Martin Vetter - Two individuals or the same guy?

[Andy Fletcher]

Could anyone tell me if this is the same individual.

1. Maj Martin Vetter: DKiG 27Jul42 (as Oblt with II./KG 51)

St.Kap. Erg.Sta./KG 51 Aug40-21Mar41 (as Hptm?)
II./KG 51 (27Jul42) (as Oblt)
Gr.Kdr. III./KG 3 Feb44-Oct44(09Sep44) (as Hptm)
Gr.Kdr. I./KG 53 Oct44(09Sep44)-Mar45 (as Maj)
Act? Gr.Kdr. II./KG 51 01Jan45-06Feb45 (as Maj)

2. Obst Martin Vetter: RK 16May40 (as Maj and Gr.Kdr. II./KG 26)

Gr.Kdr. II./KG 26 06Apr40-20Aug40 (as Maj)
Gr.Kdr. I./GKFS 3 Jul41-28Jun42 (as Maj)
Kdre. KG 40 Jul42-01Sep43 (as Obst)

The assignments potentially line up (albeit with "demotion" from Kdre. to Gr.Kdr.) but the ranks don't tally. If he is the same guy did he upset someone and get relieved of command of KG 40 (and get demoted)?

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[kalender1973]

It should be two different guys: the RK could not awarded before DKiG, IMHO

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Igor,
I am not sure, but the DKiG was instituted much later in the war. Several airmen received the RK before the DKiG at the beginning of the war, if I do remember well.
Adriano Baumgartner

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Igor,

There are many cases of the RK being awarded before the DKiG which was first instituted late 1941 IIRC. There are also a few cases of individuals being awarded the RK after 1941 who never received the DKiG, Alfred Grislawski being one example.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[kalender1973]

Hello Andy, hello Andriano,

you are right, DKiG was introduced later and was independent from RK.

My mistake !

Best regards

[Doug Stankey]

Yes, these are two different people!

VETTER, Martin.
(Date of birth: 20.04.05 in New Guinea. 07.38 Hptm., appt Staka 1./KG 257.
01.05.39 Hptm., appt Staka 1./KG 26 (to 06.04.40).
06.04.40 Maj., appt Kdr. II./KG 26 (to 20.08.40).
16.05.40 Maj. and Kdr. II./KG 26, awarded the Ritterkreuz for leading his Gruppe on a number of successful attacks on Royal Navy surface units in the Firth of Forth and in the North Sea off Norway. 01.06.41 Maj., appt Kdr. I./Grosse-KFS 3 (to 28.06.42).
07.42 Obstlt., appt Kommodore KG 40 (to 01.09.43).
01.04.43 promo to Oberst.
11.44 Oberst, appt Kdr. Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 17 (to 11.03.45).
†25.09.82.


VETTER, Martin.
Date of birth: 29.06.18.
02.04.42 Oblt. and pilot, awarded the Ehrenpokal.
27.07.42 Oblt., awarded DKG, II./KG 51.
15.02.43 appt Staka 12./KG 51 (to 22.12.43).
04.43 in II./KG 51.
01.12.43 promo to Hptm.
c.06.02.44 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./KG 3 (to 20.10.44).
15.10.44 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./KG 53 (to 04.45).
01.11.44 promo to Maj.
01.01.45 Maj., appt Kdr. II./KG 51 (to 06.02.45).


While it is not unusual to find two or even more people in the Luftwaffe with the same name, it is very unusual for two to have the same unusual name. It is also very, very odd that two guys with the same name to have very similar career tracks.

In any case, these are definitely two different people. We had to carefully check this out for our book since these are both bomber guys.

I don’t recall seeing any others with this type of coincidence.

[Doug Stankey]

An hour after posting the above, I find another example!

SCHMIDT, Rudi.
Date of birth: 15.03.14.
01.04.42 promo to Hptm.
13.08.42 Oblt., awarded DKG, 6./KG 26.
12.02.43 Hptm., appt Staka 4./KG 26 (to 02.12.44).
03.12.44 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./KG 26 (to 08.05.45).
28.03.45 Hptm.,awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr. II./KG 26.
Author of “Torpedo Los!” – a history of KG 26.
†23.02.00.

SCHMIDT, Rudolf.
Date pf birth: 26.12.15.
27.03.42 Oblt., awarded DKG, 5./KG 76.
05.09.42 Hptm., Staka 5./KG 76 MIA.
02.10.42 Hptm. and Staka 5./KG 76, posthumously awarded Ritterkreuz.
†05.09.1942.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Doug,

Many thanks once again for the very detailed data, it's much appreciated.

Cheers

Andy Fletcher