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Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies. |
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#1
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SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
In the bio of Heinz "Esau" Ewald, there is a story by his Katschmarek Männel. It goes approximately like this:
During an escort mission for Stukas near Iasi in May/June 1944, one Stuka has to land behind enemy lines (maybe the pilot had to parachute while the gunner was already dead, my memory...). Anyway: only the pilot survives and is saved by another Stuka which lands and takes him back home. During this action, the fighters keep the Russian armymen away from the rescuing Stuka. Now my question: Who knows details about this story like: - name of the Heckschütze (rear gunner) and / or pilot - unit of the Stuka - date of the action and maybe even place - ... ? |
#2
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
The problem here, of course, is that most of the Gen.Qu. loss data for 1944 is missing, and, to date, nothing has been published which gives a complete, or as presumably complete as casualty reports allow, accounting of the Stuka/Schlacht units activities and losses for this time period.
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#3
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
Thanks for your answer. I know all that. Anyway, an answer would be nice.
Afaik, there are "namentliche Verlustmeldungen" or maybe someone has documents from SG2 itself? One more - highly probable - limitation of the timeframe: I am pretty sure that this action happened during german Operations "Katja & Sonja", that means between 28th of May and 6th of June. Within these days, 100% Stuka combat losses are only known to me for 30.5., 31.5., 1.6. and 3.6. (thanks to Andreas Brekken!) |
#4
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
So I see in the Mai - June actions SG 2 had ~ 70 100 % losses of Ju 87´s.
But only few of them with personnal losses, but no any loss - only the Gnr. was killed, both killed or the pilot killed. - Sure that it was SG 2 ?? khorat |
#5
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
As there was no other Stuka-/Schlachtgeschwader with Ju87 around (except the Romanians), I am very sure that it must have been SG2.
70 losses of 100%? Where is that data from? I can find ca. 20 for example when checking the links at the bottom of this site: http://www.ww2.dk/air/attack/sg2.htm But anyway: Maybe soemthing is confused (in the story or in my memory) and the gunner survived (with the pilot dying). What "pilot only" loss do you know? |
#6
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
IIRC in his autobio Rudel (519 Tanks KO'd) of StG 2 indicated that he landed a number of times (4-7?) to pick up Stuka crews in similar circumstances. In one instance his Stuka sank too deep in the mud too take off again, and the four Germans had to make an epic run for it. Rudel's gunner Henschel? drowned as they swam across a major river (Dneiper?) and Rudel was the only one who escaped; I think he's your guy.
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#7
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
Yes, Romero, could have been. But Henschels fate happened in March, and by then II./JG52 was still on the Crimea.
So, the question remains unanswered. |
#8
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
hm sorry - searching in the wrong unit - SG 2 lost in may - june 37 Ju 87 (I´m sure will be some more) but only 2 with personal losses, 20.05. Koschniza (3 km südöstl.), near Jassy, Major Dr. Maximilian Otte and Gunner killed, May 31., Lt. Hans Schwirblat wounded, gunner unhurt, no place given (Rumania).
But so I say maybe some missing for 1944. khorat |
#9
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Re: SG2 Heckschütze KIA - details?
Khorat, thanks for the input.
Koshniza is not really "near" to Iasi, but in the same area of operations (and same german Heeresgruppe Südukraine): There was a soviet bridgehead over the Dnestr, which was neutralized (not deleted) during mid-May 1944. The bridgehead was also called Butor. |
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