Oberst Alf Giesse Wekusta 2.Ob.d.L

[schnellmeyer]

Can anybody please help me with information on Oberst Alf Giesse who was based in Nantes with Wekusta 2.Ob.d.L , thanks.

[Larry deZeng]

GIESSE, Alf. (DOB: 26.12.02). (i.G.). 01.04.24 entered service with the Heer (Kavallerie). 01.01.28 promo to Lt. 01.03.31 promo to Oblt. 01.03.34 trf to the Luftwaffe and ordered to Fliegerschule Braunschweig for Beobachter (observer) training. 01.04.34 promo to Hptm. 01.10.34 appt Kp.-Chef at Fliegerschule Neuruppin. 01.01.35 appt instructor and inspector at Infanterie-Schule Dresden. 01.10.35 appt air tactics instructor at LKS Berlin-Gatow. 01.06.36 appt air tactics instructor at Flieger-Waffenschule Hildesheim. 01.11.37 attended the Höh.Lw.-Schule Berlin-Gatow (5. Lehrgang) (to 08.02.38). 09.02.38 trf to 3.Abt./Genst.d.Lw. 01.06.38 promo to Maj. 1939 certified fluent in English. 05.01.39 Generalstab training at the Luftkriegsakademie Berlin-Gatow (to 31.03.39). 26.08.39 ordered to Stab/Koluft AOK 8 on temporary duty and appt Ic (to 01.10.39). 01.10.39 ordered Stab/Gen.d.Lw. beim Ob.d.H. on temporary duty (to 08.01.40). 09.01.40 appt Staka 2.(Pz)/Aufkl.Gr. 31 (to 06.07.40). 07.07.40 appt Kdr. Aufkl.Gr. 41 (to 14.02.41). 15.02.41 Maj., appt Kdr. Gruppenfliegerstab 41 (a.k.a. Gruppenflieger XIV.(mot) A.K.) (to 09.41 or 09.12.41). 10.12.41 appt Ia in Stab/Luftgaukdo. VIII. 01.02.42 promo to Obstlt. and trf into the Generalstab d.Lw. 23.02.42 ordered to Stab/Fliegerführer Krim for temporary duty as Ia (to 06.05.42). 01.06.42 trf to Führerreserve Ob.d.L./RLM and ordered to Stab/Luftflotte 4 for temporary duty and appt Verbindungs-Offz. to Heeresgruppe A. 29.04.43 ordered to Aufkl.Gr. 123 for temporary duty (to 16.05.43). 17.05.43 Obstlt., appt Kdr. Aufkl.Gr. 123 (to 04.09.43). 04.09.43 Obstlt. and Kdr. Aufkl.Gr. (F) 123, MIA – flying as Beobachter (observer) in Ju 88 D-1 that failed to return from a recce mission to the British Isles area. 1945 promo to Oberst (DOR withheld but later adjusted to 01.09.43).

[Source: HLdeZ/DGS data base]

Westa 2 Ob.d.L. was one of the units under Aufkl.Gr. (F) 123, which Giesse commanded. Giesse was not "in" Westa 2 Ob.d.L.

[schnellmeyer]

Hi Larry , thanks very much for your help , super information . Do you have any information on Giesse death's or who he flew with on the day he was lost .

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by schnellmeyer

Hi Larry , thanks very much for your help , super information . Do you have any information on Giesse death's or who he flew with on the day he was lost .

Nope, sorry. One of the losses guys here will have to field that one for you. The Blitz - Then and Now, vol. 3 (p.293), just says a Ju 88 from 1.(F)/121 was missing that date, and my notes have:

".......on 4 September Ju 88 D-l (7A+LH) failed to return from a mission. Included in the crew reported missing was Obstlt. Alfred Giesse, Kommandeur of Aufklärungsgruppe (F) 123, who was flying as observer/navigator."

That's all I have since I did not note the names of crew members below the rank of Oblt. when I was working with the loss reports 20-25 years ago.

Larry

[Brian Bines]

Ju88 D-1 7A+LH 430778 of I(F)/121 Ff Oblt Waldemar Lutsch St.Kap. awarded RK posth., B Obertlt. Alfred Giesse Kom Aufkl.Gp. 123, Bf Fw Josef Swobada, Bs Fw Friedrich Weber all missing,

Regards

Brian Bines

[schnellmeyer]

Thank you Brian for your help . Have you any idea how the JU88 was lost ?

[Brian Bines]

There appears to be no Allied claim that would link to the loss of 7A+LH and the GQM listing has unknown for both place and cause. The only claim over the UK is that of Ltn Baack of 14/KG2 who claimed a twin engined aircraft south of Lincoln at 0351 hrs. I believe others have tried to trace this twin engined aircraft claimed by Baack but have not found an Allied loss or crash site. I put a post on TOCH some time ago asking if there was any evidence to suggest Baack may have attacked 7A+LH which could have flown off damaged and crashed in the sea but there was nothing to support this. UK records just show two enemy aircraft as crossing the coast of East Anglia, V/KG2 were flying against RAF bombers returning from Berlin . The loss of 7A+LH must remain as unknown could be anything from a low level crash in the sea to mech. trouble, there appears to have been no distress call
A report from a Recon crew captured later noted that Giesse was an able and popular officer, but it was felt his keeness to fly was in the hope of more medals,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by schnellmeyer

Thank you Brian for your help . Have you any idea how the JU88 was lost ?

There is probably a 50% chance of there being some reports and/or correspondence concerning his missing status in his personnel file at BA-MA Freiburg, in the event you may want to pursue this further. Something on the aircraft's last known position and radio contact might be useful as well as reports from German radar along the Channel coast. Just a thought.

L.

[schnellmeyer]

Many thanks Brian and Larry for your posts and help . I will try contacting the BA in Freiburg and see if they can add anything extra . Again thanks .