Daytime Zerstörer Aces

[knusel]

Good evening,

unfortunately, info about Rudi Dassow in scarce in Robert Forsyth's OSPREY volume "Me 210/410 Zerstörer Units". On p44 the Spitfire claim on 9Apr43 is described as well as a probable B-24 on 1Mar43 that is verified by loss records and for which he received an Italian decoration. Therefore, it might have been confirmed and credited to his total later.

Cheers,

Michael

[Johannes]

Hi Peter

The earlier typed-out mikrofilms per staffel none survive for ZG 1, but the daily claims sheets East and West would appear to have started mid-1942 for ZG 1 none are logged for Dassow at all for ZG 1, perhaps they were claims that were unconfirmed.
I do know the numbers for II./ZG 1 prior to the Russian campaign, but numbers only, no names, dates or anything.

I am no expert on what type of aircraft a pilot would fly, so will not comment.

Just out of interest what aircraft were 5./SKG 210 flying during 1941, because Herbert Kutscha makes a whole load of claims with this unit at this time, I was wondering naively if he could have been flying the Me210?, though it does look a little early.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Peter Kassak]

"Just out of interest what aircraft were 5./SKG 210 flying during 1941, because Herbert Kutscha makes a whole load of claims with this unit at this time, I was wondering naively if he could have been flying the Me210?, though it does look a little early."

II./SKG 210 had only Bf 110s in use as far as I know. So he must have claimed flying Bf 110...

Kutcha receiver Ritterkreuz after 21st victory. His first two were at 5./JG 77, 3 at ZG 1, the 3 at ZG 76, and up to 21 (23?) with SKG 210/ZG1. However his first documented claim at JG3 I wa able to find has note as his 25th personal, so he might have added couple more while at Bf 110.
The last photo of his Bf 110 tail, I know, wears 22 victory bars...

Br

Peter

[John Manrho]

I visited Herbert Kutscha many years ago, but unfortunately he had no documents at all.

[Peter Kassak]

On 4.9.1943, while already at JG3, there was written a report about Kutscha by his CO. It states: "...He claimed as Zerstorer pilot 22 victories within 250 missions, and 7 victories on 28 missions as dingle-engine fighter pilot (of these are three fourengine bombers)."
So we may assume he had 22 victories as Zerstorer as total (minus?including?plus those 2 at 5./JG 77 at the beginning of his career).

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

There is a type of mikrofilm that is for pilots claims only, but is only starting half way through the "K's" and ends half way through the "L's". It gives a date and time only, and usually just has what is on the other mikrofilms anyway. In this instance it provides claims for 14.12.1939 1550 hrs and 31.01.1944 1520 hrs which were not as a ZG pilot, however his bordfunker Martin Heinze's flugbuch has survived for the 5./SKG 210 claims, and three are recorded on the mikrofilms anyway, I estimate these to be claims 8-16, these are the flugbuch only claims:-

15th July 1941 Boston bei flugplatz Schatalowka 1305-1445 hrs nr.9
7th October 1941 R-5 N-E Vyazma 1125-1315 hrs nr.12
22nd October 1941 Po 63 SW Moscow X 2 1035-1210 hrs nr.13-14
9th December 1941 (type unknown) south of Livny 1000-1120 hrs nr.15
19th December 1941 (type unknown) NW Yelets 1030-1150 hrs nr.16.

I would calculate he had twenty-one claims as a ZG pilot assuming those above were confirmed, and thirty-nine confirmed overall.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Johannes]

Guys

Regarding Heller the total is sixteen plus another by his bordfunker Heinz Bowers all from 26.08.1940-09.10.1943. All on the mikrofilms. I would regard sixteen as fact.

With Kiel only his last appears on the mikrofilms(17.04.1943)

With Viedebantt only list last two(from 1942) appear on the mikrofilms.

With Albrecht eighteen on the mikrofilms, probably some earlier as well.

With Kaldrack only his last three on the mikrofilms.

With Mayer, Spies and Thierfelder none on the mikrofilms.

With Jabs twenty as ZG(seventeen early + two for bordfunker Erich Weißflog, and his last three during 1945)

So twenty + as a ZG pilot is very rare indeed.

What we really need are some abschüßetafel for these units.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[knusel]

Good evening Johannes & Co,

I wish you a good New Year's Eve and a fine start into a pleasant new year 2026 !

Cheers,

Michael