Unknow german pilot kia 01.01.1945 "Bodenplatte"

[John Manrho]

Dirk,

As promised I would follow up on the initial question. I assume you are talking about the crash site at Gut Rochenhaus? The crash site and circumstances of this crash were also investigated by the late Franz Zimmermann (Aachen) in the early nineties. I corresponded extensively with Franz on some of these sites. 430th AAAA Bn claimed many more and the coordinates are known. The one that you mention was indeed claimed at 09.59 hrs and was according to the reports part of a group of 3. The 430th claimed it as an "Me 109" but indeed also Franz Zimmermann found D-9 parts at the site. Unfortunately we do not know what happened with the body of the pilot. Probably buried by US Forces? We simply do not know. If the US Burial Units took care of it it could have been buried at for instance Margaten and or Henri-Chapelle and then it ended in Lommel or Ysselsteyn. We simply could not find an answer. I have reviewed ALL US Report of Burials for Germans at Margraten, Henri-Chapelle, Fosse, etc. and could not find a 100% link to Stollberg-Breinig.

Be aware that of Bodenplatte still 55 pilots have no known grave an are therefore MIA. I have some 25 grave sites of unknown 1.1.45 pilots at mainly Lommel and Ysselsteyn and still work on trying to solve a few MIA cases. I could solve 8 MIA from 1.1.45 until now.

Regarding the site at Breinig. If indeed it is certain (100%) that it was an Fw 190D-9 and that the pilot was killed, I believe it should be one of these four;

Ogfr. Albert Büttner, 3./JG 2
Gefr. Werner Piesker, 4./JG 2
Fj.Uffz. Wilhelm Eggert, 4./JG 2
Uffz. Adolf Redlich, 12./JG 2

As you see I have one more candidate. There is no way to tell who it might have been. Please note that the 430th claimed also a Fw 190 north of Zweifall with pilot killed. Are we sure there is no mix up?

And last but not least. We know a D-9 crashed at Aldenhoven where plane and pilot were recovered in 1974. He is also still unknown and he must also have been one of these four.....

If you have any questions drop me a PM and we can continue to discuss per email.

Regards,

John Manrho