Heinz-Edgar Berres

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

I have read that Leutnant Heinz-Edgar Berres (52 victories, RK, missing in action 25 July 1943) of Stab I./JG 77 was shot down and forced to bale out of his fighter on 3 November 1942, possibly in the same engagement during which he claimed a P-40 fighter as his 20th victory. However, the only matching losses that JG 77 suffered around that date that would fit the circumstances are:

2 November 1942: Bf 109 G-2/Trop (W.Nr. 10 549) of 1./JG 77 due to enemy fighters southwest of El Alamein
2 November 1942: Bf 109 G-2/Trop (W.Nr. 10 480) of 1./JG 77 due to enemy fire south of El Daba
4 November 1942: Bf 109 G-2/Trop (W.Nr. 10 568) of Stab/JG 77 due to enemy fire over Qutaifiya

In all three incidents the pilot baled out and the fighter struck the ground burning. Is the information that Berres was shot down that day incorrect or is there the possibility that he was flying one of these aircraft and the date when he was shot down according to the information I read erroneous?

Horrido!

Leo

[RossGmann]

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/berres.html

20

3.11.1942

15:57 P-40 Stab I./JG 77 NW Quotaifiya
Please note date of 3.11.1942. No indication he was shot down on that date

Kind regards

Ross

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Leo,

Was looking for something else when I found this thread. Heinz-Edgar Berres was indeed shot down on 3 November 1942, and was rescued by the Wüstennotstaffel ten kilometres south of Bir el Abd.

I'll hopefully email you in the next couple of days with some Jagdgeschwader 2 pilot biographies for you to check.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Andrew

Many thanks for reviving this old thread. Since it is now confirmed that this incident occurred is there any information regarding the aircraft he was flying at the time or is this one of those losses which are not included in the loss lists? Many thanks for any help.

Horrido!

Leo

[Matti Salonen]

1942-11-03, Stab I/JG 77, Bf 109 G-2 Trop, 10568, Qutaifiya, Absturz infolge Feindbeschuß und Aufschlagbrand. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Lt Berres, Heinz-Edgar
Lt Berres mit Fallschirm abgesprungen.

Matti

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Matti

Many thanks for your helpful reply. It is great to finally have this information and the aphorism better late then never is certainly true. Please take care and thanks.

Horrido!

Leo

[ouidjat]

Hello,

Interesting indeed. So, 3/11 or 4/11 as written on post #1?

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Franck,

The pilot was definitely rescued on 3 November 1942 at 16:00. Given that he claimed an aerial victory at 15:57 on 3 November 1942, I'd suggest that he was shot down during that combat.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[ouidjat]

Hello Andrew,

Thanks, indeed. But:
Leo is not reputed to be a "rooky"; so what is his source: a publication? If so, what's the publication source?

Cheers, Franck.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Franck,

I just checked Prien, Jagdgeschwader 77, and he has the Berres loss listed on 3 November 1942 in WNr. 10 568 with the Stab of I./J.G. 77 (page 1315), but also lists WNr. 10 568 destroyed on 4 November with the Stab of J.G. 77 (page 1319). Presumably this was Leo's source for the 4 November loss.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles