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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: “"Matern"

#Pilot/Crew
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PhotoUnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************LinksAuthorComments
1 Lehnis, JoachimFw8/18/1918Danzig8/KG-2 (Schiphol, Holland)Do 217E-4 Werk # 5314 "U5 + HS" (lost)Bomber Operational ClaspKilledInAction (KIA) 15 January, 1942 after being hit by naval gunfire from the steamship Empire Bay. The Empire Bay did eventually sink, however the Dornier suffered engine damage in the exchange. The AC turned inland, but the starboard wing struck the cable of a barrage balloon (named "Annie") and crashed at 6:10 PM onto a coal railway sidings at Clay Lane, South Bank, Middlesborough. Remaining crew (all KilledInAction (KIA)): Lt Rudolf Matern, Observer, Uffz Hans Manecke (4/26/1918), wireless operator and Ofw Heinrich Richter of Schlesia (EK 1 & 2, Wound Badge), gunner. Lehnis, Richter and Matern were buried at Acklam Road Cemetery, Thornaby. Manekes body was recovered 26 November,1997, by Water Board Workers, and interned in Thornaby also, with his other crew members on 14 October, 1998, after a search for family members was unsuccessful. Friend Norm Lambert of Columbus, OH. was a member of the Recovery Team in 1997. The Observer was found still sitting in his seat, just as he was on that fateful January night.


L-R: Lehnis, Manecke, Matern and Richter

2 Matern, ArnimOblt8/JG-2Bf 109G-6 Werk# 412695Fighter Operational ClaspMIA 25 June, 1944; Combat with 16 P-38s and 15 P-51s (overwhelming odds!) near Bernay. Mombeek MIA List.
3 Matern, ErichFw8/JG-1 (Reich Def)Bf 109G-6 Werk # 15429 "Black 20" (lost 11/3/43)Fighter Operational ClaspMatern force landed at Marx on 3 November, 1943 after aerial combat with American bombers and escorts. This ac was the usual ac of Ofw Alfred Miksch and was totally destroyed in the crash.
4 Matern, Karl-HeinrichHptm1919/02/19Althof/ Preussisch-Eylau12


Courtesy CK

Stab II./ZG 1 (10/42 S.U.), III./ZG 76, II./SKG 210, Kdr II./ZG 1 (08/43)Bf 110C, Bf 110 G-2 "S9 + RP" Werknr 120010 (or 130010) of 6./ZG 1 (lost 10/08/43) RK (09/10/43 Post.)

EK 1 & 2

Destroyer Operational Clasp in Gold
MIA 8 October, 1943 in Werk # 120010 off Ushant, west of Brest; shot down by Spitfires of RAF No. 453 Squadron. Both crew MIA. In the Spring of 43, he took the Sq. to Brest from where difficult missions were flown over the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. He was also credited with 12 Tanks destroyed. All his aerial victories were over Russia. His first known Soviet victory, two MiG-3s on 30 October, 1942. A MiG-3 on 31 October, 1942. A MiG-3 on 1 November, 1942. An I-16 Rata on 5 November, 1942. An La-5 on 18 December, 1942. His plane was painted like a real fancy/colorful bug! Added: Their ac crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. His R/O was Ofw Helmuth Bitterling, also MIA (D.Drury). Added: he was awarded with the Knights Cross after his death due to his wartime successes. They included 12 aerial victories as well as 18 aircraft and 12 tanks destroyed on the ground.



Courtesy CK

5 Miksch, AlfredLt1/3/1919Vienna, Austria43
Lommel, Belgium

Courtesy Christian König

9/JG-3 (7/42 S.U.), 8/JG-1 (7/43 Reich Def)Bf 109F, Fw 190A, Bf 109G-6/R6 Werk # 15429 "Blk 20" (25% dam, combat, pilot OK. Wk# 15429 "Blk 20" (10/43 St Trond) later wrecked by Matern on 3 Nov, 1943), 7/43), Bf 109G-6 Wk # 140007 "Black 13 + I" (lost 12/1/43)
Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(7/12/43)
EP


EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp
KilledInAction (KIA) 1 December, 1943 in aerial combat over Bree Belgium. Crashed in southern Belgium, just over the Dutch border. Buried Lommel, Block 21/143 (Geensen). 37 victories in JG-3, mostly in Russia. His fist known Soviet victory, an Il-2 on 7 July, 1942. An Il-2 2 km NE of Krassnack-Soboboda on 3 September. A LaGG-3 30 km NNW of Stalingrad on 6 September. Two LaGG-3s in the Jersowka/Gorditsche areas on 8 September. Two Il-2s 20 km W of Stalingrad on 10 September. An I-153 3 km W of Aktluba and a P-2 5 km E of Stalingrad on 16 September. His 12th Soviet victory, a MiG-1 5 km E of Schokovov on 17 September. Two Il-2s and a MiG-1 in the Kotluban/Pitomnik areas on 18 September. His 16th, an unnamed Soviet AC on 1 October. A LaGG-3 5 km N of Aehtuba on 5 November. Four LaGG-3s in the Kalatsch.Pitomnik areas on 12 December. Two known western victories, his 38th & 39th, both P-51s into the sea 100 km W of Texel on 18 July, 1943. His 37th, a Soviet Hurricane i km S of Bataysk on 1 April, 1943. His 40th, a B-17 on 26 July. His 41st, a B-17 (HSS) at Apeldoorn on 30 July. His 43rd, a P-38 at Smilde- Beilen on 29 November. Also known to have flown Bf 109G-6/R6 Werk # 15429 "Black 20" in July, 1943.

Courtesy Christian König

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Wer vor der Vergangenheit die Augen verschließt, wird blind für die Gegenwart. Richard von Weizsäcker

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