Alfons Klein

[Håkan]

Hello everybody,

While studying Larry and Doug’s excellent “Office Career Database” (OCD), I’ve run into some questions regarding a couple of pilots…

According to all sources (including OCD) Alfons Klein served in Legion Condor in Spain as an Oberleutnant in J/88. He is reputed to have claimed 1 victory in Spain. He continued to serve in the Second World War and ended this conflict with 38 victories (+1 in Spain). However, according to Tony Holmes victory lists this Alfons Klein started the war as an Unteroffizier (JG 52) and wasn’t a Leutnant until 1944.
Is this actually the same Alfons Klein?

I actually have a Leutnant Gerhard Klein as part of the first group of German pilots that arrived in Spain in the end of July 1936. Could it be this Klein that made the claim in Spain (on 26/09/36)?
However this Klein seems to have been shot down by Flak on 18 January 1938, which seems like an to-long period for service in Spain…

Best wishes/Håkan