IIII./JG26 Officers signatures Christmas 1939

[Huib Ottens]

Hi Don,

I just watched to see the thread develop and see what information would pop up. I am glad that a great number of signatures are identified and that the signature page in the book may have been of some help regarding the possible identification of a 'missing' Staffelkapitän.

The book comes from the estate of Walter Horten, JG 26's TO and I assume he was present as well, although I don't think his signature is on the page.

Unfortunately there is no associated photo with this signature page, only the book.

I would like to thank you and all the others who have identified so many signatures.

[Don Caldwell]

Hi Huib --

I too looked for Horten and also his replacement Bartels and found neither. From the number of signatures that remain unidentified (and also the number of III./JG 26 pilots who should have been there for Xmas, but whose names don't match the sigs) we can best conclude that the Jagdwaffe was in a state of flux during the Sitzkrieg, with experienced pilots transferring daily to newly-formed Gruppen.

Best regards,

Don