Willi Gasthaus, 4./JG 51 and two mid-air collisions

[Gaston]

Hello everyone,

Willi Gasthaus of 4./JG 51 was involved in two mid-air collisions: On 5 August 1940 he collided with Hptm. Douglas Pitcairn - Stkpt. 1./JG 51, during a take-off alarm. Their machines were lost - near Pihen-les-guines, 10 km SW of Calais. Gasthaus hit the cockpit of Pitcairn's Bf 109 with his wing. Pitcairn suffered very serious injuries. Does anyone know if both pilots made a parachute jump or an emergency landing? However, for Hptm. Pitcairn it was final, as the injury was so serious that it put him out of flying, as he was then grounded by transfers to various flying schools and the Luftwaffe General Staff. After Pitcairn, 1./JG 51 was commanded by Hermann-Friedrich Joppien. Gasthaus was also injured in that collision. Gasthaus flew as his Pitcairn number. Interesting, because Gasthaus was a member of 4./JG 51 at the time.

The second collision took place on 26.2.1941 and probably took place in combat, because Gasthaus reported shooting down a Spitfire. However, he was not credited with the Spitfire. Near Mardyck he collided with Oblt. Giselbert Pirker from 4./JG 51. While Pirker died in the crash, Gasthaus was injured again - did he jump with a parachute or make an emergency landing? Does anyone have specific information, please?

Ofw. Gasthaus shot down the last ninth enemy on 30 June 1941. After that, until the end of the war, he was only a flying instructor. From September 1944 until the end of the war, he became Stkpt. 2./JG 102 with the rank of Oblt. Does anyone have any info on why he was a flying instructor for the rest of the war? Was he guilty of something?

After the war he returned to the Luftwaffe and retired with the rank of Obstlt. He died on June 9, 1993. Thank you very much, have a nice day.

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Gaston

The first incident involving Hauptmann Douglas Pitcairn (4 victories), Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 51, and Feldwebel Willi Gasthaus occurred on take-off at Pihen on 5 August 1940. The latter was serving with 1./JG 51 and flying Bf 109 E-4 "White 8" (W.Nr. 6266) at the time. Pitcairn was injured while he was not and apparently never returned to combat duty. The second incident involved Oberleutnant Giselbert Pirker of 4./JG 51 who was killed in Bf 109 E-7 (W.Nr. 6455) when he collided with Feldwebel Willi Gasthaus of 4./JG 51 in Bf 109 E-7 (W.Nr. 6456) over Mardyck on 26 February 1941. The latter was able to bale out without injury. I have no idea why he served the remainder of the war as an instructor but such did happen to several aces so it was not unheard of in the Jagdwaffe.

Horrido!

Leo