Information on lost airman over England - 02.03.1944

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Bought an interesting portrait of an airman lost over England on a mission.

He fell on the 2nd March 1944.

Please see photo and information on back of card.

I have found an Uffz. F. Klari who baled out on a mission on this date. Not too sure if this is same man though.

Thanks for time

Rick

[Brian Bines]

Bs (tail gunner) Uffz Ferdinand Klari taken POW on 2-3-44 after baling out of He177 of 2/KG100 which crashed at Hammer Wood East Grinstead. 'K' report gives dob as 8-May-1922 and that he held the Gold War Flights badge. However this mans rank is higher than an Uffz ? Does the first writing say he was the freind of a Krisin Karli ? There was one missing and one killed with the rank of Fw ( B Fw Karl Faitzhofer 2/KG54 missing )and two with Ofw rank killed that night

Regards

Brian Bines

[Marcel van Heijkop]

I think that the writing on the card actually means "Zum Andenken an deinem Kusin Karli", where according to my dictionary "Kusin" means "cousin" (i.e. son of uncle/aunt) with "Karli" possibly being a pet name in the family for "Karl". So, a Christian name rather than a surname, I think.

The whole phrase then means something like "To the memory of your cousin Karl".

Would this make sense? And could you subsequently find a LW loss on this date matching this Christian name and rank? Regards,

Marcel

[Brian Bines]

Marcel,

Thanks for that, the only crew missing was the KG54 crew with B. Fw Karl Faitzhofer, the only other Karl that night being an injured Ogef. of 6/KG2. There were five other losses all crashes/shootdowns on the Continent and one He177 down in England, the rank on the photo apppers to be that of a Fw. The two Ofw's were killed in the shooting down of their Ju88S-1 of 5/KG66 west of St. Omer so were not missing, so all points to the photo as being Fw. Faitzhofer no.67184/403 born 16-8-1919,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Marcel van Heijkop

... with "Karli" possibly being a pet name in the family for "Karl".

Yes, it's the equivalent of calling someone "Charlie" rather than their full name of Charles.

[rickback4444]

Wow,

Great bit of detective work. I am very impressed by everyones knowledge and desire to solve such puzzles.

I very much thank you all

Rick

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Hi Rick,

You're welcome. It certainly beats solving Sudokus! Please see PM or contact me off board.

Best regards,

Marcel