Me 410 top ace

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

Yes, it appears that is when he began his military career. I honestly have no idea what proportion of his victories were claimed with the Me 210 or Me 410 due to the lack of a complete victory list. One can speculate but not much more. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Hello Leo,

I wonder if he really scored his Oct43 kill with Stab/ZG26. Isn't it more probable that he was with [7./ZG1><4./ZG26] when the unit was renamed ? This would identify another Me 410 kill...

?

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

My understanding is that it was rather common for a particular pilot that belonged to a certain Staffel to be detailed to the Geschwaderstab or Gruppenstab in order to perform as a Rottenflieger or other duty. A good example would be the recent post of Chris Goss where he indicates that possibly Major Werner Mölders, the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 51, was flying with Feldwebel Erwin Fleig of 1./JG 51 as his Rottenflieger on 25 October 1940. However, the claims of the latter were all recorded with 1./JG 51. Another example would be Unteroffizier Heinz Wodarczyk of 4./JG 26 who often flew as Rottenflieger to Oberstleutnant Josef Priller, the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26, in 1944. Again, his claims were recorded with 4./JG 26 and not the Geschwaderstab of JG 26. If it was true that Dassow was attached to the Geschwaderstab of ZG 26 on that day and his claim was recorded with that unit then I would think that most likely he was flying a Bf 110 G-2 at the time.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Hello Leo,

this is convincing, thank you.
In Apr43 in North Africa Dassow was injured in his Me210. It is true that he was with 10./ZG1 during this incident ? I found no association of the 10. Staffel with the Me 210 nor with North Africa.

Have a nice Saturday,

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

You are correct in that being an error. The loss list information that I have seen records him as being a member of 7./ZG 1 when this incident occurred. I have read that Fighters Over Tunisia by Shores, Ring and Hess suggests that this particular loss was due to Spitfire fighters of the 52nd FG, USAAF but gives the date as 9 April 1943 when I have always seen 10 April 1943.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Cool !
Is is known how long he was hospitalized ?

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

My information is that he returned to his unit and combat duty on 16 April 1943. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Yes, this helps, thanks.
Meanwhile, I checked this website again:
http://www.ww2.dk/air/zerstorer/zg26.htm
It says that Stab/ZG26 was reformed not until 13Oct43.
However, the alleged Stab/ZG26 kill of Dassow was on 8Oct43.
Ain't that a discrepancy ?

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Michael

Yes, it certainly is a discrepancy. Welcome to the wonderful world of Luftwaffe research! All sources that I have seen state that the Geschwaderstab of ZG 26 was formed on 13 October 1943. However, in the microfilms there appear four claims credited to members of the Geschwaderstab of ZG 26 (two by Leutnant Rudolf Dassow and Major Hans Boehm-Tettelbach on 8 October 1943 and two more by this latter individual on 9 October 1943 and 10 October 1943) before this date. Interestingly, the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries by deZeng and Stankey list Boehm-Tettelbach as taking up the position of Geschwaderkommodore of ZG 26 in August 1943.

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Very intresting, indeed.
Do you have an entry that reveals Dassow's unit in Aug/Sep43 ?

Michael