Oblt. Heinz Langer MIA 16-2-1945

[Brian Bines]

Are any details known on the loss of Oblt. Heinz Langer ? The Luft GQM report ( Lw.1 Italian) shows Seenotst.20 Crash following aircombat (enemy observed) Fw 190 A8 680124 100% Oblt. Heinz Langer StKap. missing. Was he the same Oblt.Langer that has been mentioned in a couple of threads as gaining victories in a Me 410 of SeenotGp.80 over the N.Sea in 1944,

Thanks

Brian Bines

[Nick Beale]

All was revealed as recently as 1996, in "Air War Italy, 1944–45" by the illustrious trio of Beale, D'Amico & Valentini. Langer was shot down into the sea, 12 km south of Grado by 1/Lt. Walter K. Selenger of the 318th FS.

P.S. Didn't know about Langer's previous service (we didn't have online victory lists in those days), so thanks for that.

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Nick, I shopuld have checked my copy of your team's book before I posted, just now got to see if confirmation can be obtained as to whether its the same airman,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

... now got to see if confirmation can be obtained as to whether its the same airman,

Regards

Brian Bines

He gets his last victory with SNGr. 80 on 8 October 1944, Seenotstaffel 20 turns up in Luftwaffe Italien's order of battle on the 20th. Seems likely it's the same man.

"My" Langer's EKM was 73 183/97, he was born in Welzow and his home address was in Dresden.

You could try Volkmar Kühn's »Der Seenotdienst der Luftwaffe 1939–45« (published 1978) which they have in the IWM library. He refers to Langer commanding Seenotstaffel 20 as of autumn 1944 (when the service was reorganised) but I didn't see whether Kühn said about his earlier career.

[Brian Bines]

Thanks again Nick I know someone who has the Seenot. book so I will get this checked out,

Cheers

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

I have just 2 NVMs for their time operating from Jever. Ofw Heinrich Schrattenberger & Ofw Kurt Saprautski in Me 410 420506 on 3 Nov 44 and Fw Kurt Schneider (F) in 420444 on 5 Nov 44 in accidents returning from a mission. Of interest, the unit is stated as being Teilstaffel Land/Seenotgruppe 80. I have just the one EKM which is Saprautzki's 73184/52. Strange that the NVMs are signed by the Gr Kdr (a Hptm whose name I cannot make out) 30 Jan and 9 Feb 45

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Of interest, the unit is stated as being Teilstaffel Land/Seenotgruppe 80.

Almost the same is true of the unit in Italy's full name, Seenotteilstaffel 20 (Land).

[Brian Bines]

Chris, thanks for this additional info. did any of the three airmen survive these crashes ?

[Chris Goss]

Saprautski was the only one killed