Update on efforts to verify the 1940 victory claims of I./ZG26

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Thanks to help from members of this board, we have been able to fill in a number of 1940 victory claims for ZG units, including those of of Kogler and Kaminski of I./ZG26. This has been achieved through acquisition of info from the WASt, wehrpass and RK documentation, Logbooks, etc.

Here is the list of what is still lacking documentation for some specific I./ZG 26 pilots. For some of the below pilots we have some victory information confirmed, but still have gaps in their 1940 claims lists to confirm.

Oblt. Wilhelm Spies, 1 Staffel (6), Lt. Eduard Meyer 1 Staffel (5), Lt. Karl Kennel, Staffel ? (2), Oblt. Paul Förster, Staffel (1, his 2nd); Lt. Werner Thierfelder, Stab (?), Oblt Johannes Kiel 3 Staffel (?), Obfw. Willi Stange 3 Staffel (?).

ANY help would be appreciated. I am only interested in 1940 information here, although other members of our EOE working group would probably appreciate career info on this individuals.

Regards,

[Evgeny Velichko]

Larry:

Have a look on this photo. It may be some of use... Part of 1st character (visible in right lower corner) could be 3 (3U, 3M) or S (S9) or G (G9).

[robert]

Hi,

it`s Victor Moelder`s tally when with NJ for a short time - G9+.

Regards

Robert

[Evgeny Velichko]

Hmmm.... THX Robert.

[Tom Semenza]

Robert,

I had been under the impression that Viktor Mölders made only two Zerstörer claims of his total of 9. But I have found only 2 with JG 51, so the seven bars make sense. Do you know the details of his claims? I have a PZL on 7.09.39 and a Fokker T.V on 11.05.40. There is a third Dutch claim on the tail and the last four look like 2 French then 2 RAF, but I could be wrong there.

Thanks,
Tom

[Evgeny Velichko]

Tom:

"Luftwaffe Zerstorer and F/B", by J.Vasco:
-p.36, lower photo: Bf110C, 2N+GH, of Oblt. Molders, with unvisible tally. But next photo of same a/c will show all of 7:
-p.75, in center: Bf110C, 2N+GH of Oblt. Molders with clearly visible 7 victory bars.

[robert]

Hi,

I identified his all but one victims. He claimed following victories:
07.09.39 - Polish
10.05.40 - Dutch
11.05.40 - Dutch
29.05.40 - British
05.06.40 - French
05.06.40 - British
12.06.40 - French


Regards

Robert

[Pieter H]

Hi Robert,

Can you give more details on the 10.5 claim of Lt Mölders? I don't have any confirmed activity of 1./ZG1 over Holland on May 10, let alone a claim. The 11.5 claim is the Fokker T5 nr.850.

Regards, Pieter

[Tom Semenza]

Robert & Yevgeny,

Many thanks for your replies.

Yevgeny, I had missed the connection in Vasco's book between the two photos, perhaps because the caption on page 75 states, incorrectly, that it is A2+GH belonging to 4./ZG 2, pilot unknown. However on closer inspection the "2" is clearly the first digit and is in fact 2N+GH of 1./ZG 1 as you pointed out.

Robert, can you tell us the source for the claim details?

Regards,
Tom

[byron-]

Larry,

I have a FF. Ofw. Karl Kennel at the 1. Staffel

1./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., 11.08.40-06.08.41 FF. Hptm. Wilhelm Spies
2./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., 11.05.40-20.05.41 FF. Hptm. Herbert Kaminski
3./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., 18.08.40-00.04.42 FF. Oblt. Johannes Kiel (+) 29.01.44
4./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Hptm. Paul Kleiner
5./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., 04.41 FF. ?????
6./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Oblt. Ralph von Rettberg,
7./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., 04.41 FF. ?????
.............-.............. FF. Oblt. Schott (v.) 10.02.42,
since 11.02.42 FF. Oblt. Alfred Wehmeyer
8./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Oblt. Prang,
since 22.08.41 FF. Oblt. Fritz Schulze-Dickow,
9./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Hptm. Bohrt .............-.............. FF. Oblt. Johannes Bergfleth, (+) 27.05.42
10./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Oblt. Karl-Heinz Bittner, (+) 01.06.42
11./ZG. 26, St.Kpt., .............-.............. FF. Oblt. Peter Habicht

Any corrections or additional infos would be appreciated