JG132 Ofw.Fritz Hillmann - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

fran · #1 11th November 2005, 13:16

I have a Ofw.Fritz Hillmann promotion document when in the JG132 'Richtoffen' during 1938 but I could not find any trace
of him in the WWII. Does anybody have records of this man?
Thank you
Fran

Gordon Raddock · #2 11th November 2005, 23:02

Obfw. Fritz Hillmann served in the Spanish Civil War with 2./J 88 gaining three victories during July 1937. At the outbreak of WW 2, he was serving with 3./JG 53. Hillmann claimed a RAF Blenheim shot down on 14 May 1940. He ran out of fuel on a mission on 15 May 1940 and was forced to bale out of his Bf 109 E-3. I have seen him variously credited with a total of seven or 10 victories.

Cheers
Gordon

Tom Semenza · #3 12th November 2005, 03:03

Gordon & Fran,

These two Hillmanns seem to be different individuals. According to Ries & Ring in "The Legion Condor" an Ofw. Hillmann (no first name given) claimed 3 victories in July 1937. However the Fritz Hillmann of 3./JG 53 was an Unteroffizier in May 1940; bit of a demotion!

Fran, what rank was Fritz Hillmann of JG 132 promoted from and to. If he was promoted to Oberfeldwebel in 1938 then perhaps we are dealing with three individuals.

Tom

fran · #4 14th November 2005, 08:14

Hello Tom and Gordon,
The promotion is from feldwebel to Oberfeldwebel and it is efective 1st July 1937. I agree he could be the Legion Condor pilot credited with 3 victories. In Ries/Ring’s book there are some accounts from Gunther Lützow’s diary when he and ‘oberfeldwebel Hillmann’ had to flee of Italians allies who mistakenly took them as enemies. This takes me to think that this NCO was the Lützow’s wingman. Interesting to say that both came from I./JG132.
In my searching of Hillmann records I also saw his claims in the Tony Wood’s Listing but the rank consigned is Uffz. so must be another pilot. Who was the 3rd Hillmann mentioned?
Regards
Francisco

Tom Semenza · #5 14th November 2005, 23:38

Francisco,

Since the promotion date is 1 July 37, then I would hazard to guess that this is the Hillmann who flew in 2.J/88 in Spain, which would mean that there is no "third man."

Tom

fran · #6 17th November 2005, 14:53

Hello Tom,
Now I have not doubt that this Hillmann was the one in Spain. A noteworthy thing are the dates in the document. Promoted 1 July 1937 and the date of issue of the document, 29 March 1938 !! 8 moths later !
He had to return from his tour of duty in Spain to get the document officially from his unit.

Any clue of the fate of his man in WWII?

Regards
Fran