Dr Ernst Wagner or W. Wagner 2./JG54

[keith A]

According to "The Battle of France: Then and now" Uffz W. Wagner of 2./JG54 was shot down, captured and had his foot amputated on 19 January 1940. Somewhat unfortunate for this fellow given that the same French unit GCII/7 damaged his aircraft on 21 December 1939, and claimed a victory. Presumably he would have been repatriated after the fall of France.

However the Kracker Luftwaffe archive has this entry for Ltn Dr Ernst Wagner 2./JG54. On 19 January, 1940, he was shot down by a French Morane 406, and bailed successfully west of the Upper Rhine. Was Ernst Wagner also shot down by GCII/7 on 19 January?

GCII/7 claimed two Bf109s on this date, but only one is confirmed. The other Bf109 made it home, although damaged and the unidentified pilot was unhurt.

Two Wagners in aerial combat on the same date?

best regards

Keith

[Stig Jarlevik]

Keith

As far as Philippe Saintes states in his JG 54 book (Lela Presse) his name was
Wolfgang Wagner and not Erich (or Ernst as per your heading)

No other Wagner lost that day, at least not from JG 54

Cheers
Stig

[Rottler]

Hello Keith,

according to Jagdfliegerverbände Vol. 2:

21 Dec 1939 2./JG 54 Uffz Hans Wagner aerial combat Ms 406, area Freiburg, less than 10%, Bf 109 E

19 Jan 1940 2./JG 54 Lt Wolfgang Wagner POW, later released from captivity, aerial combat Ms 406, 10 km northeast of Mühlhausen, parachute jump, 100% Bf 109 E-1 WNr. 6037 red 5

Regards
Leo

[keith A]

Many thanks Stig and Leo. It looks like Hans (not Wolfgang) is definitely the victim of GCII/7 in December, and Wolfgang (not Ernst as Kracker and other sources have it) fell to them in January 1940. Probably because there were more than one Wagners in 2 Staffel JG54, although three seems unusual.

The Osprey book on JG54 and Fledgling Eagles has Uffz Ernst Wagner as the victim, the latter describing the pilot as an Nco but not mentioning his wounds, but confirming he was a French POW. However the detail that the Wagner shot down on 19 January 1940 never flew again (his foot was amputated) does not correspond to the Leutnant Dr Ernst Wagner who was shot down twice in the BoB and taken POW the second time.

My mix-up with Erich Wagner was not reading my source correctly....

best regards

Keith

[Stig Jarlevik]

Keith and Leo

Interesting!
Philippe Saintes states that on 21 Dec 1939 the pilot was also Wolfgang Wagner and not Hans.

I have no way of verifying if Prien et al or Saintes are correct.

Jochen is now and then on TOCH but he rarely answers anything which has to do with his books....

Saintes also list Lt Ernst Wagner twice during the BoB.

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Lt Ernst Wagner of 6./JG 54 was injured in an engine failure not combat on 11 Aug 40 and then shot down and taken prisoner with 5./JG 54 25 Oct 40. His EKM was 5./JG 54

[keith A]

Many thanks gents. I suppose the only way to identify the Wagners is to find out if Hans or Wolfgang flew again after 19 January 1940. That would confirm who was not shot down on 19 January 1940. None of the Wagners appear to have been successful in air combat during this period.