A ?? RE: Rollwage's injury of 10 Nov 1942

[NickM]

I just finished (re)reading Brian Cull's 'Spitfires over Malta' & came across an interesting entry: Herbert Rollwage of II/JG53 was injured in a 'deadstick' landing on 10 November, 1942; he crashedlanded at a place called 'Koufonisi'; however, at the time, supposedly II/JG53 was involved in escorting aerial transports flying from Sicily to North Africa; however Koufonisi is in the Cyclades Island group in the Aegean Sea off Eastern Greece---that is WAY off the 'Sicily to North Africa' path...was a portion of II/JG53 diverted to Greece or is there ANOTHER island called Koufonisi somewhere off the Tunis/Sicily?

thanks, ahead of time

NickM

PS: I don't have the time to get Priens' History of JG53 loaned in to my local library at this time;

[NickM]

***bump****

[Franek Grabowski]

The very same info there.

[Brian]

Hi Nick & Franek

Is this a case of following the leader? Have I perpetuated misinformation?

Cheers
Brian

[NickM]

I dunno fellas; was maybe a portion of II/JG53 detached to Greece? Or maybe Rollwage crashedlanded somewhere more in keeping with the Sicily/Tunis line?

NickM

[robert]

Hi,


the parts of II/JG53 (perhaps 5 and 6. Staffel) were tasked in this days with convoy escort. So I think the air combat which led to this accident occured in conjuction with this task.
The other parts of II/JG53 moved on 07.11.42 to Sardinia and later on 09.11.42 to Tunis.


Robert

[RossGmann]

I am only passing on the following information for what it is worth. The following website states in part

www.luftwaffe.cz/rollwage.html

He was shot down in aerial combat over Koufonisi island on 10 November 1942 in Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 105 00) “Black 5”. Rollwage force-landed his damaged aircraft having also received wounds in the engagement. Operating over Tunisia from December 1942, Oberfeldwebel Rollwage claimed a further six victories.

His unit at this time was 5.JG/ 53

Kind regards
Ross

[Gielle]

According to Prien's JG 53 history, vol II, at the end of october 1942 II/JG 53 was called upon flying escort missions for transport bound for Africa.
Anyway, the were not bound to Tunisia, but to Eastern Lybia instead (Tobruk and Benghazi), were the front was crumbling after the El Alamein battle.
The port of Tobruk fell again in British hands on Nov 13th, and until that date was used by the Axis to land reinforcements and supplies.
Since the route Sicily-Eastern Lybia was way too long for the short legged JG II/53 Bf 109s, they were temporary moved to Crete via Puglia (Italy's heel) and Greece mainland.
That should explain why Obfw Rollwage (from 5./JG 53) crashlanded on the island of Koufunisi. On the same day, 6./JG 53 had another casualty, when Uffz. A. Lange crashedlanded in Kastelli (Crete).

Regards.