Ju88 crash OLt Gert Blume, near Isjum 1942

[egbert]

Does anybody has any more information on a relative's death? Oberleutnant Gert Blume, Edelweissgeschwader I./KG 51, who was killed in action 23.5.1942 as pilot of his Ju 88? Provisional graves in a sunflower field.

[Jim P.]

Ju 88A-4 WNr. 5721 bei Welikaja per loss report (Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #6)-Vol.9). With Lfl.4. No other details.

[Matti Salonen]

9K+GB, 30 km südwestlich Isjum, 18 km nördlich Barwenkowo, 300 m westlich Straße, Jägerbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[egbert]

Thank you so much Matti and Jim.
Is both of your information one and the same plane?

I have marked to best of information the crash site here:

[egbert]

Today I got information from Volksbund Dt Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Grave Commission) about the possible whereabouts of Gert Blume's remains.
The temporary grave-as seen in the picture above- with the 4 burned crew members, later have been buried in Barwenkowo (see map above). The graves in B. were barely identifyable in the late 90s and had been robbed by grave looters. After bilateral government agreement on the status of German dead in the Ukraine, all 663 German soldiers have been exhumed in B. and were moved to a VdK maintained concentration cemetery in Charkow. Sadly most ID tags had been robbed in B. and most soldiers from there had to be reburied as unknowns. His name is now etched in a big granite block together with thousand others next to the burial site.

Do not support Ukrainian and Russian looters and trade or buy ID tags!

[steve sheridan]

Could anybody help with the crew functions of this loss.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Jim P.]

My db entry (with Matti's info included) -

Ju 88A-4, 5721, Blume, Oblt. Gert, , I., , KG 51, , 9K+GB, , , 23-May-42, KIA with crew due to Luftkampf with enemy fighters., bei Welikaja, Bs Fw. Heinrich Düssen per loss, right name per grave photo., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #6)-Vol.9; Salonen via TOCH on 24-Jan-15, Medcalf, 30km südwestlich Isjum, 18km nördlich Barwenkowo, 300m westlich Straße, 100%, F, B Uffz. Werner van Drago, Bf Ofw. Christof Müller & Bs Fw. Heinrich Deussen, , Heinkel Flzg.Werke Oranienburg in Oct-41

[egbert]

Originally Posted by Jim P.

My db entry (with Matti's info included) -

Ju 88A-4, 5721, Blume, Oblt. Gert, , I., , KG 51, , 9K+GB, , , 23-May-42, KIA with crew due to Luftkampf with enemy fighters., bei Welikaja, .......

Anybody knows where Welikaja is located? I only find a Velika Komyshuvakha and a Velyka Andriivka nearby the crash site on today's googleearth.

[Andy Mitchell]

Have a look here http://www.mapywig.org/m/German_maps...usg.3_1943.jpg

[egbert]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

Have a look here http://www.mapywig.org/m/German_maps...usg.3_1943.jpg

Thanks Andy, great map! and found it!
The crash site could be identified with the 1:300.00 map and zooming into another available online 1:100.000 map from 1943, revealed that my first anticipated crash site is not correct. The road did not exist then. If of interest, I can post the exact crash location 5 km further to the west.