Details of the loss of Fw. Gerhard Scholz, July 1944?

[Dénes Bernád]

I received from the family of Fw. Gerhard Scholz a few details of his career and loss. Apparently, he was a pilot in a night fighter unit, and was shot down in combat sometimes in July 1944, in the vicinity of Budapest, Hungary.

Reportedly, a Lieutenant was also flying along with him that day, and both of them were shot down. Before that, the Lt. reportedly had scored two "kills" and the Fw. one. The Lt. saved himself with the parachute, but the Fw. was killed in the process of bailing out.

Would anyone know details of the demise of the 27-year-old Fw. Gerhard Scholz? N.B. His name is not listed in the Volksbund database.

Thanks,

[Dénes Bernád]

A kind gentleman - a fellow Hungarian - gave me the clue in solving this small "mystery".

The clue lies in the book of Willi Reschke, p 88: "Feldwebel Gerhard Scholz von der 1. Staffel verlor im Luftkampf bei Érd, südwestlich von Budapest, sein Leben (Bf 109G-6 "Weisse 9" WNr. 441620)."

So, he wasn't a night fighter pilot after all, as his death card claims, but rather a day fighter, in 1./JG 302, KIA on 2 July 1944. That's why I could not find him in the night fighter losses...

Thanks, again, Péter!

[Dennis Peschier]

Dénes,

JG.302 did start out as a nightfighter unit. Their single engined fighters were used in "wild boar"operations. I don't quite know when they changed to day operations.

Dennis