Bf 109G StaKa KiA in ramming attack August 1943 vicinity of Anapa, Kuban

[jiri]

Hello,
I´m looking for details about following incident:
In August 1943 (probably between 10th and 15th) during combat over Sea off Anapa, Kuban bridgehead, a German Staffelkapitän was killed in ramming attack of VVS fighter. Russian pilot bailed out unhurt and was taken PoW by Germans.
Does anybody, please, any details about identity of both pilots, their planes and units?

[Leo Etgen]

Hello jiri

One fellow that comes to mind who was involved in a similar incident as you describe was Oberfeldwebel Werner Quast:

7 August 1943: Oberfeldwebel Werner Quast of 4./JG 52 in Bf 109 G-6 "White 2" (W.Nr. 15 844) at Noworossijsk, 40 kilometers southeast of Anapa. Following ramming his victory crashed in sea, missing, probably prisoner of war.

Additional details can be read at http://www.luftwaffe.cz/quast.html.

Horrido!

Leo

[Rabe Anton]

Looks like a pretty good match, except that as a non-commissioned officer an Oberfeldwebel would not/could not command a Staffel in any capacity other than as a substitute or as a unit leader in the air. Error, perhaps, in the information identifying the German pilot as a Staffelkapitän rather than Staffelführer?

RA

[Don Pearson]

A Staffel Kapitan who went missing in August 1943 could be Berthold Korts of 9./JG 52... last seen in combat with Russian fighters.

Don

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

The problem with Korts is the location:

29 August 1943: Leutnant Berthold Korts, Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 52, missing in Bf 109 G-6 "Yellow 1" (W.Nr. 15 899) following aerial combat with Airacobra fighters at Stalino, now Donezk, 80 kilometers north-northeast of Artemowsk

Interestingly, Obermaier has him being lost in Bf 109 G-6 "Yellow 1" (W.Nr. 20 470) near Charkow. According to Fast, this particular machine was already damaged on 24 August 1943:

24 August 1943: Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 20 470) of 9./JG 52, damaged due to enemy fire, Kuteinikowo, 30%

I have no idea which of the two is correct. As to the topic of discussion in my opinion the simplest interpretation is the information that the pilot involved was a Staffelkapitän is in error.

Horrido!

Leo

[jiri]

Many thanks, guys