Gustav Sprick JG/26

[stevekg55]

Can anyone out there tell the name & unit of the Spitfire pilot who shot down Knights Cross holder Oberleutnant Gustav Sprick of JG/26 on the 28.6.1941.


Steve

[cjme201262]

West of Lille : one wing of his F-2 'Black 4' Wr.5743 collapsed during combat..........sorry that's all I've got !

[Stig Jarlevik]

Steve

General belief is that he was claimed by P/O Wladyslaw Drecki from 303 (Polish) Squadron.

B Rgds
Stig

[stevekg55]

Hello,Thanks for the information,


Steve

[stevekg55]

Hi,Thanks Stig for the information.Nice to find out it was a 303 Sqdn victory,moreso because I have just received my portrait in oils of Johnnie Kent who has you will most probably know already was the commanding officer in charge of 303 during the B.0.B.I knew him well.

All the best,

Steve

[Chris Goss]

The Germans and Don Caldwell still state that it was due to wing failure. However, Drecki reported that he had been chased to low level by up to 6 109s in about 8 attacks. It is stated that he manouvred skillfully at low level, was able to fire at 2 both of which "crashed into the ground from about 30-50" (which is strange as his report says he was a short distance out to sea). Also, Sgt Belc claims to have shot down a Bf 109 attacking Drecki "sending it staright into the ground. However, Malan leading the Biggin Hill Wing also put a claim in at the same time in the right location....................

[KrisJG3]

His grave:

http://spread-wings.ru/component/opt...atid,2/id,126/

[Szkieletor]

Hi,
Chris is right- Oblt. Sprick was not shoot down by 303 Squadron pilot. RAF claimed 5 Bf 109 destroyed and 2 probably for 2 Spitfire and 1 Hurricane. Luftwaffe lost 4 Bf 109 and 1 damage claiming 2 Spitfires. Who then shoot down Gustav Sprick? I think it was probably Sgt Władysław Majchrzyk from 308 Sqn. who claimed 1 BF 109 probably destroyed near Hazebrouck about 8.45. He claimed that he surprise Messerschmitt from above and fire 2 sec m.g. burst form 50 yards into Bf cockpit with was "smash into pieces". The Bf immediately go on its back and into a spiral dive. He didn't see where it fell. Don Caldwell wrote that Sprick was attack form above by Spitfire and he spit-S, lost his wing and chrash near Holque, N St. Omer about 8.48. The second pilot who probably shoot down Sprick was P/O Wielgus, from the same squadron, who claimed Bf 109 with was going to attack a Hurricane ( for sure 306 sqn. Hurricane- one was shoot down by Hptm. Schopfel near Audruicq) He attack form above and the Messerschmidt burst in flames, its engine stops and it fell down in steep dive. The last possibility is Czech pilot form 145 Sqn. P/O J. Machacek who claim probably destroed Bf 109 near Cassel (close to the crash site) about the same time but I don`t have his combat report. W/C Malan claimed his Bf 109 probably 5 miles south form Calais so it could be Hans Friedrich 3/JG-26 Bf 109 70% dam. - crash landed near Calais. It fits quite nicely. Drecki fought a long dogfigt from Comines to Le Touquet after with he bailed out and was pick up from the see. His second victim was Johannes Schmidt 3/JG-26 who crash near Samer . Sgt Bełc or Drecki shoot down also Oblt. Harald Grawatsch who bailed out west of Lille. 303 sqn. lost there P/O Bondar- who was shot down by Uffz. Babnez form 3./JG 26 and died. The last Bf 109 flown by Friedrich Graf von Uiberacker crash landed near Wizernes 15% damaged - probably by 308 or 145 Sqn.
So to sum up, three pilots are most probably responsible for Gustav Sprick death- Majchrzyk is the best one, next Wielgus, but it could be very well Machacek - but I could be wrong.
I hope it makes some sense
Regards

[KrisJG3]

"...on Caldwell wrote that Sprick was attack form above by Spitfire and he spit-S, lost his wing and chrash near Holque, N St. Omer about 8.48. ..."

From photo above - Pilot KIA:
gefallen 28.6.1941 bei St.Omer

[Szkieletor]

Hi,
Holque is just about 10 km north from St. Omer.
Pozdrawiam