Service of Uffz Albert Espenlaub with 4./JG26

[Larry Hickey]

I know that Uffz Albert Espenlaub was assigned to 4./JG26 sometime during 1939, but can find no record of him until he later flew with I./JG27 in 1941. Does anyone know when he was assigned to 4./JG 26, and when he departed from that unit? Did he then go immediately to JG27?

Thanx,

[Brettas]

Hi Larry Hynkey,

In the book of J. Richard Smith & Martin Pegg "War Over the Desert Notth africa june 1940 - june 1942" says that Albert Espenlaub completed your training in the end of 1940 and it was transferred like Unteroffizier for I. / JG 27.
Hugs,
E. Brettas
www.avesdobrasil.com.br

[Larry Hickey]

Thank you Mr. Brettas,

What I'm going on is a photo of Uffz Espenlaub with a Bf109E of 4./JG26 in 1939 camouflage. The context of the photo and caption info indicates that he was a pilot with 4./JG26 at the time. So, this does not square with the other source. The aircraft in the picture with Uffz Espenlaub is clearly in 1939 camouflage.

Thanx

[KrisJG3]

Here is info. 1./JG27 :

http://asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/Bf-109F-JG27.1-(W5+)-Espenlaub/pages/5-Pilot-JG27-Albert-Espenlaub-02.html

http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/B...Espenlaub.html

[Larry Hickey]

Hello Kris,

Thanx for the info on Espenlaub. This confirms that he could not have been with 4./JG26 during 1939. This settles the case for me.

What is your interest in JG3? I'm gathering info/photos on that unit for the 1939/40 period.

Regards,

Larry

[RossGmann]

Hi Larry
The following link http://tinyurl.com/7suvgq6 may be of help/interest
Extracts as follow
Oberleutnant Albert Espenlaub, the brother of the famous
sailplane pilot Espenlaub, continued the shooting match on
21 April. The Hurricane he shot down was piloted by Sergeant
Castelnau of 73 Squadron.

As proof of his abilities, Hauptmann Redlich shot down
a Maryland near Sidi Barani on 21 August. Oblt Schneider
and Ofw. Espenlaub were also victorious this day.

By the afternoon of the 18th the runways had dried out
to where 1/JG 27 could launch two Schwärme against the
nine attacking Marylands of 21 SAAF Squadron. Hptm.
Redlich and Ofw. Espenlaub each shot down a bomber. These
bombers had not been carrying bombs, but were dropping
leaflets. Upon the leaflets were written:
"German fighter pilots, you are beaten! Give up your
struggle!"

Uffz. Grimm and Ofw. Espenlaub with one apiece.
Hauptmann Lippert, Kommandeur of II/JG 27, bore the
brunt of the attack during on this date, as I Gruppe had few
aircraft still fit for combat.

Three Hurricanes fell
to Hptm. Redlich, while Ofw. Espenlaub brought down two.

Ofw. Espenlaub and Uffz.
Grimm also pounced on the Hurricanes. All three shot down
one opponent each.

Numerous dogfights took place over the front lines on
13 December. During the course of these engagements
Marseille succeeded in once again scoring a double when
he brought down a Hurricane at 1600 hrs and another at
1610 hrs in the airspace over Martuba and near Tmimi.
The day was overshadowed by a deeply felt loss. During
the early morning hours Ofw. Albert Espenlaub of 1/JG
27 became involved in a dogfight with an experienced British
pilot by the name of Captain Walker, during which he
took several hits in his radiator. When the engine gave out
due to overheating, he was forced to make an emergency
landing in enemy territory near El Adem. He was taken prisoner
by a British patrol. While attempting to escape he was
shot by the guards. Espenlaub was numbered among the
most successful of the desert pilots. Within the short space
of a few months he had scored 14 kills in Africa.

This heartache was compounded by the fact that a few
of Marseille's friends were no longer among them.
Espenlaub, with his 14 kills, was gone.

Kind regards

Ross

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Could it be that Espenlaub, during his pilot training, was based at the same place than 4./JG 26 sometimes during 1939 ?

Another possibility is that his flying school received a former 4./JG 26 fighter that was not repainted.