KG2 1942

[bill norman]

Chris, I don't know if there was an attack on Finningley on that day - but the airfield is close to Doncaster. I do know that the station raid occured at 1.08pm - and thus well before the Count took off from Deelen, which puts him out of the frame.

[Mike H]

Hi ,
can anyone help with information regarding Fw.Gustav Delp of 5/KG2. Apparently the loss lists in Ulf Balkes KG2 history shows that Delp baled out injured of a Do217 of 5/KG2 following a raid on Southampton on 21/22-6-42 also noting he held the DKiG.

He and Lt Wolgang Wenning of II./KG51 were killed on intruder operations 27/4/44 when in collision with an Airspeed Oxford over Rugby.


I would appreciate any info,

Regards,
Mike

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid theat you will be lucky to get more info on him. Born Darmstadt 20 Sep 20, he was awarded the Pokal 23 Aug 43 and the DKiG 20 Mar 44. His 'trade' was bordfunker, rank both times Fw and in 16/KG 2. Wenning was the Gr TO for II/KG 51 & I cannot say for sure if Delp was his regular Bf but Wenning had kills 12 Apr 44 (B-17 of 96 BG), 19 Apr 44 (Lancaster of 625 Sqn), 22 Apr 44 (B-24), 25 Apr (Halifax of 76 Sqn) & then the Oxford he collided with. Delp had a P-47 near Cambridge on 21 Apr but this was a Master of 7(P) AFU

[Mike H]

Thanks for the info Chris. I have sent what I know about the loss of Halifax LK789 (25/04/44) to the website below (uncle was mid-upper). I believe Fw Delps claim for the Master of 7(P) AFU (21/4/44) to be P/O Banister,see link.

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety...4/Dibbins.html

http://www.westdowns.com/jimmyban.htm


I am still trying to find a photo of Lt Wenning or Fw Delp, but proving
almost impossible.


Mike

[Chris Goss]

I have a number of photos of aircrew from II/KG 51 but none showing Wenning or Delp

[Mike H]

thanks for looking Chris. Do you have any photos of the Me410 with KG51 markings?


Mike.

[Chris Goss]

V/KG 2 only I'm afraid but I have one fuselage from a KG 51 ac found abandoned in France in 1944-5

[Bombphoon]

Originally Posted by bill norman

Does anyone have details of the operational flights undertaken by any/all of the following on 3 August 1942: Oblt. Rudolf Graf Thun-Hohenstein, 7./KG2; Lt Ernst Andres, 5./KG2; Oblt Hans Wanka, 9./KG2; Oblt Hans Wolff, 6./KG2; Fw Franz Elias, 7./KG2 ?
Bill Norman
(www.billnorman.co.uk)

Hi Bill
Balke records U5+KT as receiving flak damage over 'Leicester'.
However, no AA unit diaries in the area record any engagements for that day.
However, RAF Cottesmore was strafed by a Do217E at 18.10hrs on that day, the a/c coming out of low cloud and attacking from 500ft. 4 bombs were dropped and hangars machine-gunned but no casualties or damage. The station's AA gun crews were sharp that day and 4 AALMG crews claimed hits on the bomber, it apparently leaving sharpish, trailing black smoke from one engine, as witnessed by all AA crews and station personnel.
Putting 2+2 together, I think this was Wanka's/Lesch's a/c and the 'Leicester' location mentioned in Balke was a generalised nearest town.
PS: Eagerly looking forward to your new Blitz diary book.

[BC]

You missed out Fw Delp's claim for a "Halifax" shot down on 22 April 1944. This was a 389BG B-24 which crashed at Cantley, Norfolk. Photographic proof of Delp's claim exists in the form of a picture showing a USAAF officer pointing at a 13mm shell strike in the front of an engine cowling on the wreckage of this B-24.

BC