Grafogel Franz

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I'm interested in this Ju 52 loss. I have for this day that Ju 52/3m g8e W.Nr. 501325 of 9./TG 4, which was downed by Allied escort fighters at Toplet (called Toplitz by the Germans), some 9 km of Orsova in the Banat region of Romania. 16 men aboard were reportedly killed.

Aboard were according to JG 54 loss list by Gunter Rosipal three men of IV./JG 54, Uffz. Johann Elbinger of 11./JG 54, Uffz Alfred Grimm and Fw Hartmut Wilkens of 12./JG 54. Gravogel will be another that was not known of Rosipal.

At this time IV./JG 54 was in Lemberg, Poland, and probably preparing to move to Romania where it arrived some days later, so that may explain the presence of JG 54 men aboard a Ju 52 in the area.

I would like to have the full list of crew and passengers of this JU 52 if someone had it.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

PS: by the way the Toplitz in the German loss report is very probably the Romanian village of Toplet, that is north of Orsova, not west. But west of both are mountains and it is possible the crash place is there, technically in Toplet territory but west of the village itself.