IIII./JG26 Officers signatures Christmas 1939

[Don Caldwell]

Hi Huib --

The signature 12th from top, left side appears to be "Esser, Hptm. Stabskompanie". This matches the name and title in Priller's book.

Best regards,

Don

[Kapper]

Don/VtwinVince

In response to the query about Lt. Daig, I have no direct evidence that Ltn. Erwin Daig of 5./JG27 is the same Ltn. Daig who’s signature appears amongst the Christmas 1939 III./JG26 signatures.
However, aside from the three original Staffelkapitan of II./JG27 (Oblt. Herman Hollweg, Oblt. Hans-Christian Schafer and Oblt Werner Seffert) who in Prein’s II./JG27 history all came from JG26, there is also the following pilots of II/JG27 that have the same last names that are amongst the signatures

Ltn. Hermann Kugler 4./JG27 WIA 9 June 1940
Oblt Karl Prieser Stab II./JG27 injured 29 July 1940

Combined with Ltn. Daig this suggests to me that the formation of II./JG27 may have a close connection to JG26 with possibly several pilots coming from JG26 from which the unit was built around. Therefore there is a good chance that they are the same Ltn. Daig, but as I said earlier, I have no direct proof to confirm this.


Regards

Craig...

[Rob Romero]

Don, do you know Esser's first name???

Thanks

[Peglar]

Got a few rare Fotos of JG 26 - here is one from Christmas 1939 1./JG 26

Greetings Peglar

[Don Caldwell]

Rob --

All I have on Esser is the list of Stabskompanie COs in Priller, which does not give first names.

Craig --

Your post sent me back to Prien's II./JG 27 history. He states that JG 27's own Traditionsgeschichte calls JG 26 the "Mutterveband" of II./JG 27. Obviously a number of JG 26 pilots (and probably some ground staff) transferred to II./JG 27 at the end of 1939, explaining the presence of some of the names on the Christmas card. It's odd (but not surprising, I guess) that nothing I have from the JG 26 side (mainly Schöpfel's early Geschichte from the BA-MA and Priller's book) mentions this exodus at all.


Horrido!

Don

[Peglar]

Priller 40. Victory and a Gift from the 1./26 to him.

Greetings peglar