Loss of Ofw. Georg Spring 26-06-1944

[Richard Mills]

Can anyone share the details surrounding the loss of Feldwebel Georg Spring flying a Fw-190 on 26-06-1944 ?

I am in particular trying to ascertain his unit, aircraft details and in fact anything additional at all surrounding the event of his demise.

As always, any help whatsoever will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Richard,

Please see: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...t=Georg+Spring

And also: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...t=Georg+Spring

No doubt Matti can add more!

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.facebook.com/airwarpublications

[Matti Salonen]

In the first thread Chris has said all that can be found in NVM, except location, which was northeast from Rudki (Pl.Qu. 1186).

Matti

[Richard Mills]

Andrew and Matti

Thank you very much indeed for your help.

Might I ask whether the NVM recorded the unit with which Spring was flying when he died?

As 4./StG77 became 7./SG11 equipped with Fw-190 machines, I am hoping from a research perspective that Spring was indeed flying with 7./SG11.

Any further pointers will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Richard,

Some time ago I downloaded copies of many of Spring's documents and photographs from the Wehrmacht Awards Forum (I can email them to you if you don't already have them). A document related to his death is signed by the Kommandeur, Henze, who led the I. Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader 77. The document mentioned that he was killed in a crash shortly before landing, cause unknown, after completing a bombing training mission in an FW 190. This makes sense given that the Gruppe was converting to the FW 190 in June 1944.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.facebook.com/airwarpublications

[Matti Salonen]

According to my notes, NVM says 1./SG 77.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

I seem to remember that Tim Oliver had these documents & asked me to find out more about Spring's demise

[Richard Mills]

Gents

Many thanks indeed for your replies.

I am in the process of purchasing the document group of Georg Spring (the postman is due to deliver tomorrow as it happens!) and just wanted to do a small amount of ground work on his aircraft and unit prior to researching in more depth.

As Andrew rightly stated, a document is present (dated 06-July-44)relating to Spring's death, signed by Henze as Gruppenkommandeur I./SG77, but bears the stamp of I./St.G77.

As I understand it, I./SG77 was formed by the re-designation of I./St.G77 on 18-October-43.

As the last dated document for Spring is with the Einsatzstaffel/St.G77 and is dated 04-October-43 (all documents prior to this are for 4./St.G77) this leads me to think (although I may well be wrong on this) that Spring transferred to I./St.G77 before the unit was re-designated as I./SG77.

If anyone can add any thoughts to this, I would be very grateful indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Chris Goss]

Good luck with the further 'in depth research' but it would appear to me that the seller should make sure you have what is available already

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Good luck with the further 'in depth research' but it would appear to me that the seller should make sure you have what is available already

Chris, I have sent you an e-mail concerning this document set.

By 'in depth research' I meant piecing together and writing a research piece on this man, incorporating all available published information and the info posted here on this forum. In reality, I fo not think I will ever be able to nail down the dates of his movements in the last year of his life unless his Flugbuch, Soldbuch or Wehrpass surface. I will go simply on the concrete dates and units evident on his documents as the primary source.

Interestingly, the document set did indeed arrive today and it also contained a very nice portrait photo of Wilhelm Spring, brother of Georg Spring and also a Luftwaffe pilot. The reverse of the photo indicates his demise on 22-09-42 in Russia. Is anyone able to pass on any details of the aircraft and unit? As always, any help will be very gratefully received indeed.

Regards Richard.