Alfons Kuttenberger of Jg 52 or JG 51? and more

[Tom Semenza]

Bogdan,

I have also been confused by this individual(s). According to Barbas in his history of I./JG 52 Alfons Kuttenberger is listed as having 23 victories before being KIA on 16.09.43. As you point out for his first three claims during August 1941 with 7./JG 52 he is listed as a Leutnant. The only claims listed by Barbas are numbered 21., 22. & 23., one on 13.09.43 and two on 14.09.43. He was with 1./JG 52 and shown with the rank of Flieger. So either this is an error or he was demoted for some serious breach of conduct. Examples of this latter were not unknown. The most well known being that of Wolfgang Kosse who was demoted from Hauptmann to Flieger on 15.06.43.

Regards,
Tom