Oblt. Erich Jung, 5./NJG 2

[Ferreira]

Hi,

I'm looking for biographic information about Oblt. Erich Jung, Staffelführer of 5./NJG 2. All I know is that he had 28 victories during the war, including eight Lancaster on the night of 16-17 March, 1945.

He flew the Ju 88G6 4R+AN (Wnr 620045), and his crew was composed by Fw. Walter Heidenreich (Bf) and Stfw. Hans Reinnagel (Bm).

Is it correct? Any info about his career will be welcomed.

Pictures are also wanted!

Cheers,

Franklin

[Doug Stankey]

A search of our files reveals only:

JUNG, Erich. (DOB: 17.12.09 in Neuruppin). 01.04.43 promo to Hptm. (Kr.O.). 10.44 Hptm. and Techn.Offz. in I./JG 2.

This does not appear the guy you want. However, a search of the Kracker Archive shows:

Jung, Erich. Maj. 30victories total - Kdr I/NJG-2 (11/41), Kdr II/ZG-101 (3/43), 6/NJG-2 (12/43), 5/NJG-2, Kdr III/NJG-2 (5/45)Ju 88C; Do 17Z-10 "R4 + AK" (10/40); Ju 88R-2 "R4+AP" and Ju 88G-6 "R4+AN" in NJG-2(3/45)DK-G, EP, EK 1 & 2, Night Fighter Operational ClaspIn March, 1945, Jung scored 7 victories in 20 minutes and an 8th shortly thereafter. His crew was R/O Uffz Walter Heidenreich and Mech Ofw Hans (Heinz) Reinnagel. They flew in "4R+AN" Werk # 620045. Their last mission was 16 March, 1945, and on 25 March, 1945, Werk # 620045 was blown up as U.S. gliders were landing on their airfield at Zellhausen. One known victory, a Lancaster at Ober-Sayn on 24 December, 1943. Another, a Lancaster at Epinal on 28 April, 1944. A Lancaster in the Brussels area on 28 May, 1944. Two "4 mot's" in the Dieppe-Abbeville area on 25 June, 1944. Two "4 mot's" over northern France, in the Bourges area, on 5 July, 1944. A 3rd "4 mot", same day, N or Paris. Two "4 mots" at St Leu on 8 July, 1944. An 11th, a "4 mot" SE of Orleans on 25 July, 1944. A 12th, a P-38 in the Blechhammer area on 7 August, 1944. Magnus, 30 victories.
.Do you suppose that this could be the same fellow?

HLdZ
DGS

[Ferreira]

Hi Douglas

Thank's for the input.

According to my research, there were two different Jung on Nachtjagdwaffe.

Originally Posted by Doug Stankey

Jung, Erich. Maj. 30victories total - Kdr I/NJG-2 (11/41), Kdr II/ZG-101 (3/43), 6/NJG-2 (12/43), 5/NJG-2, Kdr III/NJG-2 (5/45)Ju 88C; Do 17Z-10 "R4 + AK" (10/40);

I'm looking for information about this here:

Originally Posted by Doug Stankey

Ju 88R-2 "R4+AP" and Ju 88G-6 "R4+AN" in NJG-2(3/45)DK-G, EP, EK 1 & 2, Night Fighter Operational ClaspIn March, 1945, Jung scored 7 victories in 20 minutes and an 8th shortly thereafter. His crew was R/O Uffz Walter Heidenreich and Mech Ofw Hans (Heinz) Reinnagel. They flew in "4R+AN" Werk # 620045. Their last mission was 16 March, 1945, and on 25 March, 1945, Werk # 620045 was blown up as U.S. gliders were landing on their airfield at Zellhausen. One known victory, a Lancaster at Ober-Sayn on 24 December, 1943. Another, a Lancaster at Epinal on 28 April, 1944. A Lancaster in the Brussels area on 28 May, 1944. Two "4 mot's" in the Dieppe-Abbeville area on 25 June, 1944. Two "4 mot's" over northern France, in the Bourges area, on 5 July, 1944. A 3rd "4 mot", same day, N or Paris. Two "4 mots" at St Leu on 8 July, 1944. An 11th, a "4 mot" SE of Orleans on 25 July, 1944.

Cheers,
Franklin

[Tom Semenza]

Franklin,

The information Doug sites regarding "Erich Jung" appears to be an amalgam of more than one individual, including Maj. Rolf Jung who was in turn Staffelkapitän of 2./NJG 2 from Oct. 1940, then the Kommandeur of I./NJG 2 from Nov. 1941 until the end of 1943. During this time he made a total of 3 claims. He may have then gone to NJG 101. However the name "Rudolf Jung" appears to be associated with the Kommadeure of III. and finally I./NJG 101.

Details of all 28 claims of Oblt. Erich Jung of II./NJG 2 can be found in Theo Boiten's 2 volume Nachtjagd War Diaries. Further info, including a photo of Jung and his crew, can be found in Peter Hinchliffe's The Other Battle: Luftwaffe Night Aces versus Bomber Command. Apparently he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold sometime during 1945. Otherwise there is not much of a biographical nature to be found.

Regards,

Tom

[Kaczmarek]

The last mission of the Jung crew was the night of 20/21 April 1945. The last mission with the 4R+AN was the 14 April 1945. He also flew the 4R+LN and 4R+DM in the last days.

Kaczmarek

[Doug Stankey]

It appears that Tom Semenza's comments are well founded. From our files we have:

JUNG, Rolf. 26.06.41? Oblt., appt Staka 2./NJG 2 (to 01.11.41). 01.11.41 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./NJG 2 (to 12.43) 01.42 Hptm., Staka 4./NJG 2. 07.09.42 Hptm., awarded Ehrenpokal. 31.08.44 Maj., appt Kdr. III./NJG 101.

JUNG, Rudolf. (DOB: 10.03.12). 08.40 Staka 2./JG 2. 01.12.41 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./NJG 2 (to 01.12.43). 01.03.43 Kdr. I./NJG 2, promo to Maj. 07.02.44 appt Ia op ½. Jagddivision. 31.08.44 Maj., appt Kdr. III./NJG 101 (to 19.10.44). 20.10.44 Maj., appt Kdr. I./NJG 101 (to 15.03.45).


It appears that our Erich Jung data applies to one fellow who apparently had nothing to do with the night fighters. The Kracker material does appear to be a combination of Rolf and Rudolf Jung. A compilation of commanders of NJG 2 would have revealed this. I am currently attempting to do just that and may post the results later.


HLdZ
DGS

[Doug Stankey]

It is belatedly apparent that Rolf and Rudolf are the same guy! I had already noted this in our pending changes file!

DGS

[Peglar]

I had a Copy of his Flight Book from April 1944 - 20 April 1945 (23:06) Pocking 21. April 1945 02:36 - LKW Kolonne angegriffen - Jung/Heidenreich Ju 88 4R + LN 9W+AB 4R+AN 4R+DM

Greetings Peglar

[Tom Semenza]

Peglar,

I am very interested in learning the codes of the particular Ju 88s that Jung was flying when claiming his Abschüße. Theo Boiten has provided most of these in his Nachtjagd War Diaries, but a few are missing. If you would be so kind I would very much appreciate if you could provide the aircraft codes and Ju 88 subtype (i.e. R-2 or G-6) for the following dates:

28.04.44 Lancaster at 03.07
28.05.44 Lancaster at 02.27
25.07.44 Lancaster at 00.12
07.08.44 P-38(P-61?) at 12.21
01.02.45 Lancaster at 19.43
07.03.45 Lancaster at 22.08

In addition the two claims on 25.06.44 were made with 4R + FP. Do you know the subtype of the Ju 88.

Many thanks in advance,

Tom

[Johannes]

Hi

The Micro Films produce clues here with his rank. his first eighteen were with 6./NJG 2 not 5./NJG 2. Between his eleventh on 25th July 1944 and twelvth on 7th august 1944 he was promoted from Leutnant to Oberleutnant i.e the first eleven listed as a Leutnant the 12-18 as an Oberleutnant, all with 6./NJG 6.

24th December 1943 Lancaster 0230hrs 6400 metres Nr 1
28th April 1944 Lancaster ESE Neufchateau 0310hrs 3200 metres Nr 2
28th May 1944 Lancaster Brussels area 0227hrs 2200 metres Nr 3
25th June 1944 Stirling Amiens area 0028hrs 2100 metres Nr 4
25th June 1944 Lancaster Amiens area 0034hrs 2000 metres Nr 5
5th July 1944 4-eng 0128 hrs 3500 metres Nr 6
5th July 1944 4-eng 0103hrs 3700 metres Nr 7
5th July 1944 4-eng North of Paris 0136hrs 3400 metres Nr 8
8th July 1944 B-17 10km North of Creil 0113hrs 3600 metres Nr 9
8th July 1944 Lancaster 50km North of Creil 0135hrs 3200 metres Nr 10
25th July 1944 4-eng SE Orleans 0012hrs 3100 metres Nr 11
7th August 1944 P-38 0231hrs 1800 metres Nr 12
2nd November 1944 Lancaster 10km NW Dusseldorf 1935hrs 5000 metres Nr 13
2nd November 1944 Lancaster NW Dusseldorf 1938hrs 4800 metres Nr 14
2nd November 1944 Lancaster 25km NW Dusseldorf 1943hrs 5000 metres Nr 15
4th November 1944 Lancaster 1937hrs 4500 metres Nr 16
4th November 1944 Lancaster 1944hrs 4200 metres Nr 17
21st November 1944 Lancaster 1913hrs 5000 metres Nr 18

These should all be taken as fact. For his 1945 claims, they are not recorded on the micro Films, and should be quite reliable, but also open to question. They are all stating his rank as Oberleutnant, and with I./NJG 2, however Oberleutnant he may very well have been, but with I./NJG 2 I think not, infact I should think he was with II./NJG 2, and with all probability 6./NJG 2.

1st February 1945 Lancaster 1943hrs Nr 19
7th March 1945 4-eng Dessau Nr 20
7th March 1945 Lancaster 2208hrs Nr 21
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 2112hrs Nr 22
16th March 1945 Lancaster Crailsheim 21??hrs Nr 23
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 24
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 25
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 26
16th March 1945 Lancaster Nuremberg area 21??hrs Nr 27
16th March 1945 Lancaster West of Nuremberg 21??hrs Nr 28
16th March 1945 Lancaster 20km East of wurzburg 2143hrs Nr 29
27th April 1945 Lancaster Nr 30

The last look especially suspect in light that it seems to fall after his last official sortie!
He should very well have been awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, however records end the before October 1944, so all we have are evidence from the pilots themselves and photo's. He have have been awarded one in late 1944 or 1945. Seems never to have been shot down or wounded

Regards

Johannes
July