Oblt Hartmann Grasser of II./JG 51, 24 January 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I am trying to learn more about what happened to Oblt Hartmann Grasser, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 51, on 24 January 1942.

Here is what is on :
"on 24 January 1942, after downing his 45th opponent, Grasser was shot down in Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 9204). He baled out, landing behind Russian lines but despite a serious eye injury, was able to make his way back to German lines. After a lengthy stay in hospital recovering from his wounds, Grasser returned to the front to record his 50th victory on 23 June."

And here is what is on Prien JFV book:
_ Oblt Grasser claimed a DB-3 shot down at 1245 hrs, no location given. It was his 46th victory.
_ He was effectively shot down in an air battle this day but was flying the Bf 109 F-2 WNr 9704 (different WNr) and force-landed (no bail out) at Waraponowa.
_ according to the unit narrative, Grasser was wounded by return fire from the DB-3 he shot down and should force-land in no man's land. Troops from both sides were sent to find him but the German patrol found him first.
_ Grasser returned to II./JG 51 at least in March claiming his two next victories on 31 March.

I have not been able to find a place called Waraponowa, even by using different letter variations. I would like to know if someone can identify the loss location or area.

By the way if someone is able to identify the DB-3 involved, if will be an appreciated bonus. Two other DB-3 were claimed one hour before by other pilots of II./JG 51, and one location is known: east of Tschaikowka.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[RolandF]

Salut Lorant,

WNr 7204 cannot be correct, because it was lost 100% on 30. December 1941 near Brest, Bretagne

Regards

Roland

[Nick Hector]

Hi Laurent,

with regards to identifying the DB-3. Could it have been from 21 DBAP, crew of Ml.Lt. Vasily Abramovich Kontsov all KIA?

This is one I turned up by trawling the www.allaces.ru website.

Nick

[Laurent Rizzotti]

This crew was lost during a reconnaissance on Dnepropetrovsk - Zaporozhye - Krivoy Rog area, while II./JG 51 was based in Briansk.

This crew might have been shot down by Lt Fritz Geisshardt or Hptm. Herbert Ihlefeld of Stab I./JG 77 who both also claimed a DB-3/SB-3 shot down this day. Geisshardt claimed one at 0945 hrs, and there are no other claims at this time, while Ihelfeld claimed an I-16 (and Geisshardt another) some minutes before his bomber at 1210 hrs. So I think the first claim is more plausible against a reconnaissance flight. I./JG 77 was based in Ukrain at the time.

But we have no proof that this crew fell to a German fighter, he is just noted missing on the www.allaces.ru website. By the way this website is useful but far from complete, even for 1942, the year for which there are most entries.

But thanks anyway for trying

[Nick Hector]

You're welcome, Laurent.

In return, you have helped me narrow down an entry in my own research.

Nick

[Jim P.]

Does anyone remember the photo(s) from a couple of years ago from a site (something to do with medals as I recall) that showed the ex-Lutzow machine (WNr. 9704), decorated rudder and all, belly landed in snow? Could this be the incident we're looking for? I'll have to look through my archived photos, but maybe this is it, and certainly matches the scenario in question, except for the bailout - just an interesting WNr. association. I have the WNr. 9204 listed for this incident in my database, but the WNr. 9704 makes you wonder.

[Jim P.]

Here's the photo I was referring too -

[ouidjat]

Hi Jim,

effectively with canopy still in place the guy didn't bail out!
Thanks for the picture.

Cheers, Franck.

[RolandF]

1 meter freshly fallen snow provides an excellent belly-landing ground.
I have this incident of WNr.9704, SG+MR for January ´41 with I./JG 51 (?), the plane being lost 100% January, 24, 1942 with Stab II./JG 51, Kdr Oblt Grasser having bailed heavily wounded near Waraponowa

Regards

Roland

[Jim P.]

Franck, per Laurent's initial query, he relayed two different scenarios, one with an FSA, the other a belly landing - the photo obviously illustrates the latter. The question is, is this a photo of the belly landing? The Fw 58 in the background sort of makes the "between the lines" rather problematic. The rudder on the plane is definitely that from Luetzow's machine from the fall of 41. A close-up of the rudder clearly shows the '100' at the end of the 3 row of victories.