German night fighter top aces by NJG

[Johannes]

Hi Michael

I found the Toliver/Constable books full of contradictions, errors and speculation. I wouldn't believe too much of it. Basically they have copied other less than perfect works. Basically it just doesn't add-up. With Obermaier he is vague with some pilots, others he has used rudders and abschüße lists to arrive at totals, and generally it does add-up. I think the Toliver/Constable carried any errors rather than mistakes on. My old friend and author John Foreman always says "once printed it's cast in stone" and in my experience that's just about right.

Do try to acquire Obermaier's second edition, as I said before his work/lives hobby did evolve greatly. Jochen Prien's work makes sense, and actually has surprisingly few little errors. I would say the actual claims listed are usually 99.5% correct.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[knusel]

Hello Johannes,

you mentioned what you called ghost pilots. I think one of the grand experts, e.g. you, should write a book on these guys who are wrongly associated with too high scores or who never existed. If such a book elucidated the reasons why, it would become a best-seller !

I wish you a splendid Wednesday,

Michael

[Johannes]

Hi Michael

I believe the expression "Ghost pilot" means never existed. Variations on what a pilot is believed to have got and actual are for many reason i.e points system, pilots obscurity/death, whether or not unconfirmed are included in the total, and just exaggeration..........and this is usually not by the pilot himself.
Perhaps also in rare case properganda!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[knusel]

..one possible origin of ghost pilots also might be spelling errors.
e.g. the Me 410 Trenke/Treicke issue.

Michael

[knusel]

Update:
NJG1 Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer
NJG2 Heinz Rökker
NJG3 Paul Zorner
NJG4 Wilhelm Herget
NJG5 Werner Hoffmann
NJG6 Martin Becker
NJG11 Kurt Welter (dubious score)
NJG100 Gustav Francsi
NJG101 Johann Krause
NJG102 Dieter Kehrberg
NJG200 Wolfgang Jank & Josef Kociok

[knusel]

This interesting article includes a table about the rare Do 17 nightfighter kills of NJG1 and NJG2:
https://www.key.aero/article/screech-owls-over-britain

See also
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=45031