Who led 7./JG52 in October-December 1944?

[keith A]

I am looking for the leaders of 7 Staffel in this period. My subject, Heinz Ewald joined 7 Staffel at some date in October 1944 (after 6 October) and left before 6 December 1944.

regards

Keith

[alessandro bray]

7./JG 52? Lt Ewald war with 6. Staffel, Staffelkptn Oblt Lipfert in October -December 1944.
Regards
Alessandro

[ju55dk]

Ewald wrote a bio in German several years ago. it will answer your questions.
Junker

[keith A]

He did indeed Junker and if I was sort of person to spend 60 euros to answer a little question like this then I would pay for it. Do you own the book? If so it would seem you would be happy to answer a fellow forum member's question. If not how do you know the answer is there?

My information is that he was briefly with 7 staffel in this period,

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109G/JG52.html

I have the Lipfert autobiography but it doesn't answer the question.

regards

Keith

[Stig Jarlevik]

No answer Keith

Can someone please also clarify the Staffel situation with JG 52 from the moment they switched from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four?

Mikael Holm's site says one thing and Bernd Barbas books another. Don't understand Barbas at all to be honest...

Cheers
Stig

[radovan]

It was undoubtedly Erich Hartmann (no 4.Staffel), there is much evidence for this.

All speaks because the commander of the 7th Staffel was in the period from October 23, 1944 to January 28, 1945 Hptm. Erich Hartmann.

[keith A]

Stig: thanks for that mate

cheers

Keith

[Raimo Malkamäki]

Hi all and Happy New Year!

Yes, family tree of JG 52 really seems confusing.

For what it is worth, please find attached a pic taken from the book by Hans Schreier: JG 52. Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des II. Weltkrieges".

Many years ago I made some notes based on the JG 52 book series by Niko Fast, please see below.I had the books from library, and I can't check any more. Anyway, both Schreier and Fast seem to suggest that old 6./JG 52 was made 7./JG 52, although the suggested time for the change seems to be different. I don't have Barbas books so I can't compare what they say.

Would be great if someone could bring the "final truth" to solve this issue.

Br Raimo

5 staffel (starting from 1.3.45 as 6. staffel)
Schumann August-Wilh. 11.7.??-6.9.41
Simsch 7.9.41-4.11.42
Haberda 5.11.42-8.5.43
Batz 9.5.43-18.4.44
Fönnekold 19.4.44-31.8.44
Sturm 1.9.44-22.12.44
Duttmann 23.12.44-8.5.45

6 staffel (starting from 1.2.45 as 7 staffel)
Lederer 1.9.39-5.10.40
Resch 6.10.40-28.2.43
Nemitz 1.3.43-11.4.43
Ritzenberger 12.4.43-24.5.43
Schmidt 25.5.43-5.9.43
Lipfert 6.9.43-14.2.45
W Ewald 15.2.45-


7 staffel
Fermer H 1.3.40-24.7.40
Keidel 24.7.40-25.7.40
Bascilla 25.7.40-11.7.41
Zimmermann 12.7.41-2.9.41
Sommer 3.9.41-3.43
krupinski 3.43-18.4.44
i.v. Hartmann 6.7.43-14.8.43
Graf Treuberg 19.4.44-28.5.44
Became 12/JG 3

[keith A]

Happy New Year too!

Many thanks Raimo, and others who have contributed. I am beginning to think my source is mistaken.

regards

Keith

[Raimo Malkamäki]

Hi again,

one more thing re 4./JG 52. What Niko Fast book series say about it can be seen below. It suggests that 4. Staffel did not exist in June-Sept 1944, but was then re-established in October.

Based on for example Lipfert and Barkhorn books and especially pictures (II/JG 52 top guys with Hungarian pilots in Hungary during late Nov 1944) in them, it seems clear that while Barkhorn was leading II Gruppe in that time, Hartmann, Lipfert and Sturm were the Staffelkapitäns. BUT, if II/JG 52 was in the " 4 Staffel per Gruppe" organisation, the Staffel numbers should be 5-8.

What were the "official" Staffel numbers and how many Staffels there actually were in II/JG 52? Well, beats me. Original wartime JG 52 documents would be needed.

Based on many, many books I have read on Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht in general (and also on discussions with many veterans), I would say it was very common that units were moved around, names and numbers changed, etc. However, if the "Unit spirit" had been very strong and men were proud of their unit, it could take quite a long time when they were still using (at least unofficially) the old name/number, even though official change had taken place weeks or months earlier. This is of course not helping history studies 75 years later.


Br Raimo

4 Staffel
Schumann 29.8.39-31.1.40
Steinhoff 1.2.40-28.2.42
Barkhorn 1.3.42-31.5.43
Sturm 1.6.43-16.4.44
Waldmann 17.4.44-1.6.44
became 8./JG 3

Hartmann 1.10.44-31.1.45
Haas 1.2.45-9.4.45
Linxen 10.4.45-