Bruno Schafer,DKiG Holder

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

What I found on "Luftwaffe Officers Career Summaries" was that Bruno Schafer was shot down and was a POW on Aug.8,1943. He was with SKG10. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold (DKiG) on March 3,1944 while with III/SG4. So I think he escape from captivity in 1943 I presume? How many combat sorties in total for Bruno Schafer? I of coarse don't know his final fate at all.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Johannes]

Hi Edward

Don't think he escaped, need a third party again. Must have been captured over Italy?

Don't know how many sorties he flew, but he did make two claims as a Leutnant with 9./SKG 10:-

18th June 1943 B-17 1645 hrs
5th July 1943 Spitfire into the sea 1,5km South of Gela 1715 hrs.

Can only think his DKiG was awarded after capture and that SKG10 became SG4? He was the Staffelkapitän of 9./SKG 10 from December 1942!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Matti Salonen]

I have:
1943-08-29, 9./SKG 10, Fw 190 G-3, 160047, A+O weiße, Bei Catania
Flugzeugführer (Staffelkapitän) Lt Schäfer, Bruno, gefangen
Absturz in See um 17.00 Uhr infolge Flakbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.

9./SKG 10 became 9./SG 4 on 19 Oct 1943.

Matti

[Johannes]

Hi Matti

Many thanks for your excellent as always reply, which does imply that he was awarded the DKiG on 20th March 1944 with 9./SG 4 after his capture, and recorded with this unit as the unit had been re-designated.


Kind Regards

Johannes

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your answers. Well at least Bruno Schafer had survived WWII.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

Bruno Schäfer flew around 170 missions, including 121 in the Tunisian campaign. For more information about him and his final mission, see our Focke-Wulf 190 in the Battle for Sicily book. He took command of 9./S.K.G. 10 in January 1943.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com