St Kap 3./ZG 2 in Battle of Britain

[Chris Goss]

I have a note that this could have been Oblt Harald Zimmermann but this is open to debate; can anyone confirm one way or another?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

For what it's worth, Meyer-Stipdonk state in their book
Oblt Gerhard Götz March 1940 - 25.7.1940
Oblt Kurt Müller July 1940 - 3.9.1940
Staffel disbanded in September 1940

Cheers
Stig

[John Manrho]

I have never been able to proof that Oblt. Kurt Müller was St.Kap. of 3./ZG 2. He definitely belonged to that Staffel. His career is of interest to me.

J.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks both

[Merlin]

Oblt. Harald Zimmermann led the new 3./ZG 2 during May/June 1942.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all. K Report says he was St Kap 2./ZG 2 but when shot down was flying a 3 Staffel aircraft as he had crash-landed his usual aircraft the day before. However, this aircraft had 8 victory bars on its tail and Müller only claimed 2 victories

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Gerhard

That is also what Meyer-Stipdonk states.

Can you confirm the sort of chaos claimed by the two authors is correct
a) 3./ZG 2 formed in April 1942 but almost immediately re-designated 9./ZG 2
b) 9./ZG 2 re-designated 3./ZG 2 also in April 1942
c) 3./ZG 2 re-formed later in April 1942 ex 9./ZG 2 (as per b above)
d) 9./ZG 2 re-formed ex 3./ZG 2 in December 1942.

As far as I can see this designation "chaos" was for the complete I./ZG 2 and III./ZG 2.

Unfortunately the the two authors seems to fail with regard to III./ZG 2 and all its re-designations between them and I./ZG 2.

For an outsider all this seems crazy, so beside verifying the actual course of events can you also state why all this took place?
In the end III./ZG 2 became III./SKG 210.

Cheers
Stig

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks all. K Report says he was St Kap 2./ZG 2 but when shot down was flying a 3 Staffel aircraft as he had crash-landed his usual aircraft the day before. However, this aircrfat had 8 victory bars on its tail and Müller only claimed 2 victories

There is either confusion or perhaps a printing error in the K-report(s)?

While knowing your opinion on Nigel Parker, both his book (Luftwaffe crash archive Vol 3) and Meyer-Stipdonk says that Oblt Siegfried Gottschalt was St Kap of 2./ZG 2.

Since they were shot down/collided on the same day, it is difficult to reconcile that 2./ZG 2 should have had two St Kap while 3./ZG 2 had none.

Any K-report available for the Gottschalt aircraft?

BTW the photo of Müller's aircraft in Parker's Vol 3 shows only seven claims.

Cheers
Stig

[Merlin]

The I./ZG 2 was formed with the Bf 110 in April 1942 from elements of I./NJG 4. The unit fought in the East from early June until mid July 1942. It was moved back to Brünn and became reequipped with the Me 210 and became III./ZG 1.

The III./ZG 2 was formed with the Bf 109E in April 1942. The unit fought in the East from early June until mid July 1942. It was moved back to Parndorf and became reequipped with the Fw 190A. After two weeks in France they were send to Tunesia in November and became III./SKG 10.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Gerhard

What a mess!
Your data is not even close to Meyer-Stipdonk (well, a little perhaps....)

I have to mull over this for a while
Can you possibly advise where/why Meyer-Stipdonk went wrong?
I cannot believe they just invented all this

Thanks again
Stig