Ogefr. Gerhard Frädrich, 5./JG 54, 26 July 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to Rosipal's JG 54 list, Ogefr. Gerhard Frädrich of 5./JG 54 bailed out from his Fw 190 A-6/F3 WNr 670222 "black 17" after an air battle against Il-2s and Yak-9s on 26 July 1944 and was posted missing, but later returned.

There is no location given and I would like to know if someone has one for this loss, or more details about Frädrich's bailout and escape (from the above, I guess he was shot down behind Soviet lines).

Thanks in advance

[Matti Salonen]

Pl.Qu. 70831, 3 km südwestlich Uusna at 16.30. According to NVM POW. No info on possible return.

Matti

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Matti for your quick answer.

Just to be sure, I checked Tony Wood claim lists to see if I can find a claim by him after 26 July 1944. The answer is no, but I found three differents way to write his name:
_ Frädich (6 times)
_ Frädrich (once)
_ Frädrisch (3 times)

Can you tell me how it is written in the NVM, please ?

[Matti Salonen]

Frädrich is correct.

Matti

[Frank Olynyk]

According to the just published (Red Kite/Wing Leader) Luftwaffe Aces, Biographies and Victory Claims, Volume 1, A-F, by Mathews and Foreman he evaded and survived the war. His last claims (16-17) were on July 8, 1944. He died on May 7, 1994.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Frank,

Just curious, does this book display his 17 kills, or just the 9 ones known from Tony Wood's files ?

Also, my personnal idea is that Frädrich was probably taken POW, as shown in the NVM. If he had been shot down and returned, he will be listed as MIA maybe, or at returned, but not as POW.

[Frank Olynyk]

Laurent,
The book lists all 17 victories, with times and types for all, and locations for all but one.

It says he evaded capture and returned.

Enjoy!

Frank.

There is an award list of a Il-2 rear gunner from the 448th ShAP which probably describes (or presents a version) Frädrich being shot down 26 July 1944.

The award list claims that while on a combat mission in Narva area mladshiy leitenant Bakharev's Il-2 was shot down by a Fw 190. Bakharev parachuted first. Right after that the rear gunner starshina Litvinov managed to shot down a Fw 190 which appeared 30 meters away from the falling Il-2. Then also Litvinov parachuted and landed on Soviet territory. The German pilot from the Fw 190 parachuted and was captured by Soviet ground troops.

The award list can be read here:
http://podvignaroda.mil.ru/?#id=3063...DetailDocument