Richard Stramm

[Matti Salonen]

In fact also Franz-Josef Roubal was ex. 5./KG 55 member. It is possible, that those three have flown together since the beginning of WW 2.
A funny coincidence, that there was no seniority in the crew - every one was Ofw :-).

Matti

[Jim P.]

I have WNr. 7968 'G1+DP' lost on 1-Jan-43 with another crew (Ofw. Kurt Mallner). Were the crews perhaps reversed?

[Matti Salonen]

Again, based on NVM:
1943-01-01, 8./KG 55, He 111H-11, 7959, G1+BR, (Pitomnik), Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Ofw Wallner, Kurt, vermißt
Kampfbeobachter Fw Schuh, Hugo. vermißt
Bordfunker Uffz Bohnet, Adam, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Uffz Franz, Otto, vermißt
Bordschütze Ogfr Liebig, Herbert, vermißt

If you look at the GQM info, the crews were reversed. However, I have no means to prove, which is correct. So far I still consider NVM a little bit more reliable. Maybe someone else has a third source?

Matti

[Brian Bines]

The KG55 book agrees with Matti on names apart from some spelling differences on three surnames, and shows Wallner as 8th staffel, and Stramm as III/KG55 (GQM 9/KG55)however would not BR be from the 7th St. and DP would be a 6th St. aircraft (II/KG55 perhaps the P should be an R?) . As III/KG55 were on a refit and then committed to the airlift perhaps the most experienced crews were selected and any available aircraft allocated, hence possible wrong reporting on GQM,

Brian Bines

[Jim P.]

Based on what Matti reported, the crews were indeed reversed.

Matti, thank you for the clarification.

[aastyer]

So which wing number (7959?) and aircraft markings (G1+BR?) do you think Stramm's plane had on 1 Jan 43? Also, is it possible to get access to the GQM and NVM sources? Thnak you, everyone for all of this data. Rose is very grateful. She wants to find out more about his time with 5./55 KG too.

Thank you everyone for all of this great information. I have passed this on to Richard's daughter. She was delighted to learn more about her father's flying career.

Thank you to everyone for the information. I passed it on to his daughter. She is very grateful too. I am sorry I took so long to reply.

[aastyer]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

III./KG 55
………..
25 Oct 42: transferred to Saki/Crimea to rest and refit and remained there, out of action, until 30 December.

Air Supply of Stalingrad and Operations in Eastern Ukraine. (Jan 43 - Apr 43)
30 Dec 42: again operational, transferred back to Morosovskaya to begin participating in the transport of supplies to Stalingrad and the evacuation of wounded on the return flights.
1 Jan 43: 2 He 111Hs (G1+DP,BR), the first from 8.Staffel and the latter from 9.Staffel, FTR from supply flights to Stalingrad-Pitomnik, 10 MIA.
2 Jan 43: evacuated Morosovskaya as Soviet forces approached and transferred to Novocherkassk/36 km NE of Rostov.
3 Jan 43: unserviceable He 111 blown up at Morosovskaya by the rear guard to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
5 Jan 43: 7.St. He 111H crashed and burned while landing at Fp.Novocherkassk, 100%, 5 KIA.
…………

The book cited below has several personal recollections of the Gruppe's 30 Dec – 2 Jan stay at Morosovskaya that describe the scene, the cold, the fog, the misery and the rapid approach of the Russians. Unfortunately, there is nothing specific about the flight of Stramm and his He 111 to Pitomnik.

Dierich, Wolfgang. Kampfgeschwader 55 “Greif”: Eine Chronik aus Dokumenten und Berichten 1937-1945. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag, 1975. ISBN: 3-87943-340-2. Hb. Dj. 501p. Illus. Maps. Dwgs. Appendices. Bibliography. Pages 284-86.

L.

Does anyone know if Deirich's KG 55 book has been translated from German into English?

[aastyer]

Does anyone know if Dierich's "Kampfgeschwader 55 “Greif”: Eine Chronik aus Dokumenten und Berichten 1937-1945" has been translated into English. I have a German copy but only read a little German.

Can anyone tell what the NVM and GQM sources are? Are they available for research?

[steve sheridan]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

In fact also Franz-Josef Roubal was ex. 5./KG 55 member. It is possible, that those three have flown together since the beginning of WW 2.
A funny coincidence, that there was no seniority in the crew - every one was Ofw :-).

Matti

Hi Matti, with regards Franz-Josef Roubal do you have his Ekm No. at hand.
I'm sorry I didn't pick this up at the time, but it is of interest now.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Matti Salonen]

67020/43

Matti