1940 victories of Lt. Rolf Hermichen

[Tom Semenza]

Larry,

As I think you know, there was some speculation on this forum last month that Hermichen's 4th victory was a Swiss Bf 109 on 4 June. As for claims 5 through 8; Obermeier in Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe says that he claimed 3 RAF fighters in August, the first of these, according to Vasco & Cornwell in ´Zerstörer: The Messerschmitt Bf 110 and its Units in 1940, was a Hurricane on 12 August. His 8th claim was, again according to Obermeier, a Beaufort off the Norwegian coast on 9.02.41.

Regards,

Tom

[Jerry Crandall]

Hi Larry;
Hope you are doing okay. Haven't talked with you for a long time.
Rolf is now 90, and his health is okay. I just talked with him a few days ago. Here are his victory claims for 1940:
6./ZG 1: 1. 10 May 1940 Fairey Battle (Confirmed)
2. 15 May 1940 Morane (Unconfirmed)
3. 27 May 1940 Spitfire (Confirmed)
4. 30 May 1940 Potez 63 (Unconfirmed)
9./ZG 76: 5. 12 August 1940 Hurricane (Unconfirmed)
6. 15 August 1940 Spitfire (Unconfirmed)
7. 25 August 1940 Hurricane (Unconfirmed)
8. 9 February 1941 Beaufort (Confirmed)

Source: Rolf Hermichen and Hans Ring

Hope this helps,
Jerry