Looking for WALTER HAGENAH , JG 3 Pilot

[Giorgio Pietrobon]

Dear Friends of the Forum : I am looking a contact with the Luftwaffe Pilot WALTER HAGENAH - JG 3 if , like I am hoping, he is well alive.
Or with his Son.
At time Uffz. he was the claimer of a Liberator "80 km south of Innsbruck" . Almost surely this attack was from him. ( OKL List )

For the next year I am preparing a big Meeting in accord with the Administration of a very wonderful Village in the Dolomiti Ladine ‘ Region : CORVARA in BADIA. Near this center a famous USAAF Bomber B-24D was shot down by a German Fighter on Sunday 19 Dezember 1943 , the Goldener Sonntag.
The fourengined bomber was the famous Ploesti ‘ veteran B-24 “The Sandman” , 98th Bomb Group, Pilot Lt. John W.Viers , commander of a Crew of 10 , all KIA. Crew not habitual , composed for this one raid. Target was a Messerschmitt Plant near Augsburg , Bayern , Germany.
The plane fell in a high mountain and the story was forgotten per 60 years.
I found the crash ‘ place and also , thanks to a wreck , the coded cowl of an engine , the author of the recognition could be Al Blue in armyairforces.com and now I am in touch with of 9 of 10 Families of the American Airmen.

Then : for the Meeting remembering the historical 1943 ’ event I am now looking for the Pilot who - it seems sure – could hit from above the enemy plane , a moment clear in the memory of some Witnesses dead or alive in the touristic center.
The decision of the Mayor Robert Rottonara about a metal plaque that will be placed in the local Cemetery is a gesture very respectful of the life. And a memory ‘ thing important for all the visitors who did ‘n know the terrible 2nd World War.
This 2012 occasion could be an opportunity for an intercontinental Meeting of Peace : the Families of the old Enemies in war in reunion as Friends now in the same place of the disaster.

Everyone can find the Luftwaffe Veteran will be invited to took part to the Meeting in Alta Badia. And his contribution could so be credited in the public speech.
I am sure in a good hunting , thanks also to the current social networks’ opportunities and the ability of many gentlemen in the net.

This is not for me the first experience useful to promote meetings of reconciling between the opposite Armed Air Forces then in duel in the skies.
On 22 September 2008 arrived in Suedtirol from Bremen Frau Elke Bitsch Krems , only daughter of the Ritterkreuz Emil Bitsch , to visit in the Cemetery of Taisten/Tesido (Bozen ) the place of the graves of 3 Sgt.’ s KIA inboard the B-17F 99th B.G. piloted by the Lt. CYRIL C. STIDD .
The German Pilot ever of the JG 3 shot-down the Fortress always on 19 December 1943 over the Gsies’Valley , Pustertal , Bozen Province.
Also that day 3 years ago was a very moving trip inspired to feelings of friendship and peace .

Thanks a lot to an able mate in this search.

Giorgio Pietrobon

1943 . Treviso . Italia
Retired Teacher & WWII volunteer Researcher about a Sunday of war without story.
giorgiopietrobon@libero.it


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=11622

http://www.dorfablattl.it/download/Dorfablattl-Ausgabe-13-November-2008.pdf Pag. 42