Need info on Max Kussner an 8./JG 26 pilot in 1939-40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Can anyone provide any info on an 8./JG26 pilot named Max Kussner, who flew with the unit during 1939-40. I need his dates of service, rank and what happened to him.

Thanx,

[stefaan]

Hi Larry. Max Kuessner was a patient of mine in Johannesburg,South Africa.
He died of a stroke Easter weekend 1994.
I got a lot of photo's from his daughter when he died but he refused to talk about the war.
He told me he was with JG 26 and flew sometime during the BOB until his eardrum burst flying with a cold during the BOB.
He had a Solbuch stating the following
In service 1/11/39 Obergefreiter
1/12/41 Unteroffisier
3/9/44 Fallschirm-Oberjager
He went to the Fallschirmjager after he was grounded and he told me he went to Russia.Had a terrible time there that he refused to talk about.
Very quiet nice chap.
Loved swimming and apparently swam for either some region in Germany or Germany itself.
What do you have on him??
I would like to know if he had any kills.
Hope it helps
Stefaan

[John Beaman]

Stefaan:

He is not listed as making any confirmed claims.

[Larry Hickey]

Stefaan,

Thanks for your info! I have some pictures of him during the 1939-40 period that Don Caldwell made available to me from Kussner's personal collection. One of them appears to confirm that he flew "Red 10" with 8./JG26 W.Nr.119X sometime in 1939 before the 1940-style camouflage was introduced. I wasn't familiar with his career, since he was apparently never shot down and didn't score any victories. Your info is very helpful and I thank you for it. Does your info give a date for when he might have first been assigned to 8./JG26 or when he left the unit, other than sometime during the Battle of Britain?

Regarding the dates that you give in your post, are you using the European system or the US system? (ie. was his promotion to Uffz. Jan 12, 1941, or December 1, 1941?) I'm assuming that it is the former, but I'm not sure.

Do any of your photos show him with his. or anyone else's aircraft, during his sevice with JG26? I'm trying to compile a complete roster of JG26 pilots with info on their dates of service, the particulars of their career, and the aircraft that they flew from 1939 through the end of 1940, so info on the career of this relatively unknown pilot is especially helpful. Do you happen to have a copy of his Flugbuch?

Thanx,

[stefaan]

Hi Larry.
Caldwell got all those photo's from me.
I sent it to him when I saw he did JG 26.
The dates are 1 Dec 41 thus looking like US system.
Contact me at my home stefaan@surgeon.co.za so that I can scan you a copy of his Solbuch entries.Looks like he joined 8/JG 26 23.9.39.
Date of birth 27.8.19.
I have a whole box of photo's from him.There may be some of help
Give me a few days.
My son is getting married this weekend.
Stefaan