Me 410 top ace

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

Unfortunately, I have no idea which unit was he with at that time. Almost certainly he was with either III./ZG 1 as II./ZG 26 was known at the time or there exists the possibility that he was already with the Geschwaderstab of ZG 26 assuming that the inference that this unit was in existence before 13 October 1943 is correct.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Dear Leo,

in an old 2007 thread you tell us about Dassow being WIA on 21Jun44. Is it known how long he was hospitalized ?

Have a nice Wednesday,

Michael

[John Manrho]

The main problem with the career and claims of Dassow are the lack of primary sources. I have been studying his career for some time but besides the information in his (small) personnel file and data at the WASt there is not much to go on.

Furthermore the data Obermaier (RK) gives is a problem. He states that Dassow arrived at 10./ZG 1 in May 1942 in the East and transferred to 7./ZG 1 on 27.7.1942. Furthermore Obermaier says he had 22 Luftsiege in the West and of these were 12 Viermots. I have not seen any primary source that confirms this. Not for the total count of 22 claims or the 10./ZG 1 note. Does anybody know what Obermaier used as primary source and where this comes from???.

Original records show that Dassow was with 1./K.Gr.z.b.V. I/323 in the April - August 1942 timeframe. At least from September 1942 till January 1943 he was with II./L.L.G. 2. This is also proven by his EM number 214208/165 which he received with 2./L.L.G. 2 on 2.1.1943. The first date with III./ZG 1 is in fact 3.2.1943 which is in my opinion the date when he joined 7./ZG 1.

He was reported missing on 10.4.1943 in Me 210A-1, 8169, 2N+GR. He returned to his unit on 16.4.1943. He had severe burns in his face and lower arms and was treated at the Lw. Laz. Trapani. I am sure his treatment took a while and afterwards he probably had leave also. Later pictures show clearly marks in his face from these injuries. From notes in his records it is possible that he returned to 7./ZG 1 for duty on 27.7.1943 (one year later as Obermaier...mentioned).

In the crashlanding of 10.4.1943 his Bordfunker Uffz. Walter Böhme was killed (NW of Bou Thadi/Tunisia). Does anybody know the grave location of Uffz. Böhme?

On 21.6.1944 Dassow was only slightly wounded (his BF was severely wounded) and Dassow stayed at the units medical post (Krankenrevier II./ZG 26).

Concerning his claims, well I have a few more from other primary sources but not these 22. There are pictures showing Dassow and his Me 410 showing 11 Abschussbalken. I believe these pictures were taken in February 1944 the latest. There is also a document (made by his unit after his death) that says he had 17 4-mot Abschüsse of which 5 were confirmed and 6 were not yet handed in.

Finally, I hesitated to put this post in..... as others already stated in this post, I also would like to see the member that has initiated the original post would ADD more information and not ONLY asks questions....

Regards,

John

[Leo Etgen]

Hi John

Many thanks for your post which contains some very unique and interesting information on this fellow. It corrected much that I thought I knew about him and is very appreciated.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Hello John and Leo,

very intresting. Your data suggests that Dassow did not become operational until Feb43, did he ?
Since we have no more primary sources, we should make the best from what we have (even the Gospel is a secondary source).
Concerning his claims, I collected these 11 so far:
9,4.43 Spitfire
10,4.43 Spitfire
8,10.43 B-17
11,12.43 B-17
11,1.44 B-17
22,2.44 B-17
11,4.44 B-17
11,4.44 B-17
29,5.44 B-24
20,6.44 B-24
20,6.44 B-24
20,6.44 B-24

Have you found more ?

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

I am nearly certain that the Spitfire you have listed on 9 April 1943 and 10 April 1943 are duplicates of the same incident.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

...hmm, I had an uneasy sense of this.

Knusel posted some Rudi Dassow claims. For the.one on 29 May 1944, can anyone confirm or deny that this B-24 was AC 42-52577 of the 487th BG that was flying North of Stettin-Politz heading towards the Baltic Sea? There are a few claims from this area at the same time. Would Dassow have been the flight leader? There were reported 7 ME 410s, some with varying paint schemes. Any information is helpful and appreciated, and I will share sources if you share as well.
Thanks

[knusel]

Good afternoon 1Prosit,

sorry, but I don't have that information.
I still would be very grateful for a list showing the dates of Dassow's 22 kills.

Cheers,

Michael

[knusel]

Good afternoon Gentlemen,

I just worked through Robert Forsyth's "Me 210/410 Zerstörer Units". It is a very elaborate and vivid description of failed aircraft and recommendable to all who are interested in these planes. It's just a pity that is has no info about the Me 410 exploits of Rudolf Dassow, whom to suspect to be the top-scorer of that type :-(

Cheers,

Michael