Lt Ulrich Hanshen of 15./KG 40 in PlQ 14W/2586 at 1420 hrs (and identifies it as a transport Liberator of 511 Sqn RAF (6 crew and 13 passengers MIA))

[Chris Goss]

I initially agree with what Laurent has written but subsequent research says this was Hensgen as Hanshen was not on V./KG 40 at this time

[Johannes]

Many thanks Guys

Chris's answer about the late confirmation has given me the confidence to say this is Werner Hensgen of 15./KG 40 . I think that the mikrofilms recording this as I./ZG 1 has led Laurent to mis-read the name, a crime I think is very easy to do.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Chris Goss]

Laurent did not misread the name-I and others did when my book was written many years ago!

[Johannes]

Hi Chris

I thank you for your honesty. As John Foreman always stated "When something is printed it is FACT and cast in stone". 15./KG 40 itself is also on the mikrofilm this day, so further confirmation.

Just goes to prove that together we can get things right.

Thanks again

Kind Regards

Johannes