Search Tips  •   Bio & Memorabilia  •   Check Spelling Names in Database  •   Luftwaffe Awards  •   Axis Pages  •   Sources

Data derived from many sources. Perfection is our goal: Corrections and Additions are encouraged and requested. Please Email us

35,000+ Entries in Database (as of October 2025): largest in the world
The only authorised publication of the Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: anything else has been stolen and infringes my copyright.
Please email us any photos you have. We will acknowledge you in the database unless requested otherwise.
This is a non-political research resource. The authors of this material do not condone hatred in any form,
neither do they support oppressive and despotic regimes or political systems. See our Statement
In some cases you can see a pilot's extended record of victories in date order from our Luftwaffe Victories database
To see a list of German WW2 Aces consult German WW2 Aces Database
Click an image to expand. Click Luftwaffe Awards for explanations. Scroll to the right to see all the data.

Major enhancements and additions are being made to the Archive by Christian König and Dave Drury.

See a sample search

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.

 

---

Our hosting service restricts database searches to a minimum of 4 characters, therefore searching on 3 or less will produce no results even if the name IS in our database. If you know the target's first name, put his full name in the first Search box in the form 'familyname, firstname' thus: Rau, Gunther.

If you only know his family name (for example Alt) then add 'x' to the name and search on that: thus search on Altx

If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This
Searching for a 3-character name requires special treatment

AND(Optional)

Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments Exclude Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Restrict to Column

Restrict to Column Pilot Rank Born Place Score Units Aircraft Awards *************Notes************* Photo Links AuthorComments

Exact Match Contains Word

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “"benda"”

#	Pilot (↑)	Rank	Born	Place	Score (↑)	Units	Aircraft	Awards	*************Notes*************	Photo	Links	AuthorComments
1	Benda, Franz von	Obstlt	3/7/1904			Kdr III/KG-76 (5/41), Kdr LG-1 (2/42)	Ju 88A-4 Werk # 8610 "L1 + BA" (lost 12/2/42)	EK 1 & 2 Bomber Operational Clasp in Gold	KilledInAction (KIA) 2 December, 1942 when his Ju 88 was attacked over northern Cyrenaica by an RAF fighter of No. 73 Sq. as he was on a special mission to Tobruk. He was acting as Observer this date. The ac was piloted by Hptm Erwin Sy, also KilledInAction (KIA) (Ju 88 Loss List). See Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries for further detail.
2	Sy, Erwin Paul	Maj	8/21/1915	Angermünde		4(K)/LG-1 (9/39), Stab II/LG-1 (Med 2/41), Stfkpt 4/LG-1 (Africa)	Ju 86, He 111H Werk # Unk "L1 + EM" (dam 5/10/40), Ju 88A-5 Werk # 2203 (50% dam 2/4/41), Ju 88A-4 Werk # 8610 "L1 +BA" (lost 12/2/42)	RK(5/22/42) Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(1/2/42) EP(4/8/41) EK 1 & 2 Wound Badge Bomber Operational Clasp w/Pendant	Shortly after receiving his RK, he and his crew were sd during an attack on the fortress of Tobruk on 2 December, 1942 in Wk# 8610, buried Derna Cem.. Remaining crew (KilledInAction (KIA)):his Commander, Obstlt Franz von Benda, Obs; Fw Ernst Neumeister, R/O and Fw Ewald Bauer, Gnr.. Sy and his Gunner, Uffz Ewald Bauer were WIA when attacked by Hurricanes near Malta on 4 February, 1941. 300 combat missions. Source: Kaiser RK book. Added: On 10 May, 1940, his He 111 made a forced landing on the beach near Calais-Marck after being attacked by an MS 406 of GC III/1, piloted by Sgt Albert Durand and a Bloch 152 of GC II/8, piloted by SC jean Honorat, Sy, the observer on this flight, was captured unhurt. Remaining crew (POW): Oblt Horst Merkwitz, Pilot; Fw Bruno Falkenhagen, R/O and Fw Rudolf Martin, Flt Engr (WIA). All POW's repatriated soon after (D.Drury).			syxx

Results 1 to 2 of 2.