Need help with 3./ZG26 pilot first names during 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I recently obtained a document that is a complete unit roster (FF & BF) for 3./ZG26 from 1.9.39 through 31.12.40. It lists total combat missions flown by each man and notes on dates and assignments for each man who left the unit through the end of that time period. It purports also to show all victories claimed by each, but apparently that was color coded into the mission symbols, and was lost when this was rendered into a black and white document. This is only one Staffel, but provides a great amount of useful info on 3./ZG26 that was lost during a 1943 bombing raid on Berlin. There are 29 pilots, 29 radio operator/gunners, and 4 technical people who flew at least one combat mission with 3./ZG26 during the period covered.

Three of the officers are listed as "transferrred out as adjutant." One of them was Oblt. Rüdiger Proske, who we know became Adjutant of I./ZG26, only to be shot down and POW on 18.8.40. The other two, Lt. Walter Manhart, and Oblt. Fleckner, first name unknown, transferred out respectively on 13.6.40 and 20.8.40. The latter could have taken over for the downed Proske as Adjutant of I./ZG26. My question is (besides the first name of Fleckner) has anyone found evidence of either of these pilots serving on the I./ZG26 Stab after these assignment dates? If not, could they have taken over as Gr. or Gesch. Adjutants of any other ZG unit on those dates?

Other pilots from the list for whom I'm seeking first names, which unfortunately aren't listed, are Hptm. Albrecht (trfd to a StaKap position on 10.3.40), Hptm. Moller (trfd to a NJG on 3.10.40); Lt Meyer, no transfer out date, Lt. Danneberg (trfd to III./ZG26 on 18.11.40); Lt Becker (trfd to NJG--probably NJG1--on 6.6.40) and Ofw Teichmann (trfd to II./ZG26 on 6.12.40). I'm also seeking first names for Fws Neureiter (trfd to Norway 15.3.40--I know this is before Operattion Wesserburg, which doesn't make sense, but probably means he went to I./ZG76); Iburg (trfd to unspecified NJG--probably NJG1--on 24.6.40) and Pogoda (trfd to a Zerstörer School 1.8.40), and an Uffz Strassfeld (trfd out to unspecified ZG on 10.10.40). Can anyone help me complete this roster with first names for these people? Our EOE research team already knows the first names of the other 15 pilots listed.

If, perchance, anyone knows any dates by which any of these men would have joined 3./ZG26, or any hard info (other than which I've already posted on this board) on victory claims by these or any other 3 Staffel pilots during the period in question, this info would be most welcome.

I'll deal with the missing Bordfunker first names in a later posting.

I./ZG26 is one of the Zerstörer Gruppe whose records were lost in the war, and if anyone can provide any additional information (FB, personal diaries, or other records) on this unit for the 1939-40 period, access to these would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give.

Regards,

[anderbe]

Larry,
Neuriter's present in ZG76 have been discussed earlier here on TOCH. See http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?p=66710

Listed as Helmut, but as an uffz and a BF. Maybe two Neureiter's in ZG76 during Weserübung.

Regards Anders

[Doug Stankey]

A search of our officer personnel database yields:

FLECKNER, Hans-Wilhelm. 01.06.43 in Stab/Jagdfliegerführer Südfrankreich, promo to Hptm. 03.45 Hptm., appt Leiter Vorlehrgang/Erg.JG 1 (to 01.05.45).

FLECKNER, Willi. (DOB: 29.04.08 in Neuwitz). – a bomber guy.

Manhart - none found.
Alberecht - none associated with ZG 26 found.
Moller - none associated with ZG 26 found.
Danneberg - none found.
Iberg - none found.

But we have 3 Beckers associated with NJGs: Hans-Ludwig, Ludwig and Martin. Martin is “out” because his early period was with the recon units. Ludwig had been with LG 1 in 39/40 so that leaves only Hans-Ludwig.

BECKER, Hans–Ludwig. 26.02.43 Hptm., Staka 12./NJG 1.

BECKER, Ludwig. (DOB: 22.08.11 in Dortmund-Aplerbeck). (RE, DKG). 1939 entered the Luftwaffe as a Lt.d.R. 07.40 Lt., trf to NJG 1 from 14.(Z)/LG 1. 16.10.40 Lt., 4./NJG 1. 08.41 Oblt., in 4./NJG 1.

PROSKE, Rüdiger. 01.02.43 promo to Hptm.
PROSKE, R. 18.08.40 Oblt., Adj. I./ZG 26 PoW. – apparently this is Rüdiger.

Pogoda – none found.

I expect that most of the people that you mentioned are not in our records because they either had too low a rank or never held a position.

DGS
LdZ

[Larry Hickey]

Doug,

Thanks for your input. I was hoping to hear from you. How about a Hptm. Albrecht who transferred out of 3./ZG26 on 10.3.40, apparently to a StaKap job. The way it is noted, he could have been the StaKap of 3./ZG26, but I don't think so.

Regards,

[Jim P.]

Lt Meyer - Ltn. Eduard Meyer - see Obermaier, Jagdflieger, p.168

Lt Becker (trfd to NJG--probably NJG1--on 6.6.40) - Possibly Ludwig Becker? See Obermaier, p.56

Iburg (trfd to unspecified NJG--probably NJG1--on 24.6.40) - Could this be Ofw. Adolf Iburg who claimed a Hurricane with 9./JG 54 on 31-8-40, POW 20-10-40?

Albrecht - probably a long shot, but a Hptm. Karl Albrecht claimed a Spitfire on 19-8-42 flying with 3./JG 2. He was not the Kap. of this unit -

[Dean M. Wick]

Larry: Your "Hptm. Moller" is quite possibly Hptm Kurt Holler. See Andre Stewart's response to David Williams inquiry on 2.8.09 "Major Kurt Holler,Stab III/NJG4" Regards. Dean.

[christian]

Hi

Fw. Adolf Iburg ex 3.I./ZG 26 came on the 3. Oktober 1940 to the 9.Staffel III./JG 54. He was shot down on his first sortie over England!! He had no claim in the III./JG 54!

Greetings Christian

[Peter Kassak]

to Larry:
Wanted to send you PM, but your msg box is full!!!and goesnot accept new msgs....
write me on my email PLS.

[Andre Stewart]

Hello Christian,

Thanks for your very interesting post.

Can I ask if you know which unit Fw Adolf Iburg came FROM? Is it any of the NJ Gruppen? If yes, then we can confirm the link with 3./ZG26.

rgds
andre

[Jim P.]

According to Prien, et al in Jagdfliegerverbande and the OKL report as transcribed by Tony Wood, Iburg claimed a Hurricane on 31-Aug-40 which was not allowed. Both sources say he was with 9./JG 54 at the time. Christian, what is your source that he came to JG 54 on 3-Oct-40? Are we talking about the same guy?