Leutnant Hans Nestler I/JG52

[Peter Cook]

In his history of the Battle of Britain, p. 179, Christer Bergström describes a combat that took place on the morning of 1 September 1940 in which Leutnant Hans Nestler of I/JG52 shot down the Hurricane of F/Sgt Berry of 1 Squadron. I/JG52 made five claims during this combat but Tony Woods OKL claims istiings doesn't include one for Nestler, and I can't find any other claims or biographical information on him in Larry's Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries or in the Kracker Luftwaffe Archive.

Does anyone have any information on Nestler?

Peter

[Chris Goss]

The only I./JG 52 pilot to claim a Hurricane on 1 Sep 40 with the rank and name Lt Hans was Lt Hans Berthel of Stab I./JG 52

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris, I have Berthel in my lists already, both named Hans seems logical, although where Christer Bergström got the name Nestler from is a mystery!

Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Peter

I don't have Christer's book in English but two of them in Swedish. The first one was published in
2006 and the other in 2014. As far as I can judge they are the same book using different titles (in
Swedish). Most likely the latter book has some updates. I haven't compared them.

The odd thing is that in both books no Hans Nestler is mentioned on 1 Sep.
In both books only Ltn Hans Berthel are stated.

When was "your" English edition published?

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Cook]

Very interesting, these are the UK titles details:

The Battle of Britain, an Epic Conflict Revisited, Christer Bergström, Casemate UK, Oxford, 2014.

Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Indeed very puzzling Peter

I have sent Christer an e-mail and hopefully he answers directly here or via me.

Cheers
Stig