Maj Ernst Frhr Von Bibra

[Chris Goss]

Apart from what I have from Doug/Larry (below) and that he force-landed on 23 Aug 42, does anyone have any other details on this officer?

BIBRA, Ernst, Freiherr von.
(DOB: 23.09.10 in Aachen).
16.06.39 Hptm., trf from II.(K)/LG 1 to III./KG 3 (St Kap 7/KG 3).
1940 Staka 7./KG 51.
23.11.41 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./KG 51 (to 15.02.43).
02.03.42 Hptm., awarded Ehrenpokal.
01.04.42 promo to Maj.
21.08.42 Maj., awarded DKG, III./KG 51.
23.12.42 Maj., awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr.III./KG 51.
15.02.43 MIA – in Ju 88 reported missing over North Caucasia.

[thenelm]

My only knowledge of this guy comes from the Gen.Qu. loss reports with supplementary commentary from Dierich's KG 51 history and Brütting's 'Kampfflieger Asse' book (and photos from your 'Do 17 in Focus' book:

Ju 88A-4, 5502, BIBRA, Major Ernst Frhr. von, , III., Stab III., KG 51, blaue A, 9K+AA, , , 23-Aug-42, Gr.Kdr. Notlandung due to Flak. B & Bf WIA. Rescued by Oblt. Poppenburg in '9K+AD'., F RK., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #7)-Vol.11; Dierich, KG 51, p.187, , PlQu. 31 35, 15%, F, B Ogefr. Günther Heyde & Bf Ogefr. Walter Repinski, ,

Ju 88A-4, 3777, BIBRA, Major Ernst Frhr. von, , III., Stab III., KG 51, , , , , 15-Feb-43, Gr.Kdr. Crew killed in crash., F RK., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #11)-Vol.22, , bei Slawjansk, 100%, F, B Ltn. Karl Mayrhofer, Bf Fw. Robert Meyer & Bs Uffz. Phillip Alleborn, ,

[Chris Goss]

Thanks for this. The man is a bit of a mystery. 7/KG 3 in Sep 39 and then reappears as St Kap of 7/KG 51 (but when?) then becomes Gr Kdr. Reason why I ask is his family want to know more as well!

[thenelm]

According to Brütting (p.181), GrKdr. III./KG 51 from 23-Nov-41 until his death on 15-Feb-43. Previously Stkp. 7./KG 51. Awarded the RK on 23-Dec-42. Brütting's synopsis of his career below - I'll leave it to the German speakers on this board to give an exact translation.

Freiherr von Bibra, Ernst, Major und GrKdr. der III./KG 51 9 (vom 23-Nov-41 bis 15-Feb-43), hatte sich als Flzg.Fhr., Stkp. (der 7./KG 51) und GrKdr. in Polen und im Westfeldzug sowie gegen die Sowjetunion hervorragend bewährt. Als Verbandsführer, ausgezeichneter Flieger und Einzelkämpfer erhielt er am 23-Dec-42 das Ritterkreuz. Nur wenige Wochen später, am 15-Feb-43, kehrte er von einem Feindflug nicht mehr züruck.

[Chris Goss]

That is what I have and BA has nothing more apart from his RK award details (and that is pretty thin)

[Reiner]

Hallo !
There is a lot of mystery about Major Ernst Freiherr von Bibra!
I know that:

On 23.11.1941 – von Bibra Gruppenkommandeur III. /K.G.51. He came from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Von Bibra carried the EM – No. 69641/1. This number is from the 1./K.G.3.
Staka 7./K.G.51 was Hptm. Zeep until his death on 25.11.1941. Up this day Hptm. Heilmann was the new Staka.
It is possible that Bibra and his crew lies as “4 unknown German airmen” on the cemetery of
Sergejewka . The Ju88 from the unknown aircrew crashed near Warwarowka.
In Luftwaffe in Focus No.12-p.19, there is a photo from Bibra and one of his plane!!

Rene

[Chris Goss]

Rene: Have PM'd you