II./ZG26 Losses 12-May-1944

[Richard Mills]

Can anyone list details of the losses incurred on II./Zerstorergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" on 12-May-1944?

I am inparticular interested in seeing the details appertaining to Unteroffizier Otto Höllinger, a Flugzeugfuhrer who I 'think' was shot down by return fire from a B-17.

I have read that 4 X Messerschmitt Me-410 machines were lost in engagements with the USAAF on that day.

Any help whatsoever will be very well recieved indeed.

Regards Richard.

[G.R.Morrison]

Here's what I have; no details on Höllinger as to the cause of the crash, and a discrepancy on the date(s).

Me 410A-1 WNr. 420503, 3U+KP Pilot Uffz. Otto Höllinger, Bf Uffz. Nikolaus Hörner 6./ZG 26 24.May 1944 Crew killed in crash, Lippehne. Date may be 14.May 1944. 100% loss.


Me 410A-1 WNr.420474 Pilot Ltn. Günther Schmale KIA, Bf Ogefr. Hans Steckler FSA, WIA 12.May 1944, Luftkampf, Hildburghausen. 4./ZG 26 100% loss.

Me 410A-1 WNr.420478 Pilot not named, Bf Uffz. Georg Vey WIA 12.May 1944, Luftkampf, Gotha. Aircraft damaged.

Me 410A-1 WNr.420493, 3U+EC Gefr. Richard Wilde WIA & Bf Gefr. Karl Lapsie KIA 12.May 1944 in Luftkampf, Sonneberg. 6./ZG 26 100% loss.

Me 410B-2 WNr.710241, 3U+13 Ltn. Paul Kaschuba & Bf Ofw. Karl Bredemeier Stab II./ZG 26 Crew killed 12.May 1944 in crash during landing, 1km east of Plauen. Duplicate with WNr. 110241. 100% loss.

And speaking of discrepancies, there was also a non-ZG 26 loss, from Erprob.Kdo.25 on 12.May 1944, with Kaschuba listed as the pilot, and the WNr. given as 110241... Perhaps someone may clarify this.

GRM

[Heuser]

Richard,

Höllinger (6. Staffel) was hit by return fire while making an attack from below. He had to bail out in the area of Gerstungen, his BF (Walter Fritz) was badly injured.

II./ZG 26 lost at least 5 a/c and the additional one of E.Kdo 25 (attached to Stab of II./ZG 26).

Otto Höllinger was killed on 24.05. in Me 410, 420 503, 3U+KP in Augusthof near Lippehne (today Jedlice near Lipiany/PL) along with his BF Uffz. Nikolaus Hörner.

Regards,

Heuser

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to the Luftwaffe loss summary database put online by Andreas Brekken and co, II./ZG 26 lost on 12 May 1944 4 aircraft shot down in Luftkampf and a 5th destroyed without enemy action during an operational flight.

On 13 May, II./ZG 6 lost six more a/c destroyed in Luftkampf.

The next loss was on 24 May: one aircraft destroyed without enemy action on non-operational flight. This was probably Höllinger's Me410 according to the post above.

[Heuser]

Laurent,

II./ZG 26 lost the a/c of Wilde, Schmale and Höllinger.

Fw. Hiemann made a belly landing and the a/c of Uffz. Vey (Pilot not named) was badly damaged (80%).

According to a letter from Fritz Buchholz, a "Lt. Meilinger" was also shot down in flames. There is still the possibility that this was the FF of Uffz. Vey.

Regards,

Heuser

[Richard Mills]

GRM, Laurant & Heuser.

Many thanks indeed for your time and effort in answering my questions on this matter. I can assure you that it is indeed appreciated.

Originally Posted by Heuser

Höllinger (6. Staffel) was hit by return fire while making an attack from below. He had to bail out in the area of Gerstungen, his BF (Walter Fritz) was badly injured. Regards, Heuser

Heuser, thank you very much indeed for the details of Höllinger and his sortie on 12-May-1944.

Is there an NVM anywhere for the details of the loss of Höllinger's Me-410 on 12-May-1944? I would like to know the rank of the BF Walter Fritz if at all possible.

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

According to the Luftwaffe loss summary database put online by Andreas Brekken and co

Laurant, could you please provide a link to this database? I would be very interested in seeing this!

Regards Richard.

[Heuser]

Hello Richard,

there is no entry in the NVL for Höllinger's a/c on 12.05., only the one for 24.05.44.

Regards,

Heuser

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Richard Mills

Laurant, could you please provide a link to this database? I would be very interested in seeing this!

Regards Richard.

Hello Richard,

I am not Laurent, but I think I can but in here with the link, especially since it was Laurent who showed it to me! Link:
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_summ_los...iew.asp?PAGE=1

Of course, there are also summary losses in Don Caldwell's great book published recently, but I assume you have it already!

Regards,

Paul Thompson

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Heuser

Hello Richard, there is no entry in the NVL for Höllinger's a/c on 12.05., only the one for 24.05.44. Regards, Heuser

Heuser, thank you for getting back to me on this.

Is this a case of the surviving NVM records being incomplete, or a diescrepency of the losses on that day?

Regards Richard.

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Hello Richard, I am not Laurent, but I think I can but in here with the link, especially since it was Laurent who showed it to me! Link:http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_summ_los...iew.asp?PAGE=1

Of course, there are also summary losses in Don Caldwell's great book published recently, but I assume you have it already! Regards, Paul Thompson

Paul, thank you for your reply.

The link is very useful indeed, I am sure I will find that information a complete goldmine.

With regards to the recent Don Caldwell book, are the loss records extensive within the book?

Regards Richard.