Photos 5-14

[ArtieBob]

No less than five Ju 88s in this group. The Do 17 is really an early Ju 88, BQ+Wx, DJ+OX is probably W.Nr.5676 (Really neat, what is the color scheme?), which fits with the following two Ju 88s of KGr 806. The tail appears to be W.Nr.1333 which would have been a D-1. If the W.Nr. is correct, there 3 other images of this aircraft. The photo identified as a Ju 88 A-6 appears to be an He 111 H-16 or 20 perhaps?

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

[robert]

Hi Miguel,

1.this photo was taken not in August but in late June- early July so we could easy rule out Wilcke
2.the exactly number of Harder victories prior to the 11.08.40 is unknown - he could have even 4 claims.
3.another possibility is Olt.Heinz Wittenberg - because the III/JG53 was led between 20.06 and 13.07.40 by NN. Perhaps Wittenberg was appointed temporarily Commander? He had 2 victories in this timeframe.

Regards

Robert

[Miguel]

Robert,

I appreciate very much your answer and very useful information.

Wittenberg looks as a sound option.

Thank you very much.

[robert]

Hi Miguel,

this is a plane of Pingel. These two bars mark his two claims made while acting as temporarily group`s commander.

Regards

Robert

[Miguel]

Hi Robert

Are you sure on Rolf Pingel as the pilot?

According to Jochen Prien's, Pingel was III/JG53 Gruppenkommandeur between 5 and 20 June, and then came back to 2/JG53 as SK.
He already had 6 victories on June, 5th, which does not agree with the two painted in the plane's tail.

My feeling is that your first option, Heinz Wittemberg, who was flying in the StabIII/JG53 then, and got his second victory on May, 31st is more probable.

Regards
Saludos

[robert]

Hi Miguel,

high likely Pingel was later also obligated with unit`s command.

Regards

Robert