Rudolf Schoenert 27.4.45

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Michael,

Thanks for the addition -I believe these four Mitchell victims on 31.08 - 01.09.43 are: 13 GAP DD B-25 serial nr. 237 or 679, 15 GAP DD B-25 serial nr. 648 and 22 GAP DD B-25 serial nr. 676.

Cheers, Theo

[Monaco]

Hi THeo, this is what I have:
On the night of the 01.09.43 B-25 plane No. 676 of 22 GAP DD did not return from a combat mission to bomb the railway station Pochinok (some 10km N of Shatalovo)with the following crew: Deputy Squadron commander Gv. Captain Aleksandr Stepanovich Gaivoronskiy (1913), pilot Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Vsevolod Maksimovich Lavronenko (1916), Navigator Squadron Gv. Captain Nikolay Nikolayevich Yeliseev, navigator of the ship Gv. St. Sergeant Nikolay Prokofyevich Korobov (1917), gunner-radio-operator Gv. Starshina Konstantin Ivanovich Kostylev (1918; 421 DBAP/747 AP DD between 09.41-07.43 then in 22 GAP DD; Red Star), air gunner Gv. Starshina Vladimir Nikolayevich Vladimirov (1918).

On the night of 01.09.43 from the combat mission to bombard the airfield Borovskoe did not return B-25 aircraft No. 237 of 13 GAP DD with the following crew: the commander of the ship Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Vladimir Dmitrievich Chirkov (1919), pilot Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Naum Arkadyevich Zoglin (1912), navigator Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Maksim Tarasovich Bulyga (1920), gunner-radio-operator Gv. St. Sergeant Ilya Tikhonovich Rozhmanov (1920), air gunner Gv. Ml. Sergeant Jakov Konstantinovich Borisov (1923).

On the night of 01.09.43 from the combat mission to bombard the airfield Borovskoe did not return B-25 aircraft No. 679 of 13 GAP DD with the following crew: Flight commander Gv. Captain Pavel Ivanovich Ustinov (1919), pilot Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Nikolay Vasilyevich Sidlak (1919), flight navigator Gv. St. Lieutenant Veniamin Grigoryevich Markushevich (1915), gunner-radio-operator Gv. Starshina Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Netuzhilov (1918), air gunner Gv. Starshina Rostislav Aleksandrovich Sukotskiy (1917).
The plane was shot down by the enemy's anti-aircraft artillery. Reportedly - but also could indicate the use of "Schräge Musik" installed aboard Schoenert´s Do.217...

On the night of 01.09.43 from a combat mission to photograph the results of the bombing of the airfield Borovskoe did not return B-25 aircraft No. 648 of 15 GAP DD with the following crew: Deputy Squadron commander Gv. St. Lieutenant Petr Alekseevich Detkov (1917), pilot Gv. Ml. Lieutenant Genadiy Aleksandrovich Shirshov (1923), flight navigator Gv. St. Lieutenant Timofey Mikhailovich Krasavin (1916), gunner-radio-operator Gv. Starshina Nikolay Egorovich Vagin (1919), air gunner Gv. Sergeant Aleksey Mikhailovich Frolov (1922).
This latter crew was extremely experienced and used for photographing the bombing results - so likely to be the last victim of Schoenert´s attacks at 23.00h.

Still trying to locate Borovskoye airfield... maybe Larry knows more?

If you want to know more of the crews Theo, I can send you a PM.

Cheers

Michael

[Monaco]

From a russian site: http://wikimapia.org/27353690/ru/&#1...ны

Borovskoe was a prewar airfield near Shatalovo - By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War on it were based 207 and 96 regiments of 42th far-bomber division. From this airfield went on to their last flights N. F. Gastello, A.S. Masov and other lesser known their associates.
Coordinates: 54 ° 21 ' 40 "N 32 ° 31 ' 36 " E

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks Michael for providing these interesting additional details -much appreciated!

Cheers, Theo

[Monaco]

To warm up this thread some update of my research for the night 24./25.04.45 regarding 7 (!) Il-4s claimed by Francsi, Schoenert and Rapp:
On 25.04.45 Il-4-equipped 6 GBAP (16 GBAD, 1 GBAK) reported the following losses:
Gunner-radio-op. Gv.Starshina Petr Egorovich Sazonov (1921) FTR-MIA, onboard gunner Gv.St. Serzh. Terentiy Dementyevich Godichuk (1915) FTR (died), flight navigator Gv.Kap. Ivan Martinovich Shestakovskiy (1915) KIA - all died in the crash of Il-4(s). This was probably an accident, that has nothing to do with the claims, though as two gunners are mentioned maybe 2 Il-4s were involved.
On 25.04.45 Il-4-equipped 17 GBAP (1 GBAK) reported the following losses:
On-board gunner Gv.Serzh. Ivan Vasilyevich Gorshchkalev (1923) KIA, radio-op.-gunner Gv.Serzh. Nikolay Fedorovich Kasimov (1925) KIA, shturman Gv.Ml.Lt. Fedor Pavlovich Grobovenko (1922) FTR (died), shturman Gv.Ml.Lt. Vitaliy Fedorovich Baranov (1921) FTR (died).
As two navigators are mentioned 17 GBAP may have lost 2 Il-4s.
On 25.04.45 B-25-equipped 22 GBAP (321 BAD) reported the following loss:
Flight navigator Gv.Lt. Aleksandr Vasilyevich Baktov (1911) DOW.
Baktov may have been wounded on another date.

Any additions?

Cheers

Michael

[Monaco]

One more aspect for the night of 25.04.45:
On this date maybe an ace of I./NJG.100 lost his life: Lt./Hptm. Helmut Konter...was he a case of friendly fire?

The only claim of the western allies during that night was against a Ju.188 over Czechoslovakia:
On 24.05.45 P-61 crew 1/Lts Jack E Slayton & Jack W Robison (radar-op.) of 425 NFR Sq. USAAF claimed 1 Ju.188 night fighter shot down in the Kolovec area (?) at 22.30h. Koloveč (german Kollautschen) is in the Czech Republic some 120km E Nuremberg (380km S Berlin, 380km SSW Frankfurt Oder).

This is known about Konter (has anybody more infos?):
Boiten: Lt. Helmut Konter, 4./NJG.5, 1. Staffel: 13-20; MIA ca.25.04.45.
Zeng et al.:
KONTER, Helmut. (DOB: 17.10.19 in Berlin). (n.d.) awarded the Ehrenpokal? (n.d.) in IV./NJG 5. 20.10.43 Fw., 3./NJG 100. 22.03.44 Fw., 3./NJG 100. 17.05.44 Fw., 3./NJG 100. 05.08.44 Fw., in 3./NJG 100. 01.03.45 Lt., MIA/KIA vic Frankfurt/Oder. Credited with 15 victories.
Kracker archive:
Konter, Helmut, Hptm.; 15 victories; IV/NJG-5; 3./NJG-100; awards: EP, EK 1 & 2; Night Fighter Operational Clasp; MIA March, 1945 (exact date unknown, Magnus). His first known victory, a Soviet B-25 E of Orscha othe night of 12-13 October, 1943. A U-2 the night of 22-23 March, 1944. Another U-2 22 km SSE of Polotsk on 25 March, 1944. An Il-4 SSW of Orscha the night of 16-17 May, 1944. A U-2 and an R-5 SSE of Vitebsk the night of 27-28 May, 1944. An R-5 45 km SE of Vitebsk the night of 28-29 May, 1944. Three U-2s in the Orscha area on the night of 10-11 June, 1944. One known western victory, a Lancaster 80 km ESE of Krakow on 5 August, 1944. A 2nd Lancaster, same day, 65 km E of Krakaw. Magnus, 20 victories. According to LNFC 19 victories, the last 4 victories against 4 R-5 biplanes over the frontline during the night 27-28.03.45.

So I tend to believe Konter was still alive after March 1945, about the rank of Konter it is likely, that he was still a Leutnant, maybe he was promoted posthumously.

I would be glad for any additions/ new infos.

Cheers

Michael

[Monaco]

It seems that Konter had somewhat specialized on fighting the ubiquitous soviet biplanes 15 out of 19 (or 11 of 15) victories were scored against these. Here is a full of his victories (maybe he had scored 1 more victory when in IV./NJG.5):

From Wood:
12.10.43 Fw. Helmut Konter: 1 3./NJG 100 B-25 Mitchell E. Orscha: at 5.700 m. 18.39 Film C. 2035/I Anerk: Nr. 98 (I. Gruppe?)
22.03.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 2 3./ NJG 100 U-2 12 km. E. Polotsk: at 1.200 m . 20.54 Film C. 2032 /I Anerk: Nr.8
25.03.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 3 3./ NJG 100 U-2 21 km . S.S.W. Polotsk: at 1.000 m . 20.07 Film C. 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.9
25.03.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 4 3./ NJG 100 U-2 18 km. S.S.E. Polotsk: at 600 m . 21.08 Film C. 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.10
25.03.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 5 3./ NJG 100 U-2 26 km. S.S.E. Polotsk: a t 400 m. 21.28 Film C . 2032 / I Anerk: Nr.11
25.03.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 6 3./ NJG 100 U-2 22 km. S. S.E. Polotsk: at 200 m . 23.06 Film C . 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.12
17.05.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 7 i. Zus. Arb. 3./ NJG 100 Il-4 S.S.W. Orscha: at 4.200 m. 00.02 Film C. 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.80 ? (27 for 3. Staffel!)
27.05.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 8 3./ NJG 100 U-2 40 km. S.S.E. Vitebsk: 1.100 m. 22.29 F i lm C. 2032 / I A nerk: Nr.28
28.05.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 9 i.z.Arb. 3./ NJG 100 R-5 28 km. S.S.E. Vitebsk: at 900 m. 00.28 Film C. 2032 / I Anerk: Nr.29
28.05.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 10 i.z.Arb. 3./ NJG 100 R-5 45 km. S.E. Vitebsk: at 1.900 m. 23.40 Film C. 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.30
11.06.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 11 i.z.Arb:LN 3. / NJG 100 U-2 4 km. südl. Orscha: at 2.500 m. 22.58 Film C. 2032/ I Anerk: Nr.35
11.06.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 12 i.z.Arb:LN 3./ NJG 100 U-2 20 km. nordl. Orscha: at 800 m. 23.14 Film C. 2032 / I Anerk: Nr.36
11.06.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 13 i.z.Arb:LN 3./ NJG 100 U-2 12 km. nordl. Orscha: at 400 m. 23.30 Film C. 2032 / I Anerk: Nr.37
05.08.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 14 3. / NJG 100 Lancaster 80 km. E.S.E. Krakau: 2.300 m. 01.19 Film C . 2025 / I Anerk: Nr.13 (73?)
05.08.44 Fw. Helmut Konter: 15 3. / NJG 100 Lancaster 65 km. E. Krakau: 2.000 m. 01.46 Film C . 2025 / I Anerk: Nr.74
27.-28.03.45 Lt. Helmut Konter: 16 3. / NJG 100 R-5 - - (LNFCC)
27.-28.03.45 Lt. Helmut Konter: 17 3. / NJG 100 R-5 - - (LNFCC)
27.-28.03.45 Lt. Helmut Konter: 18 3. / NJG 100 R-5 - - (LNFCC)
27.-28.03.45 Lt. Helmut Konter: 19 3. / NJG 100 R-5 - - (LNFCC)

It seems Konter spent his career first in IV./NJG.5, then in 3./NJG.100. The latter had on it´s strength in 1945 probably Ju.88C-6/G-6, Fw.189A and even Bf.109G-14.

About his demise I have still another theory: Maybe Konter was wounded in an accident with fellow ace Josef Pützkuhl on 24.04.45 and DOW on 25.04.45 (if this date is correct) and things were hushed up in the turmoil at the end of the war...? Though with infos lacking, there is no hard evidence...

about Pützkuhl:
PÜTZKUHL, Josef (“Jupp”). (DOB: 28.01.17). (DKG). 17.07.38 began flight training. (n.d.) flew with NJG 2 and NJG 3. 13/14.04.43 Lt., with 10./NJG 5. 19.07.43 Lt., 1./NJG 5. 22.08.43 Lt., 1./NJG 100. 26.09.43 Lt., in 3./NJG 100. 05.06.44 Oblt., 3./NJG 100. 25.07.44 Oblt., 3./NJG 100. 01.01.45 Oblt., awarded DKG, NJG 100. 24.04.45 WIA - Ju 88 G-6 (W7+BL) collided with a Bf 109 on landing. (n.d.) flew the Ar 234 with 1. Schwarm, Pinsk. Credited with 26 victories.

Is someone in possession of flight logs of NJG.100?

Cheers

Michael

[Theo Boiten]

A short addition -I have an account by Pützkuhl on the events on 24-25.4.45, in which he stated that he was rammed on take off by a Bf109 landing back from a twilight sortie, the 109 pilot and Pützkuhl's crew survived the incident, Pützkuhl with burns, the others were completely unscathed.

I'll publish the complete account in one of the latter vols in the NCA series.

Cheers, Theo

[Theo Boiten]

.. and a short question; what is the primary source for Konter's alleged four Abschüsse on 27-28.3.1945??

Cheers, Theo

[Monaco]

Thanks Theo for your response!
The "source" is Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims (by Foreman, Parry, Matthews) - see above in brackets - and as I fear also depending on the sometimes dubious Nonnenmacher list I´m not in possession.
So the claims are at least doubtful. If they are true I believe they have to be claimed over the northern frontline (I./NG.100 was operating from Vietzgerstrand and later Greifswald on the Baltic Sea) as the biplanes had no endurance for long distance flights.

Cheers

Michael