'Hajo' Herrmann

[bill norman]

Does anyone know Herrmann's rank and Staffel (in III/KG4) on 19 June 1940. Was the unit equipped with He.111 at that time?

[Jim P.]

Interestingly enough I just came across the incident where Herrmann and his crew went down over Dunkirk in late-May 1940. If I remember correctly they were in a Ju 88A, prob a an A-1 and he was an Oblt. in 7./KG 4. Later, in late August or Sept he and his crew took a pounding over London and crashed in France. There was a photo or two of this incident on e-bay a year or two ago. At that time he was Kap. of 7./KG 4 and was flying '5J+AR'.

[bill norman]

Thanks, Jim

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

How long did Heinrich Schmetz become an observer to Hajo Herrmann? I knew that Schmetz flew with Herrmann as observer during raids over Great Britain. It was Schmetz who dropped the two bombs on the ammunition ship Clan Frazer which blew up with such ferocity that ten other ships were sunk. That was at the Greek harbor at Piraeus. Schmetz had became a champion bomb dropper. Herrmann should have recommended Schmetz for the Knight's Cross for that blow at Piraeus.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[bill norman]

Sorry, Edward, I do not know the answer to your question.

BN.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

According to the 7./KG54 unit history and several photos of the incident, Herrmann was an Oblt. and Sta Kap when he FL Ju88A-1 5J+ER just offshore of the beach near De Haan, Belgium on 31.05.40. The plane was stranded on the beach at low tide.

Still Sta Kap and now a Hptm. he later cracked up Ju88A-1 5J+AR, W.Nr.4128 in what I believe was a take off accident at Schiphol AF, Amsterdam on 18.10.40. Several photos exist of this incident as well.

Regards,