Adolf Dickfeld 100th victory mystery

[CJE]

When did it take place?
According to Obermaier, he got the EL on 19 May 1942 after his 101th kill.
According to Prien (Teil 9/II), he was still at 95 on 27 May 1942, when he is supposed to have been granted a lenghty leave (why?).

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[GMichalski]

hi,
in my list 14.08.42 excluding 3 unconfirmed kills
post your mail and i send to you i have
any doubt or different info: kreator1989@hotmail.com
regards

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Just a thought: as the Luftwaffe confirmation system took months, and even sometimes more than one year, unit ceremonies or awards for 100th victory and such numbers were probably done when the 100th "victory claim file" was filled by the pilot and his hierarchy, not when the pilot received its 100th official confirmation.

So I guess that in this case, while on 19 May 1942 Dickfeld had done 101 claims, part of them were never officialy awarded.

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

Dickfeld's claims 1-49 (26th June 1941 until 23rd February 1942) were with 7./Jg52 and are covered by the micro films. His claims after with the Staff of III./Jg52 are not covered by the micro films, and thus are made up of other source's.....that are ultimately much less reliable, though one of these(nr54) appears on the subsiderary micro film(27th March 1942 a R-5 at 1031 hrs), these III./Jg52 claims are believed to be twenty-five in total(giving a total of 128 over Russia......if correct). Then we have those estimated to be Nr75-94 from 12th May 1942 until 27th May 1942 that are covered by the micro films of 8./Jg52. By this time the micro film staffel claims(of which Stab.III./Jg52 are missing) end, and daily claims for the eastern front for all units begin, and these cover those estimated to be Nr95-128 from 5th August 1942 until 17th September 1942 whilst he was again with the Staf of III./Jg52, his estimated hunfredth falling on 14th August 1942 at 1022 hrs(a Boston).
He only confirms four in the West, of which two are Viermots.

Obermeier's book though the best publication of it's time, was printed before the discovery of the majority of the micro films, and he believed that Dickfeld had 115 eastern victories.

Dickfeld lived in South America until just before his death, and we will say no more than he was still loving his "Führer". He just got "tired of living" in the end and returned to Germany to die!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[kaki3152]

Just of out curiosity, how accurate is his book "Footsteps of the Hunter"? I bought it years ago and thought it was a goor read with some questionable stories.

[Johannes]

Hi

The book I remember offered no actual historical details, and I do remember his story about shooting down a B-17 then ditching himself into the sea........that would appear to be incorrect, so I wouldn't put too much faith in it!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

None of his Tunisian stories in Footsteps of the Hunter seem to match up with other sources, so that's why Morten and I didn't quote any of them in our Fw 190 in North Africa book.

Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[kaki3152]

Well, it's an interesting read and I didn't pay much for it. I think his account of being in the FW-190 when he had the accident in North Africa is true.

I think it's one of those books which you have to read "behind the scenes" to understand the motive of the author.

[George Hopp]

The entire book is a bit of a mystery and the chapters bounce around in time. I noted this especially in his writing about the winter war in the USSR.