Kurt Rochel

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Kurt Rochel had 6 air to air kills in Spain during the late 1930's. It was known that he had additional kills during WWII. How many that would be? Did he survive WWII?

Edward L. Hsiao

[Chris Goss]

POW with 5./ZG 26 2 Sep 40 with 5 victories apparently

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Thanks for the answer Chris. Kurt Rochel was a holder of the Iron Cross 1st Class during WWII.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Håkan]

Regarding his claims in Spain, I have 5 destroyed and 1 unconfirmed:
1937-11-29 I-16
1938-01-20 I-15
1938-02-21 I-16
1938-03-10 I-16
1938-05-18 I-16 Unconfirmed
1938-06-10 I-16

In WWII I have:
1940-05-31 Spitfire
1940-05-31 Spitfire
1940-06-01 Enemy aircraft

Thus I lack two in WWII. Does anyone have the dates?


Best regards/Håkan

[Chris Goss]

Many thousands had the EK I and K Report strangely just says EK II so he was captured before he could get EP or DKiG. No doubt he had Spanish Cross but the photo I have of him is in a flying suit

[Alfred.MONZAT]

According to Johannes' book:
14/05/1940 - E/A
15/05/1940 - Hurricane S Ath ~19h
31/05/1940 - Spitfire x2 Dunkirk
01/06/1940 - E/A
02/09/1940 - Hurricane unconfirmed Thames estuary (the day he was shot down and captured with his gunner Willy Schöffler)

[Håkan]

Thanks Alfred!

//Håkan

[Urusut]

Kurt Rochel (17.11.1915-.12.1992)
EK.II (19.05.1940)
EK.I (08.07.1940)
Frontflugspange in Bronze (12.04.1941)
Bf 110 C-4 Werk.Nr.3536 3U+GN

[VtwinVince]

DKiG not applicable, as first awards were late 1941, although this guy apparently got a retroactive FFS.

[Chris Goss]

True Vince but some got the DKiG as POWs after 1940