Ju 52 lost 6th April 1945

[Brian Bines]

While browsing the AviationSafetyNetwork I came across the loss of this Ju 52 shown as carrying mail and probably falling to enemy action at night . The location given is Wrexen, Paderborn with two killed and two surviving are the crew/aircraft details of this loss known please,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Brian Bines]

Have now come across a German report concerning the loss of another Ju 52 in the same area on 10/11th. April . The pilot Ltn. Willi Tacken was taken prisoner by US forces , these missions were to fly supplies into the Ruhr Pocket from Berlin-Werder A/F (II/TG 3 ?) . It was felt losses were down to US P-61s .

Unit corrected to II/TG3 originally wrongly put II/TG 30

[RT]

Hello Brian,
Regarding the 6.th April, there are at least 3 Ju52 losses, unit II.TG2, no other data, only 3 missing people names , Kummer RKT, Merz nd Franz , but this unit was activ over Breslau ! ..TGr.30 don't hv any Ju52, a Ju252 yes, but lost on 4.April


Rémi

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Remi I made a mistake with the unit I should have put II/TG 3 which was based at Werder Feb.-April 1945 ,originally I put II/TG 30 ,

All The Best
Brian Bines

[Karsten]

I have the following
the Ju 52 came down near Niederwaroldern (34447)

Tacken Willi Ltn. POW
Rietschle Helmut Uffz. POW/ wounded
Zillmann Helmut Uffz. 28.08.1919 KIA
Töpfer Helmut Fw. xx KIA

Rüdiger

[Karsten]

Gentelemen

6./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Kummer
8T + CP

6./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Franz
8T + OP

7./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Merz
8T + IR

Rüdiger

[Brian Bines]

Remi and Karten thanks for the information . I tried the VDK site and found an Ofw. Alfred Josef Kummer KIA Breslau on the 06.04.1945 but nothing for Franz or Merz ,

Best Wishes
Brian Bines

[Komet163]

Kummer, Alfred (Flight Sergeant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 11./Transportgeschwader 2
Awarded on:
November 18th, 1944
Awarded in recognition of his record as a transport pilot on all fronts. By the time of his reception of the Knight’s Cross he had completed a total of 585 front flights.
Flew a total of over 600 front flights.

Does anyone know of a photo of him ?

Very few transport aircrew were awarded the Knights Cross. Not a "glamorous" service and overlooked.

I was looking in the book Hitler's Final Fortress-Breslau 1945 for any reference to the flight. All I could find was " The last wounded were flown out of Breslau on April 7, the final flight into the fortress of an "Aunt Ju" occurred the following night.

In Aircraft&Legend Junkers JU52 by Heinz Nowarra

" The greatest supply operation by transport aircraft during the last months of the war both in terms of scope and losses, was the supply of Breslau, which was encircled Feb15. No figures are available on the activity of transport planes during the supply of Breslau ,but it is known that 165 transport aircraft, mainly JU52s and their crews were lost,During the night of 6/7April the last three JU52s landed in the besieged city and took with them on their return flight 52 wounded and 2 aircrew.

Although they could no longer land, on May 1 seven JU52s once again dropped supplies above the city. Two Fiesler Fi Storch landed and collected transport glider crews. On May 6 Breslau capitulated.

Bill

[HGabor]

Originally Posted by Karsten

Gentelemen

6./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Kummer
8T + CP

6./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Franz
8T + OP

7./ TG 2 Ju 52/ 3m Merz
8T + IR

Rüdiger

Are the WNr.s known for these Ju 52 losses?
Gabor

[John Manrho]

I do not believe the WNr's are known...