Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces

Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 26th January 2011, 17:22
FalkeEins's Avatar
FalkeEins FalkeEins is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Hauts-de-France
Posts: 838
FalkeEins will become famous soon enough
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

the subject came up when we were preparing the JG300 volumes.
Zwesken did indeed commit suicide, I don't recall Leo's "..complication's.." although that sounds eminently possible. The story I heard was much more outlandish and probably shouldn't be repeated here since probably based on hearsay...
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26th January 2011, 18:23
Johannes Johannes is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,353
Johannes has a spectacular aura aboutJohannes has a spectacular aura about
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Hi Bart


I have yet to see evidence that he flew for Jg52, certainly didn't get any claims with this unit. Committed suicide on n22nd February 1946.

Claims are(those after 24th December 1945 are not found on the Micro films, so somewhat open to question!) all with 6./Jg300.

21st June 1944 B-17 Oranienburg 1027 hrs 4500 metres Nr1.
26th June 1944 B-24 Tullen area 0944 hrs 6000 metres E.V Nr2.
7th July 1944 B-24 Magdeburg area 0940 hrs 6000 metres Nr3.
19th July 1944 P-38 South of Munich 1135 hrs 5500 metres Nr4.
22nd August 1944 P-38 Balkony Forest 1004 hrs 7000 metres Nr5.
22nd August 1944 P-38 40km North of Pecs 1005 hrs 2500 metres ASM Nr6.
22nd August 1944 P-38 10km South of Mor 1009 hrs 7000 metres Nr7.
22nd August 1944 B-24 Bohonye area 1325 hrs 4000 hrs ASM Nr8.
24th August 1944 B-24 Neuhaus/Bohmen 1245 hrs 6000 metres Nr9.
29th August 1944 B-17 Brno 1102 hrs 7500 metres Nr10.
12th September 1944 B-17 North-East of Eberswalde 1131 hra 8000 metres Nr11.
13th September 1944 P-51 West of Eisenach u/c
17th December 1944 B-24 Prerau area 1153 hrs 7500 metres Nr12.
17th December 1944 B-24 5km North of Sternberg 1156 hrs 7500 metres Nr13.
24th December 1944 P-51 1458 hrs 7000 metres Nr14.
31st December 1944 B-17 Rotenburg area 1205 hrs
31st December 1944 B-17 Rotenburg area
14th January 1945 B-17
2nd March 1945 B-17 Torgau area
2nd March 1945 B-17Trogau area
27th March 1945 unknown
14th April 1945 P-47 North of Bamberg.

So no less than fourteen confirmed claims, mostly heavy bombers, but likely twenty-one claims, of which at least fourteen heavy bombers. He is also thought to have claimed another two kills in March 1945 not listed.

Regards

Johannes
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 26th January 2011, 19:38
Leo Etgen Leo Etgen is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,183
Leo Etgen is on a distinguished road
Rudolf Zwesken

Hi guys

Bart, I do not have a web site. What I have done is simply use the template that Kacha used on his web site for the biographies that I have compiled. Many thanks to Johannes for the date of his suicide as I did not have that information. As Johannes and I were discussing some time ago it may very well be that he never did serve with JG 52.

Horrido!

Leo
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 26th January 2011, 20:22
Doug Stankey Doug Stankey is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Thunder Bay, Canada
Posts: 694
Doug Stankey is on a distinguished road
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Here is what we have about this fellow:


ZWESKEN, Rudi (“Bulle”).
(DOB: 13.08.19 in Marschendorf/Mähren).
1943 in 1./JG 52.
1944 trf to 6./JG 300.
1945 in III./JG 300.
21.03.45 Ofw. in 6./JG 300, reportedly awarded the Ritterkreuz, but confirmation lacking. In fact, the very existence of this pilot needs confirmation.
Credited with c.45 air victories.
1947 said to have committed suicide in Sachsen (Saxony).
†22.02.46.


We hope that this helps. Any additions or corrections would be appreciated.

HLdZ
DGS
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 26th January 2011, 20:29
Bart V.'s Avatar
Bart V. Bart V. is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 48
Bart V. is on a distinguished road
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Quote:
Originally Posted by FalkeEins View Post
the subject came up when we were preparing the JG300 volumes.
Zwesken did indeed commit suicide, I don't recall Leo's "..complication's.." although that sounds eminently possible. The story I heard was much more outlandish and probably shouldn't be repeated here since probably based on hearsay...
If you want, could you PM me about it? I sadly have so less on him and not much confirmed (as the year of his suicide or why he did..), therefor I am very interested in all information.
__________________
Ritterkreuzträgers, Deutsches Kreuz in Gold-trägers and other High Award holders born in Sudetenland.
-- Currently searching all information related to Josef Baier (StG 77), Wilhelm Bergmann (KG 4), Josef Blümel (SG 3), Siegfried Fischer (StG 1), Bruno Klos (KG 54), Erwin Kretschmer (SG 2), Alfred Lausch (JG 300), Rudolf Miethig (JG 52), Leopold Münster (JG 3), Emil Neumann (?), Otto Prokop (KG) u. Josef Pellikan (SG 2).
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 26th January 2011, 20:36
Bart V.'s Avatar
Bart V. Bart V. is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 48
Bart V. is on a distinguished road
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Quote:
Originally Posted by Johannes View Post
Hi Bart


I have yet to see evidence that he flew for Jg52, certainly didn't get any claims with this unit. Committed suicide on n22nd February 1946.

Claims are(those after 24th December 1945 are not found on the Micro films, so somewhat open to question!) all with 6./Jg300.

21st June 1944 B-17 Oranienburg 1027 hrs 4500 metres Nr1.
26th June 1944 B-24 Tullen area 0944 hrs 6000 metres E.V Nr2.
7th July 1944 B-24 Magdeburg area 0940 hrs 6000 metres Nr3.
19th July 1944 P-38 South of Munich 1135 hrs 5500 metres Nr4.
22nd August 1944 P-38 Balkony Forest 1004 hrs 7000 metres Nr5.
22nd August 1944 P-38 40km North of Pecs 1005 hrs 2500 metres ASM Nr6.
22nd August 1944 P-38 10km South of Mor 1009 hrs 7000 metres Nr7.
22nd August 1944 B-24 Bohonye area 1325 hrs 4000 hrs ASM Nr8.
24th August 1944 B-24 Neuhaus/Bohmen 1245 hrs 6000 metres Nr9.
29th August 1944 B-17 Brno 1102 hrs 7500 metres Nr10.
12th September 1944 B-17 North-East of Eberswalde 1131 hra 8000 metres Nr11.
13th September 1944 P-51 West of Eisenach u/c
17th December 1944 B-24 Prerau area 1153 hrs 7500 metres Nr12.
17th December 1944 B-24 5km North of Sternberg 1156 hrs 7500 metres Nr13.
24th December 1944 P-51 1458 hrs 7000 metres Nr14.
31st December 1944 B-17 Rotenburg area 1205 hrs
31st December 1944 B-17 Rotenburg area
14th January 1945 B-17
2nd March 1945 B-17 Torgau area
2nd March 1945 B-17Trogau area
27th March 1945 unknown
14th April 1945 P-47 North of Bamberg.

So no less than fourteen confirmed claims, mostly heavy bombers, but likely twenty-one claims, of which at least fourteen heavy bombers. He is also thought to have claimed another two kills in March 1945 not listed.

Regards

Johannes
Many thanks for the list! (a) Suicide date: 22.02.46 or year 1947 - I sadly do not have a year confirmed as the year 1947 is based on hearsay. What I have on him starts with his career as Verbandsführer in 6. Staffel des Jagdgeschwaders 300. So, the same with you, I have not any confirmation on his career with Jagdgeschwader 52 rather than only a "note" that he would've served there.

Doug, thanks for the data. I have so less on him otherwise I certainly would have corrected or helped with more information (also to others).

Many thanks in advance and for all the reactions yet!
__________________
Ritterkreuzträgers, Deutsches Kreuz in Gold-trägers and other High Award holders born in Sudetenland.
-- Currently searching all information related to Josef Baier (StG 77), Wilhelm Bergmann (KG 4), Josef Blümel (SG 3), Siegfried Fischer (StG 1), Bruno Klos (KG 54), Erwin Kretschmer (SG 2), Alfred Lausch (JG 300), Rudolf Miethig (JG 52), Leopold Münster (JG 3), Emil Neumann (?), Otto Prokop (KG) u. Josef Pellikan (SG 2).
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 9th September 2019, 01:30
Gaston Gaston is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 30
Gaston is on a distinguished road
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Somewhere on the Internet I read this (Unfortunately I don't know where. It's about two or three years back):

Zwesken after his release from American / British captivity, still this day (reportedly February 22, 1946) went to drink freedom to a nearby pub. Too bad she was full of British and American soldiers. When they learned it was German, one of the British or American soldiers shot him. To avoid a scandal, they called it suicide. And to this day, the circumstances of his death are unclear and incomplete.

Who knows if it's true or not ...
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 26th March 2023, 09:22
Edward L. Hsiao Edward L. Hsiao is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 490
Edward L. Hsiao is on a distinguished road
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Gentlemen,

Rudolf Zwesken may had been murdered in the year 1947.

Edward L. Hsiao
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 26th March 2023, 15:28
FalkeEins's Avatar
FalkeEins FalkeEins is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Hauts-de-France
Posts: 838
FalkeEins will become famous soon enough
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

no suggestion of that at all in the Kripo documents posted on jg300.de
Have a look here if you want the 'gist'
Strange (post-war) deaths of the aces

still too 'bizarre'
__________________
FalkeEins- The Luftwaffe blog
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 3rd April 2023, 14:21
Johannes Johannes is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,353
Johannes has a spectacular aura aboutJohannes has a spectacular aura about
Re: Rudolf Zwesken

Hi Guys

One of the most obscure aces, especially considering his Ritterkreuz.

Zwesken almost certainly made no claims with JG52, in fact I doubt if he ever flew with them.

recently even his death is in question. New story is that upon his release from prison cape he celebrated by going to his local pub, here he was murdered by American service men, and it was covered-up by saying he committed suicide, date given is 22nd February 1946.

The mikrofilms have fourteen victories confirmed until 24th December 1944 when they cease for this unit. I have dates for another seven, but cannot be 100% sure they are legitimate. All were claimed during the day, no "wildsau". probably got the Ritterkreuz for his "viermot" expertise. I have him only ever flying for 5th and 6th staffeln JG 300.

Kind Regards

Johannes
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rudolf Schütze, KC holder - pic wanted! bakerman Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 2 15th October 2015 14:11
Rudolf Trenn Rich69 Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 6 25th September 2010 03:28
Rudolf Wahn - III/StG 2 "Immelmann" mdejong Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 2 13th November 2008 21:38
Rudolf Hallensleben KG76 career. steve sheridan Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 11 2nd August 2008 00:38
Rudolf Bernd DKiG Andy Fletcher Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 2 25th October 2006 21:01


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 10:15.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net