Aircrew from I/ZG 76

[Franek Grabowski]

Not much. Chris, are you going to cover the Polish Campaign as well?

Lt. Helmut Lent, pilot, in October 1940 to II.NJG 1

1939 with I/ZG76 one kill in Poland with Bofu Kubisch.

Oblt. Gerhard Böhmel, pilot, went to Stab NJG 1, KIA 28-2-1942

1939 with I/ZG76 one kill in Poland

[Chris Goss]

Marcel-Thanks. Ul Kettling is a personal friend and has never mentioned being part of 3/NJG 1 but I will be speaking to him tonight (65th anniversary of his shooting down) and will ask him.

The 2/NJG 1 names are not familiar to me in respect of I/ZG 76. The only christian name I can add is Fritz Stolper (BF to Kettling before Hansen) who was killed in Nov 43. I will look tonight for extra information for you

[Chris Goss]

Franek: I have all of the I/ZG 76 kills in Sep 39 plus their losses. I have 4 logbooks from this time as well. Anything I ncan help with/you help me with?

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Chris,

We certainly could open a chat connection!
Now I understand why you were so convinced that Kettling was not in the Nachtjagd! There are two possible explanations for this: Herr Kettling was only with the 3/NJG 1 for a very short time (this short time may have faded from his memory as it would have been with me after some years). Another theory: somehow he shows up in an inventory of 3/NJG 1 pilots but before this posting became official, he and other comrades from I.ZG 76 continued to fight in their Zerstoerer unit. I have my doubts about that: some of the listed names have been in the 3/NJG 1 before this Staffel was renamed in 4/NJG 1.

What ever may come out about your conversation with Kettling, tomorrow I will send you a scan of the relevant page from this I.NJG 1 history with all those names.

A revealing and interesting thread! It helps me to understand the origins about 'my' I.NJG 1 for a great deal.

Best wishes, Marcel

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Chris,

I found out that Huchel was succeeded by Hptm. Ruppel as "Major beim Stabe". The date was in February 1941 because Ruppel stayed with the II.NJG 1 until 1th November 1941 when from the 4./NJG 1 of this Gruppe a new unit was created: II.NJG 2 (in November 1942 renamed in IV.NJG 1).

I will keep on searching! Marcel

[Franek Grabowski]

Chris
I am most interested in any accounts and photos. I can help with the Polish accounts and photos, there is a number of them. I am awared of existence of a report concerning Nagel's loss but I do not have a copy.

[Chris Goss]

Marcel

Ul Kettling was never posted to 3/NJG 3 and found it quite amusing to be told he was on a night fighter unit!

1/ZG 76's number was 53591 so any NJG 1 casualties that have this number was with them. Of your list:

Schlecht-his name appears on a letter written by the whole Staffel to Kettling Winter 1940-41
Seifert-nothing
Mosel-+ 9 sep 40
Hoffmann-christian name Horst
Lorey-Nothing apart from he was Karl Nr 53591/20
Nothing else on the others

[Chris Goss]

Franek: I have 9 kills for I/ZG 76 on 2 Sep 40 (all PZL P11), 9 on 5 Sep (4 x PZL P23, 2 x PZL P11, 2 x PWS 26 & Lublin R13), 3 on 6 Sep (all PZL P11), 8 on 9 Sep (all PZL P11) and 2 on 11 Sep (PZL P23 & PWS 26). The only losses I have were Oblt Christoph Nagel and Gefr Ernst Lochbaum (latter +), Uffz Helmuth Muetschele & Gefr Kurt Blum (latter +) and Lt Gerhard Boehmel (and presumably Uffz Enno Gruschwitz) on 2 Sep. The combat was in the Lodz area and Lochbaum buried initially 5 km south of Pabianice

[Franek Grabowski]

Chris
I have to do some digging and checking but here are few comments, mostly from memory.

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Franek: I have 9 kills for I/ZG 76 on 2 Sep 40 (all PZL P11),

One of the Mes was reputedly downed in the morning. Remaining two went down in a well known dog fight over Łódź Widzew airfield. III/6 Dywizjon was involved in this combat - one of the pilots is still alive near London - I may give you his address if you like. Nagel was downed by Główczyński and Koc, possibly also shared by other airmen. A long story. There are several photos, including a P.11c with a turkey emblem, which was downed in a very this combat. Poles lost 1 P.11 destroyed and one damaged - likely write off. BTW They were all claimed as P-24s.

9 on 5 Sep (4 x PZL P23, 2 x PZL P11, 2 x PWS 26 & Lublin R13),

No fighter losses.

3 on 6 Sep (all PZL P11),

No fighter losses that fit.

8 on 9 Sep (all PZL P11)

No fighter losses that fit.

I think there were more I/ZG76 - I have to check my records.

[Chris Goss]

Franek: I would be most interested to contact this man. The claims on 2 Sep 39 were 1000-1005; 1615-1625 & 1700-1710. I have a note that AM 2 Sep, they escorted KG 4 to attack 3 airfields near Deblin and destroyed 11 ac on the ground. PM they mixed it over Lodz and lost the 3 ac. The 3/ZG 76 logbook I have states 1448 - 1737 north of Deblin whilst the 1/ZG 76 logbook states 1623-1755 Lodz