Feldwebel Karl Gagstetter 4./JG53, Erg. JG 1

[Richard Mills]

I am trying to piece together some information concerning Fw. Karl Gaggstetter, a Flugzeugfuhrer who flew with 4./JG 53, claiming a solitary B-24 in this time period, and later with Erg. JG 1.

I have seen mention of a loss return for 01-February-1945 relating to the following:

01-February-1945 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werk Nr: 440639) 100% on landing. Feldwebel Karl Gagstetter WIA Reitwein/Frankfurt. Eins.Gr Erg.JG 1. RVT Ost.

My questions are basically as follows:

Is 'Eins.Gr. Erg. JG 1' actually referring to Eins.Gr. IV. (Erg)/JG 1?

Is the Staffel in which this loss occurs recorded anywhere?

Finally, is there any information as to the areas of operation by Erg. JG 1 at this time?

Any help whatsoever will be gratefully received.

Regards Richard.

[ouidjat]

Dear Richard,

The "old" Kracker list refers to him as Gagstätter. also in 3./JGr.Süd losses list: Akte RL 2 III/1188, Seite 237, # 165
Then 7./EJG1 ?...
Though it seems he flew in 4./JG53 AFTER 3./JGr.Süd.

Can't help you more, sorry.

Best regards, Franck.

[Richard Mills]

Franck

Thank you for your reply.

I have some of his award documents and they all refer to him as Karl Gagstetter.

From the unit designations on these, it can be gleaned that from 12-August-1943 - 24-April-1944 he served in 4./JG 53.

I would be very interested in seeing his respective loss while serving in 3./JGr.Süd. Are you able to help at all?

Regards Richard.

[Matti Salonen]

1943-04-13, 3./JGr. Süd, Bf 109 E-4, 1946, 26 gelbe, 500 m südlich Fl.Pl. Nîmes, Motorstörung um 16.20 Uhr beim Start. Bruch 80 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Gagstetter, Karl, verletzt
1943-08-31, 4./JG 53, Bf 109 G-6, 160047, Südöstlich Vasto, Bauchlandung infolge Brennstoffmangel. Bruch ? %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Gagstetter, Karl
1944-04-13, 4./JG 53, Bf 109 G-6, 440675, Bei Heidelberg, Absturz nach Luftkampf mit B-17, P-47 und P-51. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Fw Gagstetter, Karl, verletzt
Fw Gagstetter mit Fallschirm abgesprungen.
1945-02-01, 7./Erg.JG 1, Bf 109 G-6, 440639, 36 gelbe, Reitwein bei Frankfurt an der Oder, Notlandung um 10.00 Uhr im Feindgebiet. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Fw Gagstetter, Karl, verletzt

Matti

[ouidjat]

Dear Matti,

Thanks to have corrected the (New) Kracker list concerning 440675 loss since EJG1 didn't exist in April 1944.
and 7./EJG1!

And Richard,
you're welcome though Matti is more efficient!
Here is the JGr.Sud I was refering to.

I will refer to Gagstetter then ...

Best regards, Franck.

[Richard Mills]

Matti & Franck

Thank you both very much indeed for your respective help. It has certainly provided some excellent information of his service either side of 4./JG 53.

Regards Richard.