III./JG27 - Identity required

[Jochen Prien]

From October 1944 onwards loss returns of III./JG27 were signed by a Hauptmann und Gruppenkommandeur as can be seen from the attached sample - can anybody decipher the name or has other documentary sources which would allow us to identify this officer ? Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

KR

Jochen Prien

[Rottler]

Hello Jochen,

I decipher the signature as "Werfft".

Regards
Leo

[Jochen Prien]

Thanks Leo, but it isn't the signature of Werfft as he by that time was still Oberleutnant and not yet posted to StabIII./JG27. Apart from that I was tempted at first to read his former name Wessely in the signature here but he had dropped that for the name Werfft some time before October 1944 ( and even if, he would still have been an Oberleutnant, not a Hauptmann).


KR

Jochen Prien

[StuartSanders]

According to Manrho's "Bodenplatte : The Luftwaffe's Last Hope" the Kommandeur of III/JG 27 at the end of December 1944 was Hauptmann Dudeck. Does that fit the signature?

[Rottler]

Hi Stuart,

according to Manrho's "Bodenplatte : The Luftwaffe's Last Hope" pages 202 and 275 Hptm Dudeck was the Kommandeur of IV./JG 27. Oblt Clade led the III./JG 27 as acting Kommandeur.

Regards
Leo

[StuartSanders]

Hi Leo,

I stand corrected. But the signature looks even less like Clade than Dudeck and the rank is wrong. Could one of the officers signed the returns for both units?

Stuart

[Kutscha]

III. Gruppe:
Gruppenkommandeure:
Hptm Joachim Schlichting, 9.7.40 - 6.9.40
Hptm Max Dobislav, 7.9.40 - 30.9.41
Hptm Erhard Braune, 1.10.41 - 11.10.42
Hptm Ernst Düllberg, 11.10.42 - 30.9.44
Olt Franz Stigler (acting), 1.10.44 - 7.10.44
Hptm Dr. Peter Werfft, 10.44 - 7.5.45
Olt Emil Clade (acting), 2.45 - 3.4.45

from http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg27.htm

[Jochen Prien]

Stuart, Leo and Kutscha,

thanks for your input and your time. I'm afraid however that we haven't moved forward so far. Kutscha - the listing is incorrect with respect to Oblt. Werfft as he only took over in Vertretung (acting) in December 1944. Between 8 October and early December a so far unidentified Hauptmann - see signature att. to post # 1 - signed as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur, in at least two cases with an additional m.d.W.d.G.b., standing for mit der Wahrnehmung der Geschäfte betraut, i.e. officially tasked to perform the duties of leading the unit, thus not only acting but as a veritable Gruppenkommandeur. That's the man I'm looking for - who was he?


KR

Jochen Prien