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The Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: Axis Powers Pilots and Crew




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There is a rogue group of copyright infringers who have stolen a much earlier version of my data - from at least 10 years ago - and have the affrontery to publish that, along with using my name, on their poorly researched website. They claim this is the 'original' Kracker Archive, a ridiculous claim since my Archive has been in a state of continuous development for over 30 years and nobody - NOBODY - has the original. They have no right to use my name or my data and readers who come across this nonsense should do nothing to encourage theft of this nature. I am outraged by this blatant theft and misrepresentation of my lifetime's work. The ONLY person I have ever authorized to publish my data and use my name is Kelvin Youngs, who earned my trust and respect many years ago and is authorized by me to publish my work on whichever website he organizes, currently this being its present home at the highly respected Aircrew Remembered.
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You searched for: “matoni

#Pilot/Crew
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PhotoUnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************LinksAuthorComments
1 Matoni, RobertOblt6/JG-26 (7/42)Fw 190A-2Fighter Operational Clasp
2 Kiefner, GeorgOblt1/20/1922123/JG-26 (7/43), 2/JGr-West, I/JG-26 (1/44), Stfkpt 1/JG-26 (7/44, repl Max Groth), JV-44 (4/45)Fw 190A-4 Werk # 2386 "Yellow 12" (lost 8/17/43), Fw 190A-6 Werk # 530948 "White 11" (dam 3/23/44), Fw 190A-7 Werk # 340307 "White 11" (lost 4/1/44; injured bailing), Fw 190A-8 Wk# 171079, "White 5" (dam 8/12/44), Fw 190A-8 Werk # Unk "Black <" (lost 8/17/44), Fw 190D-9 Wk# 600158 "White 5" (lost 1/23/45), Fw 190D-9 Werk # 211027 "White 4" (15% dam (eng fire) 3/9/45)EP


EK 1 & 2, Silver Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold
WIA 17 August, 1943 in Wk# 2386 when he took a bullet in the knee and crashed at St Leonard, 30 km east of Antwerp. WIA 23 March, 1944 in A-6 Wk# 530948 "White 11" by Spitfire of No. 312 Sq., 3km W of Wevelgem. Bailed safely, with wounds, 1 April, 1944, from his A-7 SW of Courtrai after combat. His A-8 was damaged by AA fire on a low level strafing mission of American armor, on 12 August, 1944, E of Paris. He was uninjured 17 August, 1944, in another A-8, "Black <" shot down NE of Chartres. His D-9 " White 5" was shot down near Albachten on 1/23/45 by his own flak; he bailed safely without injury. His final D-9 "White 4" made an emergency landing at Vörden airfield 9 March, 1945, due to an engine fire. Only 15% damaged, it was left behind, to be found by advancing Allied Troops. His first victory, a Boston bomber on 30 July, 1943. Downed a B-24 of 44BG, his 3rd victory, on 21 January, 1944. Although not responsible for the downing of Uncle Ralph Krackers B-24 HSS near Almelo (his 5th victory) on 6 Mar., 1944, it does appear that he was credited with the victory. The photo was taken 24 June, 1944 at Boissy-le-Bois, the day he recd. the A/C. I have reason to believe that Hptm. Walter Matoni of II/JG-26 flew this same A/C. 140 combat missions. Shot down 5 times. One known victory, a Boston (e.V.) on 30 July, 1943. Another, a B-17 at Hulst-Terneuzen on 12 August, 1943. A 4th, a P-47 E of Maubeuge near Colleret on 7 January, 1944. His 6th, a P-51 at Bocholt-Roermond on 20 May, 1944. A P-51 at Caen on 11 July, 1944. A Spitfire at Caen/Carpiquet on 15 July, 1944. A P-47 on 7 August, 1944 (N. Fr.). Letter & photo of Georg on file.
3 Georgi, RudolfUffz3II/JG-26 (joins 7/43), 7/JG-26Bf 109G-6, Fw 190A-6 Werk # 470249 "Brown 12" (lost)
EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp
WIA 15 March, 1944 during aerial combat with a Spitfire of RAF No. 401 Sq near Rheine-Colombes. He bailed successfully with burns. One known victory, his 1st, a B-17 on 11 January, 1944 of 92BG near Heerde Holland, just past Dummer Lake, either one from the 325BS or one from the 326BS. One was credited to Matoni. His 2nd, a P-47 in the Albert-Amiens area on 21 January, 1944. His 3rd, a B-17 (HSS) at Selm, 8 km N of Lünen, on 22 February, 1944.
4 Matoni, WalterHptm6/27/1917Duisburg34

Courtesy Oleg Marin



9/JG-27 (6/40), 6/JG-26 (8/41), Stafkpt 5/JG-26, III/JG-2, Kdr I/JG-2 (9/44), Kdr II/JG-2, I/JG-11Bf 109F in JG-27, Fw 190A-6 Wk# 530118 "Blk 1" (25% dam 8/31/43), Fw 190A-7 "White 5" in JG-26, Fw 190A-8 (dam 12/6/44 in I/JG-2; injured in TO accident) RK(12/16/44)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold (5/10/44)
EP(3/31/44)

EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge in Silver

Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold with pendant
A serious crash in February of 1945, made him unfit for further flying duty. His first victory, during the Battle of Britain, a Hurricane at Tunbridge Wells on 30 September, 1940. His 1st known Soviet victory, a TB-3 on 17 July, 1941, while in 9/JG-27. WIA 31 August, 1943 in "Black 1", force landed after B-17 return fire at Montdidier. 400+ combat missions. 14 bombers. Opposed the 6 March, 1944 Berlin Raid while in II/JG-26. One known bomber, a B-17 "Fast Woman" of 351BG, 508BS flown by Lt William A. Suit on 19 August, 1943, 3 km northwest of Dunkirk. It crashed at St Omer. His 6th, a Spitfire IX 3 km NNW of Le Crotoy on 15 July, 1943. Another victory, a B-24 on 30 December, 1943, 15 km northwest of Soissons. His 13th (JG-26s 2000 victory) a B-24 at Rastorf on 24 February, 1944. His 20th, a P-47 SE of Rockenhausen on 13 April, 1944. His 25th, a P-47 at Mantes-Houdan on 20 August, 1944. 3 victories in the East. On 20 October, 1944, he downed a P-38 (possibly Jim Edmondson) east of Cologne. A P-47 SW of Düren on 19 November, 1944. His victories have been reported as 44. Deceased 26 June, 1988.
5 Karch, Friedrich 'Fritz'Hptm1920/01/17München47 (23+ )



6./JG 2 (10/42; 04/43 Stfkpt), Kdr II./JG 2 (02/45)Added: Bf 109 G-6 "Yellow 1" (07-08/43) (CKönig), Fw 190 A (10/44), Bf 109 G-14 (02/45)
RK (20/04/45)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold (09/10/43)
EP (20/03/44)
Wound Badge (04/08/44)

EK 1 & 2
EK 1 (29/05/43) & EK 2 (26/01/43)

Fighter Clasp Gold
Medal for the Italian-German campaign in Africa (22/03/43 CK)
Arm cuff "Afrika" ()01/03/43 CK)
270 missions; twice wounded, all victories in the West, including 21 four engine bombers. Added (CKönig): One known victory, a Spitfire 10 km W of Kior on 01 Jan, 1943, another Spitfire on 18 Jan, 1943. A P-38 on on 15 Feb, 1943 W of Bon Dabouse (CKönig). A P-38 on 16 May, 1943. A Spitfire 20 km NW of Le Harve and a B-17 at the St. Gatien airfield on 26 June, 1943. Added: A B-17 HSS on 04 July, 1943 at La Colounche, ENE of Domfront. Another B-17 on 10 July, 1943 and 14 July 1943, both near Evreux. A B-17 HSS on 30 July, 1943 and a B-17 on 12 Aug, 1943 15km E of Moll. A Spitfire on 19 Aug (near Abbeville) and other one on 19 Sept, 1943 (20km NW of Wissant). A B-17 on 26 Nov, 1943 near Paris and another B-17 on 30 Dec, 1943 at Crepy-en-Valois (CKönig). His last victory in 1943, a B-17 off Morlaix on 31 December, 1943 at 1510 hours.A P-38 south of Rouen on 14 January, 1944. A B-24 on 06 March, 1944. Another, a P-47 east of Köln-Bonn, 20 October, 1944. Another known victory, while still in 6/JG-2, a P-47 at Amsterdam on 8 March, 1944. A P-47 at St Anne France on 31 July, 1944. A P-47 NE of Hachenberg on 7 October, 1944. Another P-47 on 20 October, 1944 E of Cologne-Bonn. 2 more P-47 in December 1944. His last victory, a P-51 on 28 March, 1945. Replaced Matoni after he was seriously injured in a crash landing in Feb., 1945. Karch received the last RK for a JG-2 member. Deceased 30 December, 2001.
(Added by Pietrzak Youngs)

Fritz with group. Can anyone identify the others? Added (CKönig): left to right: Unknown, Lt Fritz Karch, Hptm Erich Rudorffer (Kdr II./ JG 2), Oblt Kurt Bühligen (Stfkpt 4./ JG 2), Hptm Rackow, and 2 unknown
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