1940 victories of Lt. Rolf Hermichen

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In my continuing effort to compile an accurate and complete victory list for the Bf110 units for 1939-40, I note that Lt. Rolf Hermichen, who flew during the FC with 6./ZG1, survived the war and is listed as a signer of the book plate for Jerry Crandall's forthcoming book "Knights of the Black Cross." Obviously he survived into relatively recent times.

Hermichen is one of the "black holes" on my ZG victory lists for 1940. I know that he was awarded credit for shooting down a Dutch fighter on 10.5.40, a "Spitfire" on 27.5.40, and went on to score two more victories by the end of the French Campaign. I have provisional dates for those other two victories but this info is not confirmed.

Before the Battle of Britain, II./ZG1 became III./ZG76, with Hermichen now serving in 9./ZG76. He apparently ended the BoB and the year with a total of 8 victories, making him one of the top performers for a Zerstörer pilot. A website bio states that he got his first victory during the BoB on 12.8.40, but this and the prospective dates for an additional three victories during this period, which I have, remain "unconfirmed" by hard evidence.

Has anyone on this board been in touch with him and perhaps obtained any confirmation for the dates for his victory claims in the west during 1940? Does anyone know if, perhaps, his Flugbuch or other service documentation has survived? Does anyone have ANY information that would help add to what I have?

Hermichen went on to have a distinguished war career, ending it as a Major with 64 victories, most of them in the west and many against heavy bombers. He was awarded the both the RK and the EL. However, I am interested here only in his victories and career during 1940.

Regards,