Graves of Zerstorer Experten

[Evgeny Velichko]

Last mission of Hptm. Karl-Heinz Stricker, Gr.Kdr. I./SKG 210.

Both engines hit on combat mission. Crashed into woods.

4 Kms. north of Akkulitschi railway station.

See lokation of Akulichi station on the attached map.

[Eagle0025]

Hi Joe,

The words "Ein Deutschen Soldat" on Albrecht's grave is a simple title saying that here lies "A German Soldier". Albrecht was shot down and KIA by P-38s (not P-51s) of the 474th FG on 25 Aug 44. He went down in Bf109G-14, werknummer 460593, "Schwarze 21". Albrecht was leading 30-plus Bf109Gs of III./JG76. They took off from their base at Athis on a freijagd towards the Normandy area. They were escorted by 12 Fw190A-8s of I./JG76 led by Lt. Georg Kiefner.

III./JG76 was heading west and 23 474th FG P-38Js were on a parallel opposite course headed for targets in the Laon area. The 109s dumped their tanks, the P-38s dumped their 500lb. bombs and they met in a head-on pass at around 11,000 feet directly over Cambronne-les-Clermont. The fight was joined a few minutes later by 32 Fw190A-8s of II./JG26 led by Hptm. Emil Lang. 11 474th P-38s went down with III./JG76 losing at least 21 aircraft, 5 shot up, and 2 crashlanding back at Athis.

I am presently trying to locate Albrecht's crash site with the help of several French researchers. We believe his site is 500m west of St. Claude near the small village of Arcy.

Cheers, Gary Koch
474th FG Historian

[Tom Semenza]

Just a slight correction to Gary's posting (a typo no doubt.) Georg Kiefner was the Staffelführer of 1./JG 26, not JG 76.

Tom

[John Manrho]

Furthermore on Gary's posting.....I actually believe there are TWO graves mentioned on the gravestone of Albrecht. This is not uncommon on German War Cemeteries to have two names on one stone. This actually means that one of the two is an unknown. "Ein Deutscher Soldat" does not reflect to Albrecht.

Cheers,

John

[Eagle0025]

Good catch, Tom! Yes it was a typo. I got hamfisted on the keyboard and typed in I./JG76 instead of the correct I./JG26. Does anyone know Georg Kiefner's status? Is he still around? Don Caldwell has corresponded with him but has not heard from him in a long time.I was hoping to contact him about his recollections of the 25 Aug 44 Black Friday fight with the 474th FG.

I also believe that John may be correct in that two bodies are buried at the same gravesite to save space. This is done at American national cemetaries here in the States. Veterans and their spouses are buried on top of each other, not side by side, in order to conserve valuable land area. I have a very good French friend who lives in Beauvais. I will ask him if he can confirm this with officials at the Beauvais German Military Cemetary.

Cheers, Gary

[Sergio Luis dos Santos]

I also believe that John may be correct in that two bodies are buried at the same gravesite to save space. This is done at American national cemetaries here in the States. Veterans and their spouses are buried on top of each other, not side by side, in order to conserve valuable land area. I have a very good French friend who lives in Beauvais. I will ask him if he can confirm this with officials at the Beauvais German Military Cemetary.


The info I have only Egon Albrecht is buried there. If a second body was there I guess they could have placed another date for his burial or death. Anyway it would be fine to confirm this.

[Douglas Jr.]

Hi,

In this topic it was reported that Wolfgang Schenck has passed away a few years ago. The site www.das-ritterkreuz.de reports him as still alive (see http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_...chword=schenck ).

Does anyone has more information about this matter?

Thanks,

Douglas

[John Vasco]

I was told some years ago, in the late-90s, by more than one former member of the Wespengeschwader that Schenck had passed away. He was never in the GdJ, so his death was not generally reported in Jagerblatt.
The way to check further would be to contact the Marburg authorities where he lived and ask for a check to be run on his name.

Hope this helps.

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

I´m living near Marburg. I heard from Schenk. In the aktuell telephone book his name was not in. But 11 names with Schenk. I will try to located the grave of schenk.

You hear from me soon.
Regards
Mirko

[Evgeny Velichko]

Thank You very much!

It will be nise to honour last plase of Hero...

BTW: Is this a photoe showing "Bombo" with his Bf110?