Loss of Ju-52 "NK+MB" 27.01.1942

[jmark]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

It definitely says "100% Bruch".

I'd really like to know to which unit Uffz. Langer belonged. The aircraft codes do not help (NK+MB, NJ+NC, NJ+KP, PF+PW, KC+RV, NI+NK [flew in this particular plane from 21.03.1942 until 16.08.1942), SE+XM, CR+NI, VA+NV, 7V+CF), all of which were Ju-52s.

Langer flew into the Cholm pocket 3 times (2.2.42, twice on 3.2.42) and 144 times into the Demyansk pocket. In late November 1942 he was sent down to Stalingrad but unfortunately this Flugbuch ends on 30.11.1942, just prior to supply flights into the pocket.

I thought his pilot's unusual surname – Rzepka – would help but it's not as uncommon as I hoped. Two DKiG winners, including Fw. Fritz Rzepka from 3./KGr.zbV 9, and three Ehrenpokal holders, two of whom were pilots, including Erich Rzepka, as mentioned by Khorat.

I'm actually wondering whether "my" Uffz. Langer is the one listed in the Ehrenpokal book: Uffz. Karl-Heinz Langer, Bordfunker, Ehrenpokal 26.10.1942. By this date, he had completed 2190 flights, including 182 combat sorties. Was that enough to warrant the Ehrenpokal?

Khorat, do you know any more about the incident in which Fw. Rzepka was killed?

Thanks again for the help
Jason

[jmark]

Here's something else that might help. During a flight out of the Demyansk pocket on 19.02.1942 while in plane PF+PW, Langer has written the following in the comments column: "Bodenbeschuß. CO+TJ abgeschossen". Obviously another plane from his unit. Are there any details about this plane?

Jason

[Charles Bavarois]

Hello Jason,

"CO+TJ" is a Ju 52 with Werknummer 5006 shot down at Jalutschd on
19. Feb. 1942. It served with KGr. z.b.V. 700.
Source: GQM losses RL 2 III/ 1180 Freiburg MA

HTH

Carl

[jmark]

Hi Carl,

Thanks very much for that helpful info.

Initially, I thought Langer's unit might have been KGr.z.b.V. 800 because this Gruppe landed in Cholm in early February 1942 and was then assigned to the Demyansk supply lift. However, your info has given me a new starting point. According to http://www.ww2.dk/air/transport/kgrzbv700.htm, the bases of KGr.z.b.V. 700 were Orscha, Pleskau and Obliwskaya, and although the dates don't correspond perfectly, they roughly match.

Also, one of the aircraft codes I listed earlier (7V+CF) belongs to KGr.z.b.V. 700.

Does anyone have more detailed information about this Kampfgruppe?

Jason

[RT]

Concerning the 26.Oct.loss

Rzepka erich fw f t
Schepe kurt ofw bf v
Wiesenberg august oge bs v
Wolter heinz uffz bm v

Just 4 , could hv been the 5. langer...

26 10 43 6 3 TG3 H Orscha A MSTO JU52 7588

KGrzbv700 called also Wittstock, became IV.TG4 i. may 43

A Fw Karl-heinz Langer was killed in 26.nov.43 with recce unit

26 11 43 2 1 F123 F /Neapel/ X JU88T-1 430360 4U+LH

Handrick horst ltn b t
Jung erich uffz f x
Langer karl-heinz fw bf t

Rémi

[jmark]

Hi Rémi,

Thanks for the info. It seems like Rzepka might be the right guy but I'm not sure about Langer. Would it have been unusual for a guy to transfer from Ju-52s to a Fernaufklärungsgruppe?

Jason

[RT]

Most of the groups built-up for Stalingrad nd Tunisia, hv later been disbanded or renamed, in both cases could hv been people freed, but no norm. a fighter remains a fighter , a transporter a transporter nd people of the recce units skilled in their task remain in the recce area, just end of war pilots from all units pressed in the fighter nd attack-units other crews in the field units of the LWF.

Rémi

Do you hv is date of birth ??

[jmark]

Originally Posted by RT

Do you hv is date of birth ??

Hi Rémi,

No, I don't have his date of birth... I don't even have his first name. All I have is his Flugbuch containing his rank and surname (Uffz. Langer). By trying to ascertain his unit, I hope to eventually identify him.

Jason