Victory List for I./ZG26 during the French Campaign

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to complete a complete victory list for I./ZG26 for the Western Campaign of May-June, 1940. I know that the unit claimed 7 French Curtiss aircraft on 10.5.40, but I don't know who made the claims. I'm also missing a claim for a Morane 406 by a 3 Staffel pilot on 11.5.40, aside from the one by Lt. Walter Manhart. Some of the above may be included in the pilots known to have scored victories during the FC, but for whom dates and a/c types cannot be determined: Lt. Werner Thielfilder from Stab, unknown # of victories; Oblt. Johannes Kogler of 1 Staffel, unknown # of victories; Oblt. Wilhelm Spies of 1 Staffel, unknown # of additional victories beyond the one on 27.5.40; Hptm. Herbert Kaminski, 2 Staffel, at least one victory; Lt. Karl Kennel, staffel unknown, at least one victory; Oblt. Paul Förster of 3 Staffel, at least one victory beyond the ones claimed on 14.5.40 and 8.6.40; Obfw. Willi Stange of 3 Staffel, unknown # of victories. In additional, I'm looking for the aircraft types claimed by Hptm. Wilhelm Makrocki of Stab on 21.5.40. I'm also looking for any claims by any I./ZG26 Radio Opertor/Gunners (Bordfunker).

Any help by anyone on this would be greatly appreciated. Please cite your sources for any info presented. I suspect that this is likely going to require access to photos of unit victory boards, FB or some some such sources. Also, some info might come from photos of dated victory tabs on aircraft tails of identified pilots.

I know that this has been a difficult subject for this unit, but I'm hoping for some additional info other than what I already have.

Thanx,

[robert]

Hi Larry,

I have 15.05.40 12.... 2/ZG26 Olt.Herbert Kaminski #1 (I think he claimed Morane) against MB-152s from the GCI/8 - in fact no french fighter was lost.

Regards

Robert

[Spanferkel]

Hi Larry,

I have Kaminski claiming a Curtis "an der Maas" on 15.05.40. As Robert noted there were apparently no French losses. The information I have comes from Kaminski's Wehrpas and Vorschlagsliste Nr. 5 (for his Ritterskruezes).

Cheers

Jeremy

[Larry Hickey]

Robert & Jeremy,

Thanx to both of you. This is one less mystery to solve. I'm hoping there will be more info out there such as this.

Regards,

[John Manrho]

Oblt. Johannes Kogler claimed at least one French Fighter near Reims on 12.05.1940. This was his first victory. He probably claimed another the same day, but I don't think this was confirmed.

cheers,

John.

[Larry Hickey]

John,

Thanks for the Kogler victory info. Can you tell me your source for this info? Are there any more details?

Were you ever able to locate a copy of the I./ZG1 history that we corresponded about two or three years ago?

Best wishes,

[John Manrho]

Larry,

source is ADI(K) Report No. 116/1945 after Kogler was captured on 1.1.1945 (Bodenplatte). Some details of his service during the FC are listed in this report. In this report he states that he has 4 victories (which I have more or less all) and 90 Feindflüge. He received the DKiG on 10.07.1944 for a mission with III./ZG 26 on 11.4.1944.

Refresh my memory on the I./ZG 1 question....

cheers,

John.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Just a note about one of the referenced pilots in this post. The Obfw. "Willi" Stange" cannot be the Lt. "Willy" Stange of I./JG3, who scored 3 victories during the FC with that unit. Unless my original source is wrong, these are two different people. Can anyone confirm that an "Obfw. Willi Stange" served with 3./ZG26 during the FC?

Thanx

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

As follow on to my previous, the Obfw. Willi Stange that I was seeking victory info on for the French Campaign was KIA with his BF on a sortie over England on 18.8.40. He was a known pilot of 3./ZG26. Still looking for info on his victory claims during the FC.

Thanx,

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Larry,

As my main subject of interest is the I.NJG 1, the history of the original unit I.ZG 1 does interest me too. Unfortunately, I only became aware of the existance of a I.ZG 1 history when I read Falckenjahre of Wolfgang Falck. I corresponded with Herr Braatz, editor of Falcks biographie, but he had no longer access to the house archive of Wolfgang Falck.

This chronic of I.ZG 1 is most helpful for some people: those who research the Polish Campaign, me as a nightfighter 'buff' so perhaps we can join forces in the search for this history? My sole interest is to know more about some pilots who later became nightfighter pilots.

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis / Venlo
Study Group Venlo Airfield in WW-2
Förderverein Ehemaliger Fliegerhorst Venlo e.V. (see www.fliegerhorst-venlo.net)