Danish Pilot Peter Horn - aircraft info wanted

[PMoz99]

Hi Merlin.
Yes, the Il2 figures show 1./JG51 had both E-7 (11) and F-2 (21) in March 1942 (it shows they actually received 6 E-7s in March), and I assumed that it was likely Horn would be flying an E-7 rather than an F-2.
I don't know how accurate the Il2 information is, but it's all I have and it has so much detail it just looks right.
My assumption is very loose, but I figured as he wasn't German and probably wasn't an ace at that time, he probably didn't get to fly the best a/c ......

[Stig Jarlevik]

PMoz99

The Rathbone Museum site is wrong.
Both Peter Horn and Poul Sommer survived the war and died in Denmark.

Unfortunately the living relatives of Peter Horn don't want to talk about the past and it has proved impossible for Danish historians to aquire any further details about his life and service in Luftwaffe.

Peter Horn's service in Finland is also very obscure and he is not mentioned with the other Danes known to have been there. It seems likely he came too late to be of any use in the Winter War of 1939-40. Like so many others in occupied Europe he chose once again to fight communism and as Johannes already has pointed out, very likely he served in 1942. It also seems likely he returned home that autumn and never returned to the Luftwaffe, at least not in a fighting capacity.

Cheers
Stig

[Brian Bines]

This site does not mention Peter Horn :- http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/articles.php?id=11, is he one of the six mentioned in the article and just flew under the name Horn on joining the Luftwaffe ? One site says Sommer was sentenced to 8 years in prison post war had it increased to 12 years following an appeal but was released in 1950.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

Mikkel Plannthin has removed Horn from his site since the family does not want it to be there.
However, you can read what his site once said since the Wikipedia is an exact copy of what he once had.

With regard to Sommer, I even believe he in fact faced a death sentence in Denmark, but it was changed to a prison instead. The reason for his punishment is unknown by me, but may possibly have something to do with his transfer with JG 27 to North Africa and after that no longer could claim he was fighting against the communists.

B Rgds
Stig

[RolandF]

Wasn´t he from the North Schleswig German minority, part of the Deutsches Reich until 1920? Thus the "free will" to join the german forces was somehow limited as it was with Alsatians, Westprussians and inhabitants of the Eupen-Malmedy region. They were only able to choose the wrong side regardless which side they chose. Being court-martialled was a certain fate - either in 1940 or in 1945.

Regards
RolandF

[ju55dk]

Sommer joined SS in 1943. He also formed a cops of volunters, to guard LW-installations in Denmark. They were also used to terrorise ordinary Danish people. This was the reason why he recieved a death sentence. But later changed. And no it's not easier to understand the reason behind, to take on the uniform used by the nation who occupied Denmark. The communist scare was real, but was also used, after the war to explain why a person did chose to fight for Germany. Over 50% of those danes that joined the german war effort were members of the Danish nazi-party.

Junker

[Stig Jarlevik]

Roland

No idea I am afraid.

Junker

That explains what he did after his return to Denmark and also gives more details about his political views.

Since this is a site where political views are not to be discussed, I will not make any further comments in that direction except to say the occupied Denmark during 1940-45 have my full respect and sympathies.

B Rgds
Stig

[ju55dk]

Well we still need to identify Horn's victories. Only fact is that is that he got both EK 2 and 1 on the same date. Further problem is that there was at least two different Horn with JG 51.

Junker

[PMoz99]

Hello Mikkel.
The only information I have regarding Birksted's Mustang is that he flew his personal Mustang IV home after the war. (taken from Osprey's RAF Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces).
I take it from what you said he flew a Mustang III operationally? Do you have any information which corroborates Osprey's claim he had a Mustang IV?
Thanks
Peter

[knusel]

Good afternoon Peter,

that book indicates 10+1sh kills for Birksted, doesn't it ?
Does is also indicate the top RAF Mustang/Thunderbolt ace ?

Michael