Fate of ZG 1 pilot Oswald Ries

[Christer Bergström]

On 18 December 1942 (or 17 December 1942 according to a Soviet report), Lt. Oswald Ries, piloting a ZG 1 Bf 110, was shot down by Yaks and LaGG-3s in the area of Tundutovo/USSR, and made POW.

This was the fourth time Oswald Ries was shot down in only six months. The previous occasions took place on 10 June 1942, on 1 August 1942, and on 5 October 1942!

Is there anyone who knows his subsequent fate? Did he return to Germany after the war? Maybe John Vasco has something on this case?

[John Vasco]

Christer,

You have got all I know on Ries. The Namentliche Verlustmeldung states "Bei der Durchfürung des Auftrages bekam Lt. Ries Berühung mit feindl. Jägern. Die Besatzung gilt seitdem als vermisst."

He was flying a Bf 110 C-2, S9+RK, W. Nr. 2122. Strange that an old C-2 was still in service at the end of 1942 with a front-line fighter-bomber unit. I suspect that it was a recycled machine with bomb racks fitted (which according to the Petrick/Mankau book would have been re-designated 'C-7'), which has retained its original sub-variant status on the loss return. An up-to-date entry written in red at the time I received the Namentliche Verlustmeldung states: "Gerichlich für tot Erklärt." This red written entry also appears against his Bordfunker, 21 year-old Uffz. Gert Adelhöfer. An interesting point to note is that the original typed entry has the date as 17.12.42, but the '17' has been crossed through with a single stroke, and the handwritten number '18' inserted.

Hope this helps in some small way.

Regards,

John V.