information concerning loss of Uffz. Franz Schober - killed 21.02.1942

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Can anyone provide information on the loss of Uffz. Franz Schober who was a beobachter in a bomber crew?

He was killed on the 21st Frebruary 1942 in the East on his 60 mission. He was an experienced flier with the EK I and Silver Flight Battle badge. He was just 24.

Many thanks

Rick

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Nothing on this guy on fold3 or Volksbund, but I found the corresponding loss in the Luftwaffe loss list (RL 2/III/1180, page 386, 37th entry on 26 February 1942).

According to the Luftwaffe loss list, on 21 February 1942, the He 111 H-6 Wnr 4320 1G+CK of 2./KG 27 was 100% destroyed in a crash near Blisnespi, probably after an engine fire. The five crew were posted missing. This was modified on 14 March 1942 and all were declared dead.

Crew list:
Fw Gerhard Ledig (pilot)
Uffz Franz Schober (observer)
Stfw Karl Gepke (radio)
Uffz Alfred Dosch (flying engineer)
Uffz Heinz Kühn (air gunner)

But a Russian site (https://reibert.info/threads/identif...i.28059/page-8) says that this bomber was shot down by AA fire in Lozovaya district. Lozovaya was in important rail node south of Kharkov, retaken by the Soviet on 26 January 1942. According to this source, Schober was killed while the four other crew were captured.

As Schober, all four men of the above crew can't be found on Volksbund or fold3. So I have no idea when they died.

I have not been able to find a place called Blisnespi, but in another Russian site (https://www.airwar.ru/history/av2ww/...-28-02-42.html) the above loss, again listed as due to AA fire, has for location Bliznetsy (in Izium area). A google search for this name brings me to Blyznyuky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyzniuky), about 20 km E Lozovaya. Both Bliznetsy and Blyznyuky translate as "the twins" in English, so I guess it is the right place, and can be consistent with the Soviet claim in Lozovaya district. The problem is that the detailed history of the village on the Ukrainian wikipedia (https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91...B8%D1%89%D0%B5)) says that Blyznyuky remained in German hands between 12 October 1941 and January 1943, and also between February 1943 and 16 September 1943.

So if a plane crashed there it will be more logical that the Germans will be able to find the crew bodies and report them dead on 14 March 1942 rather than the Soviets captured four crew.