Manfred Eberwein 3/JG54

[focusfocus]

Hello

According to his flight log,he claimed 12 "Abschusse" in Courland (02/45 to 05/45):any of you have more détails?

Regards
Michel

[Alain57]

Hello ,

From the Kracker archive :

English POW, summer 1945. His first known victory, a Soviet IL-4 on 7 July, 1943. An Il-7 on 22 July, 1943. An Il-2 (m.H.) on 14 August, 1943. An Il-2 on 25 August, 1943. A Yak-1 on 26 August, 1943. An Il-2 (m.H.) on 23 September, 1943. A LaGG-3 and an Il-2 (m.H.) on 25 September, 1943. A Boston III on 27 September, 1943. A Boston III on 5 April, 1944. A P-39 on 18 April, 1944. An Il-2 (m.H.) on 11 May, 1944. Two Il-2s (m.H.) on 15 May, 1944. One known western victory, a B-17 near Ploesti on 18 May, 1944. A Soviet P-39 and a Yak-9 on 30 May, 1944. A P-39 on 2 June, 1944. A LaGG-5 on 5 June, 1944. An Il-2 (m.H.) on 6 June, 1944. A Yak-9 on 18 July, 1944. A LaGG-5 on 20 July, 1944. A Yak-9 on 23 July, 1944. A Pe-2 on 24 July, 1944. Three Yak-9s on 24 August, 1944. Three more Yak-9s on 26 August, 1944. A Yak-9 on 2 September, 1944. Two LaGG-5s on 15 October, 1944. An Il-2 (m.H.) and a LaGG-5 on 16 October, 1944. Two Yak-9s and two P-39s on 17 October, 1944. Bowers/Lednicer, 56 victories.

Regards

Alain57

[focusfocus]

Thanks for your effort,but its 1945 (with JG54) that interests me,not having access to his flight log.
Michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by focusfocus

Thanks for your effort,but its 1945 (with JG54) that interests me,not having access to his flight log.
Michel

It should Michel

Since no one has yet found any evidence of his last 12 claims (not even Johannes) they are simply rumours. However if his last flugbuch is found, it may (or may not) give further evidence.

Cheers
Stig

[Russ Fahey]

Michel,

How do you know the flight log of Eberwein shows 12 abschusse claims in Courland from 02/45 to 05/1945, since, as you write later, you don't have access to the logbook? Your statements seems self contradictory. Did someone claim or imply such a document exists, or did you simply make an unfounded assumption? I hope you can clear up this confusion!

Thanks,

Russ

[focusfocus]

Hello Russ

I'm just reporting what Philippe Saintes says in his book on the JG54
I quote:
"The flight logs THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONSULT give an overview of the successes in Courland"
Gerd Thyben,Hermann Schlenheige 16 claims each
Franz Eisenach,Manfred Eberwein 12 claims each
Hugo Broch 10 claims
Fritz Tegtmeir 6 claims.

On the other "hand",Eberwein being transferred on 31/01/45 to 3/JG54 (from JG52).....only the period of 02/45 to 05/45 remains for his claims.

Eberwein having died on 14/08/2011.....he see Philippe Saintes ??

The author having a GOOD reputation,I trust him.....now?.....?

Best Regards
Michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Michel

Then I guess it is up to Philippe Saintes to prove his point!

The text you quote sounds very superficial so I suggest you contact Ms Saintes and ask him for better details.

Johannes books confirm 16 each for Thyben and Schleinhege (not spelling),
12 for Eisenach, but as already mentioned only 12 unconfirmed for Eberwein.
He also confirms the 10 claims by Broch. Tegtmeier's last claims are also as vague as Eberwein's. Johannes only mentions them briefly as "his last seven victories were scored in early 1945", so another one with no dates attached.

Cheers
Stig

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

I have either flugbücher/Leistungsbücher, or abschusseliste for the pilots mentioned, but not for Eberwein.

My friend Bernd Barbas I seem to remember was in contact with the family and tried a couple of time to establish if any documents survived, seem to remember he tried just before the pilots death, but assumed he was too ill to reply, then I think a daughter was asked but nothing became of it. Not all "aces" liked to think about the war, some just wanted to be left alone, Karl Gratz was one of these.

Have not heard of his flugbuch being sold, so either it wasn't in the pilots possession, or was lost/destroyed. Don't like to take notice of any "totals" without evidence, so don't know where the total came from, could well be that Eberwein lost or had his document stolen, but remembered his total. No 1945 claims appeared in the 1945 KBT papers, but these usually only mention the pilots name if a big scorer, but he was anyway.

So in my opinion Eberwein remembers a total of fifty-six, and twelve with JG54. Obleser was in a similar position i.e no documents but remembered his total, and how many unconfirmed USAAF aircraft he claimed.

Lets just hope something official turns-up some day.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Edward L. Hsiao]

What did Eberwein did after WWII?

Edward L. Hsiao

[Johannes]

Hi Edward

Bernd didn't ask him, but knows he didn't join the BundesLuftwaffe.

Keep well

Johannes