Do 217 K-1 WNr 4412 unit and pilot identification

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Gents, thanks a lot for your input! A pity it wasn't KG6 i.e. people who possibly transferred from that unit to I./KG66, as I was hoping initially...(I'm still a bit light on the earlier period of I./KG66. As hardly anybody survived from that era to make it to the postwar Treffen (reunions), any pictures or names would have been welcome...)

With hindsight, a blessing in disguise that I didn't win this auction, then

Regards,

Marcel

[bill norman]

The aircraft is Do217K-1 UB+BA wnr 4412 Stab./KG2. I believe Bradel (Kdre II/KG2) is centre on p3. The aircraft was shot down off Spurn Head by Beau. from 604 Sqdn, Scorton on night of 25-26 July 1943 when the crew was Uffz Max Reuthe FF; Uffz Siegfried Ludwig BO; UFFz Heinrich Böning BF; Obgfr. Willi Schürleien BS. Pic must have been taken some time before 4-5 May 1943, because Bradel was killed in an air crash that night. Bill Norman ((www.billnorman.co.uk)

[bill norman]

I think that the last photograph shows Oblt. Hain - don't have his first name.

Bill Norman
(www.billnorman.co.uk)

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Thanks Bill! So, it was indeed the same timeframe.

Marcel

[Chris Goss]

According to Balke, no such person with KG 2 had DKiG but there was an Oblt Albert Hein from 5/KG 2 but he was a Beobachter-typically we cannot see if he is that or something else!

[bill norman]

Chris,
I was given 'Hain' s name some years ago by Albert Schliebner, who served as ground crew with KG2. Hain or Hein, at least it's close enough to suggest we are talking about the same person - narrows it down a bit for Marcel, at least. Albert went on to say that Hain/Hein ' war Spezi für Schiffe' (Ship attack specialist?) but didn't identify that AH was a pilot.
Anyone know who bought the pics?

[Chris Goss]

Could be. He was also the Ia but lost on a standard bombing mission on 18 Apr 44 as opposed to anti-shipping (which was something I thought that KG 2 left to other units after 1940?). Odd I cannot seem to find his name on Larry & Doug's list-Hain, Hein or Heine?

[Brian Bines]

Accoding to ADI(K) report 180/1944 B Oblt.Albert Hein b.13-04-1916 'Had been in KG2 for some time. He had fought in the Spanish war and wore the Spanish Cross and the Deutches Kreuz'. ADI(K) 192/1944 indicates Hein was anxious to earn the RK having completed 290 operations, it also shows his aircraft U5+KN carried a light bomb load of 10 x BC50 and 4 x LC 50 white as it was acting as a backer up to the target markers (18/19-04-1944 Ju188 U5+KN shot down near Dymchurch Kent Oblt. Hein and pilot killed 3 pows),

Brian Bines

[bill norman]

Perhaps he hasn't yet made it to the L + D list - but he is on Balke's list (Der Luftkrieg in Europa. Teil2 p486 18/19.04.1944). Re. ship attacks, Balke (Teil2 11.01-18.011942 page 76) suggests that KG2 was -at least occasionally - involved in anti-ship ops in Jan. 1942.

[Chris Goss]

Sounds like a match then!