Arnold Lignitz - KC holder in JG 51 / JG54

[mdejong]

Hello,

I am desperately looking for any pictures (planes, portraits) from pilot KC holder Arnold Lignitz who served in JG 20 / 51 / 54. I have some personal stuff (medals/docs) from this fighter pilot.

Anything would be very welcome. Thanks in advance for sharing.

Martin

[VtwinVince]

Hi Martin,

Please post some scans of your material, sounds very interesting.

[hihotte]

Dear Martin,

I also would like to see your "treasures" about Lignitz. As you know in this forum it is always a "give and take". In return I can offer a row of photos of Lignitz during his career
in JG 54 in BoB, Marita and Barbarossa and the combat report of his wingman Uffz Meisig
of his last mission over Leningrad. As VtwinVince already stated it could be the start of an interesting thread here.

Regards

Horst

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

for those who can read Russian, there is a link to Lignitz´s interrogation report written on the date he was captured:

http://rostislavddd.livejournal.com/21079.html

Hope this can help,

Ota

[mdejong]

Thank you....i will post tonight at home a few pictures so you can see how it looks like...
Any help on this subject is very appreciated.

Martin

[Evgeny Velichko]

Google translate. More to follow.

Liegnitz is the commander of the 3 group of 54 Fighter Squadron, the 1st Air Corps 1st Air Fleet. Shot down at 13.30 on September 30 over Nvaya Derevnya, district of Leningrad by our fighter. "Together with other planes Me-109 had the task to scout the area Shlissel'burg and Lake Ladoga. According to the task, without permission, I decided to return to the airfield through Leningrad, where during the flight was shot down by Soviet fighter. What task scout g.Shlisselburg I do not know, we were given the task to find out the number of ships on Lake Ladoga. We have completed the task. As to what the troops busy g.Shlisselburg we did not speak. The overall objective of the 54th Squadron - bomber escort and patrol over the battlefield. 3rd Group 54 squadron in the amount of 45 Me-109 is currently based in g.Siverskaya.

There is also the aircraft 1 group - all at the airport Siverskaya is up to 80 aircraft Me-109. Jets are located on a circle at the airport, with the interval between planes 80 - 100 meters, groups of two or three rows. Most aircraft are not masked. Some planes camouflaged with branches. Planes are close to the edge of the forest. The airfield is protected by antiaircraft artillery guns arranged in a circle.

Organization of 54 Squadron.
In squadron composed of three groups, group three companies. In each unit there is a 10 to 15 aircraft. Air Corps consists of six bomber squadrons, three destroyers and 2 - 3 reconnaissance detachments.

Based on what the airport 2 group does not know.

[hihotte]

Hi, Evgeny and Ota

I had the feeling that this subject could be an interesting thread, thank you both for your postings.
Here is the combat report of Uffz Reinhard Meisig, 8.JG54 incl english translation,
Cheers
Horst

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

below find the translation of the report (not ideal, but possibly still somewhat better than that made by Google):

"INTERROGATION REPORT¨

of the captured captain of the German air force LIGNITZ Arnold Richard, born in 1913, his father is an infantry lieutenant colonel of the “old” army.

LIGNITZ appears to be the commander of III. Group of JG 54 of the 1st Air Fleet. He was shot down by our fighter on 30 September at 13.30 in vicinity of NOVAJA DEREVNJA of the city of LENINGRAD. In pair with another Me-109 he had a task to carry out a reconnaissance sortie in the area of SLISSELBURG and LAKE LADOGA. Having completed the task, not having permission for that, I have decided to return to my base over LENINGRAD, during the over-flight of which I was shot down by a Soviet fighter. What was the purpose of reconnaissance of SLISSELBURG area is unknown to me, we have just received ab order to find out the quantity of vessels on the LAKE LADOGA. We accomplished this task. We were given no information as far as who (which army) keeps SLISSELBURG. The general task of the JG 54 is the escort of bombers and patrolling over the battlefield. The III. Gruppe of JG 54 in the strength of 45 ME-109 is based at SIVERSKAJA aerodrome at present. There are also the I. Gruppe machines based on this aerodrome - up to 80 ME-109 aircraft based at SIVERSKAJA. On the aerodrome, aircraft are spread in the circle, with some 80 – 100 m distance between them, in the groups and in 2 – 3 rows. The majority of aircraft is not hidden. Some aircraft are covered up by the branches. The aircraft are located close to the edge of the forest. The airfield is protected by an anti-aircraft artillery – its individual positions are located in a circle. Organisation of JG 54 – the Geschwader consists of 3 groups, each group consists of 3 Staffeln. There are 10 – 15 aircraft in each Staffel. The Aviation corps consists of 5 bomber Geschwader, 3 fighter Geschwader and 2 – 3 reconnaissance Staffeln.

To the question, where the II. Gruppe of his Geschwader is located, the prisoner of war replied that he does not know the answer. The supply of fuel is sufficient and it completely suffices the combat sorties. The fuel is delivered by fuel trucks and by transport aircraft. It is transported in fuel tanks of Ju-52s – every such an aircraft can transport 2.500 litres of fuel. For all the duration of war I have lost 8 aircraft, five of them in aerial combats, three in landing accidents. The two aircraft shot down over LENINGRAD today are not included in this total. Of the flying personnel of the Geschwader, there are up to 50 % of young airmen, whose combat experience is not very high. Some of the pilots have got some experience on the Eastern Front only.

The day´s schedule on the SIVERSKAJA aerodrome is as follows: the wake-up signal at 6 (?) o´clock, the breakfast between 6.00 and 7.00, the combat flights start at 7.00, and if there is a bad weather, the control and maintenance of the aircraft is carried out. Pilots can relax in the vicinity of their aircraft during their leisure time. With the advent of the darkness the combat flights come to stop. During the course of the day the crews conduct no more than 3 sorties. There are no night fighters in III. Gruppe of JG 54. No movement of combat troops to the north and south of SIVERSKAJA has been observed. Have seen only some individual vehicles that were moving to the north and south of SIVERSKAJA. There is no high army staff HQ in SIVERSKAJA.

While taking off and landing the aircraft make no special tactical maneuvering. 3 Air Fleet is deployed in Germany at present – it is being commanded by General Löhr. The 1st Air Fleet (Luftflotte 1) is located in Estonia and is being commanded by Generaloberst Keller.

Hauptmann Lignitz considers himself to be an experienced airman, by his own words he shot down 25 aircraft in aerial combat, 5 of which are not confirmed. Of these 20 aircraft 18 were British and French ones and 2 ours (i.e. Russian). Lignitz was awarded Iron Cross of the 2nd Class for his first aircraft shot down. He was awarded Iron Cross of the 1st Class for 5 aircraft shot down and Knight Cross (Ritterkreuz) for 16 enemy aircraft shot down. The latter was handed over to him personally by Reichsmarschall Goering.

Lignitz highly evaluates the quality of our fighter pilots and considers them to be brave soldiers. Lignitz appears to be an important person in the enemy´s air force and for this reason, it will not be bad if we announce that he was taken prisoner.

So far, Lignitz tries not to speak truth and is trying to “play dumb” while answering all our questions. It is necessary to continue to “work” on Lignitz.

The interrogation was carried out by
Kombrig (brigade commander) Evstigneev

30. 9. 41

8 copies printed"


Hope this helps a little,


Ota

[mdejong]

interesting to read to read that combat and interrigation report. Thanks! Lignitz had some bad luck. Im avery curious of the wing was shot of in the dogfight of due to structural failure.

here some pics of the grouping itself which I have acquired. It comes with the Soldbuch and all award documents with exception of the KC folder .


Thank you again for sharing the information.

martin

[VtwinVince]

Very nice material, I think I saw this in Hermann-Historica?