Flying Amputees

[Brian]

Hi guys

I am interested to establish identities of WW2 aircrew from all nations who continued to fly on operations (or even non-operations) following the loss of a limb. Any suggestions?

I am aware of the obvious (Bader, Hodgkinson, MacLachlan) but there were many others. Who were they?

Franek - I understand there was a Polish pilot named Grzanka who had lost a leg (or both) but after being fitted with artificial limb/s continued to fly with 307 Squadron before being killed in a flying accident on 2 August 1943. Have you details of his accident?

Over to the knowledgeable!

Cheers
Brian

[Håkan]

The most famous Italian is Ernesto Botto (http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_botto.htm) also known as "Gamba di Ferro" ("Iron leg"). He lost a leg during the Spanish Civil War but this dind't prevent him to continue to fly and lead his men. He claimed the first Italian victory over Malta on 3 July 1940.

Best wishes/Håkan

[Brian]

Thanks Hakan - we're on our way!

Cheers
Brian

[Håkan]

Hello,

Three more pilots, this time from the VVS:

Alexei P. Marasyev, 11 victories
Zakhar A. Sorokin, 18 victories
Leoinid G. Belousov, 5 victories

Best wishes/Håkan

[Bertrand H]

The two french crew

Jacques GUILLOUX DE MEZILLIS (loss of an arm when he was with GB1 Lorraine. De Mézillis KIA in march 1943

Ricardou (W/G) with 342 Lorraine. MIA on 4/8/1944.

I remember Colin HOGDINCKSON.

HTH

Bertrand H

[Artur PK]

Hello,

A few Luftwaffe Experten:

- Obfw. Walter Brandt (43 vic.) – 2./JG 77 - wounded on 12.01.1943 (lost his leg) – he returned to duty in August 1944 as St.K. 2./JG 3 and claimed 6. victories;
- Lt. Walter Wever (44) – St.K. 3./JG 51 – wounded on 10.07.1944 (lost his foot) – he returned to duty in February 1945 as St.K. 7./JG 7 – claimed no victories. Wever was killed in action on 10.04.1945.
- Obfw. Viktor Petermann (64) – 6./JG 52 – wounded on 01.10.1943 (lost his arm) – he returned to duty in the autumn 1944. He served in Stab III./JG 52, than in 10./JG 52 and JG 7. He claimed 4. victories against Soviets in March 1945.

Cheers,
Artur

[Franek Grabowski]

Brian
It is a better story. Indeed F/O Roman Grzanka had one artifical leg, but as his r/o F/O Henryk Łepkowski was a little bit deaf, their loud talks at readiness caused anger among other pilots trying to get a nap. In the effect he got another r/o, Juliusz Baykowski, a veteran of 1920 war with Bolsheviks, who had a better hearing and also an artifical leg. Since that time crew Horlick 53 had a full pair of legs.
Since then Grzanka had a couple of other operators and saly was killed on 27 June 1943 when testing a freshly overhauled Mosquito DD644. The aircraft flew into a hill and Grzanka was killed instantly, while F/S Wacław Oyrzanowski, groundcrew chief A Flight died in hospital.
Another airman attempting flying without a limb was Zdzisław Radomski, who lost a hand over France in 1941. He did some training flights in a Spitfire but as the latter was not very ergonomic, flying with only one hand was very risky and I do not think he attempted any operational sorties.
Another airman flying Spitfire in combat single handedly was G/C Jerzy Bajan of 1936 Challenge fame. He had his hand paralysed, so not sure if he qualifies.

[Martin Bull]

Don't forget the Australian, Flt. Lt. Roberts Dunstan DSO. He lost a leg as an infantryman at Tobruk and returned to active duty as a Lancaster rear-gunner with 460 Squadron.

And also Aleksey Maresyev who flew combat missions at Kursk with two artificial legs....

[Michal]

Sgt. Ladislav Kadlec, 311 (Cz) Bomber Squadron, born April 14 1917. Lost leg during combat with Bf 110 Nightfighter as rear gunner of Wellington P 1451 on July 7 1941. He probably shot down attacker. After 7 months in hospital he continued to fly. MIA on March 13 1944 somewhere over Bay of Biscay together with 7 other flyers in Liberator. His last rank was W/O in RAF and štábní rotmistr in CzAF.

[stefaan]

Lt Doug Rogan 1 sqn SAAF lost a leg in the Western Desert and went back toFly with 1 sqn again.Stefaan Bouwer