Walter Oesau investigating a victory

[Stig Jarlevik]

Yes please

Cheers
Stig

PS: Nick, I am off on holidays, so I cannot say thanks for a considerable time

[Nick Hector]

Here you go, Stig. As usual, any corrections or updates and additions are most welcome

Walter Oesau

SPAIN

15.7.38
I-15 ("Curtiss")
Day's losses include Felipe Cirujeda Esteve of 1a Esc, Grupo 26; Jose Redondo of 1a Esc apparently by collision with Bf109; one I-15 lost to a collision with an I-16 (pilot of I-16 named Pastor)

17.7.38
I-15 ("Curtiss")
2a Esc, Grupo 26 lost Felipe Barroso Calvo KIA (exploded in mid-air, attributed to Moelders), 2 other pilots baled out WIA

18.7.38
I-16 "Rata"
Alcublas area, Spain
Nationalist forces claimed 5 or 6 I-16s and 5 I-15s this date. Actual losses were 3 I-16s and 2 I-15s. The I-16s lost include those of Vicente Yuste and pilot Belmonte (both 3a Esc and KIA) plus Andres Fierro baled out safely. I-15 losses include Felipe Alonso Tebar (Tobar?) fate not listed and Juan Diaz Labella KIA. Grigorii Sergeevich Nevgerskii also KIA this date against CR-32s and Bf109s

20.7.38
I-15 ("Curtiss")
Grupo 26 and other units. From 17.7.38 to 23.7.38 there were nine I-16s lost and seven I-15s

27.7.38
SB-2
Grupo 12 or Grupo 24

15.8.38
I-15 ("Curtiss")
Tivisa
Grupo 26. Two losses this date so likely a legitimate victory. Includes CM-201 of 3a Esc, Eduardo Fernandez Prada shot down in flames (other claim by Gustav Kuell)

WORLD WAR TWO

13.5.40/1927
Curtiss Hawk
Halsteren
Serial unknown of GC 1/4. Lt. J-L Hirschauer bellylanded safely

31.5.40/1822 and 1826
2 x Spitfire Is
NW of Dunkirk
229 sqn Hurricanes and 64 sqn and 610 sqn Spitfires. 229 sqn lost L1982 of P/O B S Verity baled out and rescued by a paddle steamer and P3553 of Sgt. D F Edgehill crashed on landing WIA. 64 sqn lost K9813 of F/S G H Hatch WIA-POW (DOW 26.9.40, attributed to Bf110s) and P9369 of F/S C Flynn safe, aircraft only damaged plus serial unknown also only damaged, Sgt. A E Binham safe. 610 sqn lost N3274 of F/O G L Chambers MIA, L1013/DW-E of F/O G Keighley baled out and rescued

1.6.40/1135
Blenheim
20km N of Ostende
Probably overclaiming if date correct

13.6.40/1541
Potez 63.11
SW of Les Andelys
No. 384 of GAO 3/551. Lt. E de Ginestet, Adj R Berland and Sgt. L Girard all KIA

13.6.40/1541
Spitfire I
Folkestone/5km S of Dover
65 sqn. Overclaiming, only 3 losses: R6615 of F/O George Victor Proudman, R6609 of P/O Norman James Brisbane, and N3129 of Sgt. Patrick Sherlock Hayes all KIA

10.7.40/1439, 1449 and 1504
3 x Hurricane? (claimed as "Spitfires")
Folkestone or 5km S of Dover/convoy "Bread"
111 sqn. Oesau's victims said to have included P3671 of F/O T P K Higgs baled out and drowned at 1300 BT after further colliding with a Do17 of 3/KG 2. Only 2 other losses attributable to Bf109s: P3459 of F/O H M Ferriss and P3663 of Sgt. R Carnall both damaged, pilots unhurt

19.7.40/1350
Defiant I
S of Folkestone
141 sqn. British admitted 6 from 9 Defiants lost, 10 KIA, 2 WIA. Includes L7001 of F/L M J Louden WIA, crashed at Hawkinge and P/O E Farnes baled out and rescued. L7009 of F/L Ian David Graham Donald and P/O Arthur Charles Hamilton both KIA, L6974 of P/O John Richard Kemp and Sgt. Richard Crombie both KIA, L6995 of P/O Richard Alexander Howley and Sgt. Albert George Curley both KIA, L7015 of P/O Rudal Kidson (NZ) and Sgt. Frederick Peter John Atkins both KIA, L7016 of P/O John R Gardner (NZ) WIA and P/O Dudley Malins Slatter KIA and L6983 of P/O I N MacDougall safe and Sgt. John Francis Wise KIA

19.7.40/1355
Hurricane I
S of Folkestone
One source says this was claimed against 111 sqn (which suffered no losses). More likely to be P3144 of 32 sqn. Sgt. G Turner baled out WIA

25.7.40/1552
Spitfire I
5km S of Dover
Possibly P9421 of 64 sqn, F/O Alistair John Oswald Jeffrey, KIA

5.8.40/0959
Spitfire I
10km SW of Dover
64 sqn, overclaiming. 3 losses: L1029/SH-T of Sgt. Lewis Reginald Isaac KIA; K9991 of P/O A G Donahue unhurt and P9436 of Sgt. Walker WIA (hit in petrol tank)
(versus 4 claims)

14.8.40/1359
Hurricane I
NW of Dover
Possibly 501 sqn, F/O John Albert Axel Gibson (NZ), survived

15.8.40/1232 and 1234
2 x Spitfires
S of Folkestone
54 sqn. N3097 of Sgt. N A Lawrence down into sea and rescued by the Navy and R7015 of Sgt. W Klosinsky WIA

16.8.40/1735 and 1736
2 x Spitfires
20km NW of Cap Gris Nez
JG 51 in contact with 610 "County of Chester" sqn and also 111 sqn this day

18.8.40/1837
Hurricane I
3km S of Canterbury
Likely 32 sqn. They lost N2461/GZ-F of S/L Michael Nicholson "Red Knight" Crossley baled out, V6535 of P/O R de H de Grunne baled out WIA and R4106 of Sgt L H B Pearce baled out WIA

18.8.40/1850
Hurricane I
8km NW of Cap Gris Nez
Was this P2923/VY-R of 85 sqn? F/L R H A Lee DSO, DFC last seen chasing Bf109s out to sea at around 1800 BT

4.9.40
Spitfire
46 sqn Hurricane? N3032 or R6689 of 66 sqn? P9378, X4278 or K9962 of 222 sqn?

18.9.40/1430
Spitfire I
5km SE of Ashford @ 6500m
Overclaiming? No losses in the area at this time. Slight possibility of R6772 of 222 "Natal" sqn. Sgt. Ian Hutchinson baled out slightly WIA after combat over Canterbury 1353 BT

5.2.41/1405
Spitfire I ("Hurricane")
Desvres @ 2500m
N3249 of 610 sqn. Sgt H D Denchfield POW

16.5.41/1545
Spitfire
Channel Front
Overclaiming?

28.5.41/1925
Hurricane
N of Calais
Overclaiming?

24.6.41/1515
I-15
Hostynne sector?
Possibly Mladshiy Leytenant V D Tikhomirov of 62 ShAP, 63 SAD said by Russian propaganda to have rammed a Bf109

29.6.41/1810
IL-2 Sturmovik ("V-11")
4 ShAP. 1 AE lost 1860902 StLt V T Filippov, 1861701 of MlLt G P Chukhno, 1864903 of Lt N D Konov and 1861501 of Lt M Shakirdzhano. 2 AE lost 1861504 of Lt I A Gritsevich. 3 AE lost 1861503 of StLt A D Kuz'min and 1864604 of StLt S Ya Gottel'f. 4 AE lost 1862502 of Lt M S Varfolomeev and 5 AE lost 1862803 of Lt A M Pushin, 1860402 of MlLt E P Sosnik and and 1861304 of Lt V D Baranov all MIA. Bellylanded were 1861601 of StLt S V Pleshkov at Mogileva and 1860404 of Lt S R Sorokov at Rogacheva (both 5AE) and 1864204 of MlLt K I Krotov (AE and location unknown)

7.7.41/0557
Pe-2
Was this the Pe-2 lost by 33 BAP? Pilot/observer was Alexis Mikhailovich Baranichev KIA

10.7.41/0907
Su 2 ("V-11")
227 BAP, two losses. Details pending

10.7.41/1235
Pe-2
Possibly the crew of A A Naumov and Zubov from 52 SBAP, baled out but Zubov was KIA by German troops. Zhitomir - Kiev highway

12.7.41/1535
3 x I-16 “Ratas”
88 IAP. Overclaiming, only one loss: Mladshiy Leytenant Semyon Kolesnik KIA. (Lt. Petr Sereda and Mladshiy Leytenant Vasiliy Demyonok both returned to base)

15.7.41/1255
DB-3
96 DBAP suffered at least one loss this date: crew of Efim Spiridonovich Stefankov failed to return

23.7.41/1120 and 1722
DB-3s
207 DBAP lost at least one DB-3 this date, gunner was Ml.Serzhant Vasily Ivanovich Barabash KIA. Vasily Ivanovich Boyko was another gunner from the unit, also KIA. 11 DBAP lost Vladimir Vasilievich Bolshakov near Olshanka, Kiev sector. One of the 207 DBAP losses was flown by Lt. Aleksey Nikolayevich Sergeyev KIA

10.8.41/1415
Spitfire
NE of Calais
Fighter Command - Probably overclaiming

12.8.41/1143
Spitfire
NNE of Calais
Said to be from 66 sqn and 152 sqn. 66 lost P7787 of Sgt. Stevens POW (downed near Breskens). 152 lost P8446 of Sgt. G D White KIA (attributed by at least one source to Flak)(near Antwerp)

12.8.41/1250 and 1254
2 x Spitfires
NW of St.Omer
Definitely lost to Bf109 near St. Omer: P8541 of 222 "Natal" sqn, P/O J Christie safe. 222 also lost another (damaged beyond repair? Pilot definitely safe as well)

12.8.41/1306
Spitfire
15km SE of Dover or 15km SE of St. Omer
Were these the losses suffered by 602 sqn around midday? AB844 of Sgt. H J Bell-Walker POW plus one other cat.2 damaged

16.8.41/1938
Spitfire VB
4km NW of Calais
Probable overclaiming: only loss at this time was P8793 of 602 "city of Glasgow" sqn. Sgt. Cyril Anthony Booty, KIA

21.8.41/1023
Spitfire VB
Into sea off Calais @ 5500m
W3409 and W3330 of 92 sqn; W3651 of 609 sqn; W3438 of 403 sqn RCAF; R7300 of 603 sqn

21.8.41/1510
E of Etaples @ 6000m
P8740/KH-E and R7279/KH-S of 403 sqn; P7697 and P8160 of 65 sqn

31.8.41/2007
Spitfire VB
Rouen
41 sqn. One definite loss: R7307 of Sgt. S N Hind, POW (died in captivity 8.7.42) plus one other cat.2 damaged (Seeger also claimed)

4.9.41/1735
Spitfire VB
Said to be from 222 "Natal" sqn, 2 losses: AB801 of Sgt. A O Sharples and W3124 of Sgt. W B Rudd. Both pilots POW but timings don't match up (Wurmheller and Krueger also claimed)

13.10.41/1435
Spitfire
15km SW of Boulogne @ 1500m
Likely a legitimate victory, definitely lost near Boulogne were 41 sqn, AB826 of F/O L L Bache plus R7258 of Sgt. J L Whiteford and AB821 of 65 sqn, Sgt. D H Warden (all KIA and buried there)

13.10.41/1528
Spitfire
Other losses were P8542 and AD721 of 129 sqn (F/L R R MacPherson and P/O G S Walker both KIA); P7679 of 411 sqn, P/O R W McNair baled out and rescued; 412 sqn? X4389 of 603 sqn, Sgt. A D Shuckburgh KIA

26.10.41/1308
Spitfire VB
AB822 of 72 sqn. Sgt Leonard Stock KIA

17.4.42/1655
Lancaster I
near Le Vieil-Evreux, 6km ESE of Evreux
L7536/KM-H (the 10th production Lancaster) of "Rhodesia" 44 sqn. Sgt. George Thomas "Dusty" Rhodes and crew all KIA

17.4.42/1705
Unconfirmed Lancaster (certainly, all the other losses are accounted for by other pilots)
44 sqn.

20.12.42/1230
B-17F-30-BO Flying Fortress
Melun @ 5000-6000m
This was most likely a claim for 42-5071 of 367th BS, 306th BG. 1/Lt. Danton J Nygaard and one other POW, one evaded and 7 KIA (also claimed by Oblt. Horst Maier-ten-Doornkaat)

20.12.42/1353
B-17 Flying Fortress
20km NNW of Dieppe @ 5000-3500m
Possibly claimed against 303rd BG

4.4.43/1430
B-17F Flying Fortress
W of St. Pierre-les-Elbeuf @ 6500m
303rd or 305th BG. 303rd's include B-17F 41-24609/BN-Q "Holy Mackeral" of the 359th BS (to fighters near Rouen, 6 KIA & 4 POW) and the 427th BS lost B-17F-25-BO 41-24569 "Memphis Tot" to fighters over Zwolle

29.5.43/1725
B-17 Flying Fortress
PQ 3831/14 West @ 7-8000m
360th BS, 303rd BG lost B-17F-27-BO 41-24602/PU-A "Yardbird" of 1/Lt. Joseph E Trojan and 7 others POW, remaining 2 crewmen both KIA (already damaged by Flak). 422nd BS, 305th BG lost B-17F-35-BO 41-29531/JJ-Z of 1/Lt. Marshall R Peterson and crew all POW except one man KIA. 509th BS, 351st BG lost B-17F-35-BO 42-29838/RQ-U "The Concho Clipper" of 1/Lt. Colonel J Russell Jr and 5 others POW, remaining 4 crewmen all KIA (already damaged by Flak. 88 shell took out ball turret). 525th BS, 379th BG lost B-17F-25-DL 42-3113/FR-F of 1/Lt. Arthur P Hale and crew all POW. 410th BS, 94th BG lost B-17F-65-BO 41-29476/GL- of 1/Lt. Max L Hecox and crew all KIA except one man POW plus 42-29692/GL- of 1/Lt. Merle E Brown and crew all KIA except one man POW. 335th BS, 95th BG lost B-17F-65-BO 42-29689/OE-H of Lt. Cody U Watson and 4 others evaded, 5 POW (attributed to collision with a fighter). 337th BS, 96th BG lost B-17F-20-DL 42-3042/AW- of 1/Lt. Jack L McMath and 6 others KIA, remaining 3 crewmen all POW to Fw190

5.1.44/1200
B-24H-1-FO Liberator
Heide @ 7500m
(Hptm. Horst Maier-ten-Doornkaat also claimed)
These two were most likely claimed against 42-7512 "Gremlins Roost" of 703rd BS, 445th BG. 2/Lt. Victor L Smith and 3 others POW, remaining 6 crewmen all KIA

30.1.44/1200
B-17 Flying Fortress
301st BG lost B-17G-15-BO 42-31424 of 353rd BS
351st BG lost B-17F-75-DL 42-3509 "the Crystal Ball" of 511th BS, 1/Lt. Charles E Robertson and crew all POW except one man KIA over Hengelo due to flak and fighters
379th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31535/FO-Y 1/Lt. Kenneth D Adams and crew all POW, 1 KIA (bie Essern (Minden)), plus B-17F-25-DL 42-3325/WA-Y "Paddy Gremlin" of 524th BS, 2/Lt. Kenneth Davis and crew all POW. 526th BS lost 42-31692/LF-F of 1/Lt. Frank E Upson and 1 other POW, 8 KIA
381st BG lost B-17F-65-BOs 42-29761/VP-W "Martha the II" of 533rd BS, 1/Lt. Henry D Steele and 5 others POW, 4 KIA over Deurne, Belgium; whilst 535th BS lost B-17F-80-BO 42-30029 "Chaps Flying Circus" 1/Lt. Carl O Baer all KIA, damaged by fighters and ditched in the North Sea and B-17G-1-BO 42-31047/MS-T "Wolverine" (aka "Little Duchess") crew of 2/Lt Robert P Deering 8 men KIA and 2 POW (attributed to fighters NE of Ottbergen, 6 miles E of Hildesheim)
384th BG lost B-17G-10-DL 42-37727, and B-17F-50-BOs 42-5404/JD-M "The Geezil", 2/Lt. Horace F Writz and 2 others POW, 7 KIA
401st BG lost B-17G-15-DL 42-37856/SC-B "Fancy Nancy III" of 612th BS, definitely to an Fw190. 2/Lt. Ronald Roger Rohner and 4 others KIA remaining 5 crewmen all POW near Beinrode around 1204 (one source says 1145)

30.1.44/1220
B-17 Flying Fortress eV
447th BG lost B-17G-5-BO 42-31146 of 708th BS, 1/Lt. Merten C Putnam and 7 others POW, 2 KIA at Weeze, S of Goch/near Gladbach (engine trouble, followed by Flak, finished by fighters) Was this it?

8.2.44/1200
P-38 Lightning
Friedburg-Giessen/220 deg from Bad Nauheim (PQ S/PS-QR) @ 8400m
Legitimate claim - matches a known loss. These include P-38J-5-LO 42-67306/MC- of 79th FS, 20th FG. Lt. William H Rierson POW

10.2.44/1255
B-17 Flying Fortress
E of Zwolle/S of Coevorden (PQ S/FO or FQ-4) @ 6000m
94th BG lost B-17F-100-BO 42-30378/QE- "Good Time Cholley III", 2/Lt. Alton D Anderson and crew all POW; B-17G-1-BO 42-31080 "Hey Moitle", 2/Lt. Paul A MacWilliam and 4 others KIA, 5 POW and B-17G-10-VE 42-39984/QE- of 2/Lt. Frederick E Barker and 5 others POW, 4 KIA Liebenau, all of 331st BS. 333rd BS lost B-17G-30-BO 42-31838/TS- of 2/Lt. William S Gingold and 6 others POW, 3 KIA.
95th BG B-17G-1-BO 42-31054/QW-Q "Irish Luck" of 412th BS, 2/Lt. Clark A Huddleston and crew all POW except 1 KIA plus B-17G-25-BO 42-31658/BG-G of 334th BS, 2/Lt. James J Kelly and 6 others POW, 3 KIA and B-17G-15-VE 42-97447/BG-E of 334th BS. 335th BS lost 42-37971/OE-W of 1/Lt. Anthony M Tuberose and 7 others POW, 2 KIA. 96th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31492/MZ- "Discoveree" of 413th BS, F/O Emanuel Magilavy and crew all POW except 1 man KIA SW of Nienburg. 97th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31489 of 414th BS. 100th BG lost B-17F-85-BO 42-30062/LD-O "Bastard's Bungalow" of 418th BS, 1/Lt. Arthur E Scoggins KIA, rest of crew all POW. 390th BG lost B-17G-5-BO 42-31218/FC-E "ETO- It is" of 571st BS, 1/Lt. John G Burke and 6 others POW, 1 KIA and 2 evaded. 447th BG lost B-17G-1-BO 42-31096 "the Squirming Squaw" of 711th BS, crew of Lt. John G Jellison all POW (8th & 9th losses doesn't state cause, another says definitely to fighters) plus 42-31167 of 710th BS, 1/Lt. Philip D Beall and 4 others POW, 5 KIA
452nd BG lost B-17G-15-BO 42-31338 "Hard to Get" of 728th BS. 2/Lt. Kenneth D Smith and 6 others POW, 3 KIA plus B-17G-20-DL 42-37960 "Delta Girl" of unspecified BS, down near Dankern
Another loss from 731st BS was B-17G-20-DL 42-37950 "Dinah Might", 2/Lt. Thomas F Sharpless and crew all POW except one man evaded near the Zuider Zee

22.2.44/1336 and 1525
2 x B-17s
1st BD, 8th AAF. 38 losses

24.2.44/1240
B-17 Flying Fortress
Hameln-Hildesheim/Minden area (PQ 05 Ost S/HT/HU or HT/JT) @ 7500m
Possibly 42-40047/PY- of 407th BS, 92nd BG. 2/Lt. Melvin B Scarborough and crew all POW except one man KIA

6.3.44/1205-1210
P-47D-11-RE Thunderbolt
Cloppenburg - NW of Vechta @ 500-800m or 6500m
42-75397/HV- of 61st FS, 56th FG. 2/Lt. Andrew B Stauss baled out but KIA. Also a possibility that this was 42-7998/MX-N "Kitty/Sundown Ranch" of 78th FG. 2/Lt. Grant M Turley KIA

6.3.44/1215-1220
B-17G-10-BO Flying Fortress
S of Delmenhorst/Vechta area (PQ ER to FR) @ 3000m
Likely 42-31251/BG-P of 334th BS, 95th BG. 1/Lt. Thomas T Keasby and crew all POW

8.5.44/0945
P-47D Thunderbolt
Sulingen-Nienburg/SW of Verden (PQ FS-FT)
Either P-47D-11-RE 42-75555/E2-Y of 375th FS, 361st FG, 1/Lt. William A Rauterbush KIA near Hohenaverbergen or P-47D-15-RE 42-76227/HL-P of 83rd FS, 78th FG, John D Motsenbocker Jr POW

Some of his BoB kills are untimed so I left them out….

I used the Battle of France then and now as my main reference for that campaign

[Nick Hector]

...Does anyone have a searchable database of B-17s that might include artworks such as what we see in this image?

[Maciej Góralczyk]

Originally Posted by Nick Hector

...Does anyone have a searchable database of B-17s that might include artworks such as what we see in this image?

This may help:
https://www.amazon.com/B-17-Nose-Art.../dp/1580072259
but bear in mind that it only features the 'main' names, i.e. those applied on the nose.

[edwest2]

This artwork was applied to the rear gunner's position. Perhaps it meant that he spits deadly fire against the enemy. I cannot figure out what the partial words mean.

[Red Baroness]

Originally Posted by edwest2

Interesting. I was thinking he might be a technical inspector. He has a white glove on one hand, which is holding a device, and a cigarette in the other.

No, it's Oesau. Might be a camera or his other glove in his hand.

[Fredo Hara]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

A picture of (supposedly) Walter Oesau investigating one of his victims, which appears to be a B-26 Marauder. Any ideas?

Hello Kaki3152
When you say supposedly, where are you find or read these information that he could be Oesau?
Cordially

[kaki3152]

The picture was on German E-Bay and the caption said it was Oesau

[Stig Jarlevik]

Nick

A very late thank You for your list

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Fredo: This has been my point of late. Add a well known name to a photo and name your price. If it was contemporary writing on the reverse, that would be more credible