Gen.Mjr.Wolf Von Stutterheim KG77

[Greg S.]

There are two Polish sources of this combat wrote in England in 1940. Muemler wrote he destroyed Do 17 with Nowakiewicz and damaged another one alone while Nowakiewicz wrote he destroyed Do 17 alone.

I think nobody knows who really shot down Do 17 from KG 77. All pilots from GC II/7 who made the combat with group of Do 17s in this sortie should - in my opinion - have credit of destroyeing this aircraft. Overclaiming is normal during air combat. It's rather impossible to say who really shot down this aircraft today. All fireing but who hit?

The fact is the only one two-engine aircraft was shot down in this area at those time - it was von Stutterheim's Dornier. I'm sure this one was attacked by Nowakiewicz - he wrote in his raport he killed airman under parachute (he must be Fw. H. Herrig) and another one on the ground with collaboration of French pillots (he was probably von Stutterheim).

I think pilots of GC II/7 could shot up a Do 17 from KG 3 which bally landed at Trier-Euren too. But it really hard to say is it true.

[Peter Cornwell]

Thank you Greg for generating some light on the subject rather than heat.

As you know, I already have your book The Lost Hopes and, indeed, have recommended it to others on this website though I confess that I have failed to take full account of its content on occasion. Despite the retrospective nature of the evidence, from all that has been said it now seems that Nowakiewicz could be added to those GCII/7 pilots involved with the Do17s of KG77 on June 15, 1940.

One small point, you are wrong to say that von Stutterheim's Dornier was the only one to fall in the area at the time, for Fw Schweiger's aircraft also came down '30 km NW of Neufchateau' during this action. However, it was clearly not that attacked by Mumler & Co. as its crew all remained on board.

[Greg S.]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornwell

As you know, I already have your book The Lost Hopes and, indeed, have recommended it to others on this website though I confess that I have failed to take full account of its content on occasion. Despite the retrospective nature of the evidence, from all that has been said it now seems that Nowakiewicz could be added to those GCII/7 pilots involved with the Do17s of KG77 on June 15, 1940.

One small point, you are wrong to say that von Stutterheim's Dornier was the only one to fall in the area at the time, for Fw Schweiger's aircraft also came down '30 km NW of Neufchateau' during this action. However, it was clearly not that attacked by Mumler & Co. as its crew all remained on board.

Peter, nice to heard your words about "The Lost Hopes" but the book was published 8 years ago and I know it needs a lot of corrects. Therefore I'm preparing a new version of this book which will more than 2 times longer but I'm afraid it will publish in Polish only.

Polish documents usually were wrote after coming to England and most of them were memories based on Carnet Idividuel of the pilot. Therefore historian who based on this documents have to be very carefull. In fact "The Lost Hopes" was a sample of showing Polish point of view of Polish effort in French Campaign. Therefore there were not too much comperings with French and German sources.

You are right about losses of KG 77 near Neufchateau. My last post I wrote at work and I used my memory only. I'm at home now and I can check documents so I can say: my memory isn't so good as I was sure before

Regards,

Greg

[steve sheridan]

Interesting to see how my post has developed!

Can anybody list the details surrounding Schwaiger's loss this day, apparentley came down 30km N.W Neufchateau.
Crew names and functions particularly welcome, to update my records for this day.
Id also welcome similar information as to the loss of Oblt Reuter's a/c the day before, from the same unit. Reuter was a veteran of the Polish campaign.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Peter Cornwell]

Here is what I have (at present):

5./KG77 Dornier Do17Z. Engaged by nine Moranes of GC II/2 between Bayon and Lunéville during sortie to attack columns between Épinal and Thaon-les-Vosges, and belly-landed 30 km north-west of Neufchâteau 3.15 p.m. FF Fw Josef Schweiger and BO Gefr Leonhardt Hopf both captured wounded, BM Fw Karl Zimmer and BF Uffz Jakob Anschau both captured unhurt – all later released. Aircraft 100% write-off.
On vacating the aircraft this crew was fired upon by French troops and two of them wounded, they were all roughly treated after capture.

Stab KG77 Dornier Do17Z. Shot down by Capt Huvet, Lt Durod, Adj Lachaux, and Sgt Quéguiner of GC II/5 during reconnaissance sortie south of Nancy and also hit by AA fire over Bricon. Crashed and exploded in forest near Braux-le-Châtel, west of Chaumont, 8.00 a.m. BO Oberlt Herbert Reuter, FF Fw Karl Dreier, and BM Uffz Anton Tix all killed, BF Fw Hugo Golombek believed baled out and captured unhurt – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off.

Steve, you will find all this information and much more besides in my book The Battle of France Then & Now published by After The Battle in 2008.

[steve sheridan]

Peter many thanks for your information on KG77, and excerpts from your book The Battle of France Then & Now .

After a great deal of trouble, ive managed to order a copy today so i will be looking forward seeing your work in full.
Many thanks.

Best regs,
Steve.