Analysing survival rates among Luftwaffe air crew in 'Steinbock' and other operations

[Simon Trew]

On the subject of experience among Steinbock officers:

Hauptmann Anton Öben was the most senior Steinbock prisoner. Born on 10 February 1914, he was Staffelkapitan of 6./KG 6 when shot down late on 24 March 1944. His plane at that time was a Ju 88, 3E+AP. He was the only survivor.

I don't seem to be able to find him at https://ww2.dk/Lw%20Offz%20-%20L-R%20Apr%202022.pdf and a search of this forum under his name doesn't appear to return any hits. So hopefully some of this is new information, for anybody who might be interested.

According to interrogation report ADI(K) 140, 25 March 1944 (TNA AIR 40/2416), Öben was very uncooperative when interrogated. Luckily, he was garrulous when talking with fellow prisoners and SRA transcripts from extracts of some his conversations in AIR 40/3094 are informative on many matters.

SRA 5162 (information of 14 April 1944) - if he is to believed - provide information about his career:

He decided to become a pilot in 1938, but didn't actually become one until early 1940.
He says he was on a Geschwader staff in 1940. He says he flew as an observer throughout the Polish campaign and part of the 'French campaign'.

When asked by the U-boat officer to whom he was talking whether he had flown a "colossal number of warflights", his reply was as follows:

"No, I was temporarily taken off operations to become a tactical instructor, owing to the experience I had gained in the sorties. In all, I had taken part in fifty sorties, no more. I have flown all different types."

Interesting that he was a Staffelkapitän despite not a vast amount of operational experience. His (dead) observer held the silver war flights badge and his (dead) wireless operator held the gold war flights badge. Öben and these two men all held the EK 1.