Lw. Aircraft Lost in Latvia on 05.08.44

[Larry deZeng]

This just in from a German fellow. Can anyone help with NVM information that hopefully includes details as to location, pilot's unit (possibly JG 54), markings, cause of the loss, etc.?

I am searching for my great-uncle who got lost in Second World war. He was Luftwaffe pilot and crashed with his plane in Latvia on 5th August 1944. I am right now in Latvia to search for him and it seems like I found his plane wreck. By now, I couldn´t find any data plate for identification but location of crash and technical details of plane fit the story of my great-uncles loss.

The location of crash was German territory that day so there is slim chance that German units noticed the crash and reported the event. So I need to check records for that period and for this I need T-312 Roll 629.

I hope somebody can help me with this important issue.

Thank you very much.

Thank you,

L.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

De Zeng,

Do have checked an old file with quite a lot of JG 54 losses and sadly there is NO entry for the 05th August 1944, although that I believe that Matti can match this one (he Always is 100%).

There are entries on the 01 August, 05, 15th, 16th and 25th...Are you sure that the guy's Grand-Father was killed on the 05th?

I can put all the other entries for the month of August 1944, if you both wish so....

Adriano B.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Does the person know which kind of machine his Grand-Father flew? I mean, it could be a Ju 88, a Ju 34, etc....quite a number of options.

Surely, from the DATA I do have on JG 54, no loss recorded that day. Perhaps someone do have more info.

A.

[Larry deZeng]

Thank you Adriano for your quick replies. Unfortunately, JG 54 is just a guess by me based on the requestor's screen name: SebastianJG54. He apparently does not know the aircraft type. This is why I think the additional information may have to come from the NVMs. Interestingly, the requestor says he is in Latvia right now but will be leaving in just 8 days. He said he was in the approximate area of the crash site but more precise details on the location are lacking.

L. deZ.

[Brian Bines]

The list I have has 1/KG54 Fw 190 A-6 white 1 550209 Ofhr Heinz Friebel lost in air battle on 5-08-44 no location given . The list has few locations but in the period 2 & 3/54 has a couple of losses in France while 1/54 appears to be in combat with Russian aircraft and lost Hptm Ademeit in the East on the 7th.. I do not know if I/54 was spilt between fronts in early August making Friebel a possibility,

Regards
Brian Bines
,

[Wast1991]

Hello everyone,

thank you for your help but I already have the informations Larry asked for. Also I know the aircraft type very exactly (FW 190 A6). I just asked for NARA-documents in axis-history forum, not for details about plane or unit. The topic about my great-uncle was already discussed here:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=47660

Anyway, thank you Larry for your help. The NARA-issue would be the more important thing at the moment..

Best regards
Sebastian

[Larry deZeng]

Yes, thank you Adriano and Brian. I did not know Sebastian had already addressed this matter here at an earlier time.

Larry

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Sebastian and Larry,

Firstly, thankfully to other members we do have a match as previously researched.

I do have two questions:
1- Was your Grand-Father' wreck found? I remember Reading here at this Fórum the happiness of a German researcher who found Kittel's wreck and visited the site with Kittel's son....so perhaps (and I desire you so) you will be soon able to find the rest place of your Grand-Father
2- There are at this Fórum some real experts on the Russian Aces and claims. Perhaps they CAN inform you who claimed a Fw 190 A-6 on the 05 August 1944 during that combat and even match the only victory that your Grand-Father claimed, earlier.

I wish you will be able to find the rest place, recover some stuff and do make a beautiful 1/32 or 1/24 model of his Fw 190 A-6 to preserve within the Family....

May you and yours enjoy a nice tripé to Latvia and keep us informed. It is Always a common happiness to see Family members honoring their heroes and fallen airmen...and we all learn a bit more.

Horrido
Adriano Baumgartner (probably related to Swiss born Obfw Wilhelm Baumgartner, from JG 77 - KIA in 1943 after obtaining 34 victories)

[Wast1991]

Dear Adriano,

thank you for your reply.

1. It is possible that I found the right plane (FW 190 A6) but by now, I have no evidence for that because I couldn´t find the data plate of the plane yet. Also the plane crashed without pilot. There were no remains and locals told story about parachute jump. But nobody know about pilot´s fate after that.

About Kittel: As far as I know, it is not yet clear if Otto Kittel´s crash site was really found. During my 2 trips to Latvia, I heard different stories about that.

2. I am already in contact with a specialist about Russian claims and I guess I already have all reports from the Russian side..

Best regards
Sebastian

[Dan History]

Dear Sebastian,

I have looked at some of the Soviet reports for 5 August and it appears somewhat possible that Paul-Heinz was shot down by Junior Lieutenant Noskin of 761 IAP (fighter regiment), 259 IAD (fighter division), 3 VA (Air Army). Noskin shot down 1 Fw 190, flying in a group of 8 Yaks which engaged 4 Fw 190s. His own aircraft, which was most likely a Yak-7b, was damaged in combat and he force-landed near Mitau (Jelgava). The aircraft was probably written off.

The relationship between the above incident and the loss of Paul-Heinz is just conjecture, based on the fact that Paul-Heinz is reported to have been lost in combat with Yak fighters and the fact that Noskin force-landed near Mitau. There were 5 fighter divisions in 3 VA, of which 2 flew Airacobras, 1 flew La-5s, 1 flew Yak-9s (4 GIAD) and 1 flew a mix of Yak-7s and La-5s (259 IAD). These divisions made other claims on 5 August 1944, of course, but I don't have the full details.

I wish you the very best of luck in your search.

Regards,

Dan