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The Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: Axis Powers Pilots and Crew




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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
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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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MAJOR SEARCH AND SORT ENHANCEMENTS: You can now search on Unit such as 3/SG-1, 5./JG 51. Note that some sources used to develop this Archive date back 3 decades and may not have been consistent: you should try various options. For example 5./JG 51 may have been encoded as 5/JG 51 or 5./JG-51. You can also search on aircraft types such as Me 109, P-47.

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You searched for: “"francke"

#Pilot/Crew
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RankBornPlaceScore
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PhotoUnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************LinksAuthorComments
1 Francke, ErichOfw35/JG-52 (Channel)Bf 109E-3 Werk # 1974 (lost 8/29/40)
EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp
KilledInAction (KIA) 29 August, 1940 during aerial combat, crashing near Jever. His first victory, a Spitfire at Canterbury on 14 August, 1940.
2 Francke, Gerd HermannOblt7/12/1917
Cannock Chase
2/KGr-100He 111H-3 Werk # 5612 "6N + GK" (lost 7/8/41)Bomber Operational ClaspPOW 8 July, 1941 after his ac was sd by a Beaufighter of No.604 Sq., piloted by F/Lt Hugh Speke & P/O Derek A. Jackson (radar). The He 111 crashed near Everton, Hampshire. Oblt Francke was the only crewman who bailed safely. Remaining crew (KilledInAction (KIA)): StabFw Richard Härtel, Obs; Ofw Paul Stein, R/O; Fw Adam Wetzel, Flt Engr and Ofw Artur Kapfhamer, Gnr. The deceased are buried at CC/9/1/3 (D.Drury).
3 Francke, GüntherLt192113/JG-54Fw 190A-8 Werk# 734023 "White ?" (lost)Fighter Operational ClaspMIA 25 December, 1944 after aerial combat with a P-51, 10 km southeast of Godesburg, near Heckenbach.
4 Francke, CarlLt1905/05/09 (CK)Bremen (CK)Erprobungsstelle (See) Travemünde (1939 CK), KG 30 (09/39 CK) Erprobungstelle Rechlin (11/39 CK), , Leiter Erprobungsstelle Rechlin (06/41-05/42 CK), Ernst Heinkel AG (1943 CK)Ju-88, Ju-177 V-1 "CB + RP" Werknr 00001 (11/39) , He-162 (CK)
EK 1 & 2
He flew one of the four Ju 88s making the first operational flight of WWII,. Attacked the British carrier "Ark Royal" on Sept. 26, 1939 as a Gefr.. Göring credited Francke with hitting the carrier, although he did not, promoted him to Lt., and awarded him with the Iron Cross 1st Class. He later became Director of Testing at Rechlin. (Corrected by CK) Added: 1934 a member of the German team competing in the Europa-Rundflu.g1937 headed the E7 department of Erprobungsstelle Rechlin flew the Bf 109 V8 and V13 to break records at the international Flying Meeting at Dubendorf/Switzerland. Deceased on 01/10/1996 (CK)


Courtesy CK

5 Moll, ErwinOblt
Cannock Chase
4/KG-76 (6/40), 3/KG-76 (Channel 4/41)Do 17Z Werk # Unk "F1 + FM" (lost 6/1/40), Ju 88A-5 Werk # 7172 "F1 + DL" (lost 4/16/41) Wound Badge
Bomber Operational Clasp
MIA 16 April, 1941, cause unknown; two others MIA and one KilledInAction (KIA), all unnamed. Added: Moll POW 16 April, 1941after his ac was sd by a Beaufighter of No.219 Sq., piloted by F/Lt Tony Dottridge & Sgt Gwilym Williams. The ac crashed in Wimbledon, Surrey. Remaining crew: Fw Kurt Brähler (POW), Fw Ewald Franke (or Francke-POW) and Fw Otto Staude (KilledInAction (KIA), chute failed). Staude buried at CC, Blk 1, Row 9, Gr 330 (D.Drury). WIA 1 June, 1940 when his ac was attacked by a British fighter in the Dunkirk area. He crashed behind German lines east of Bergues (Fr), where the ac broke up. Remaining crew: Fw Ernst Mössner, Obs (WIA); Uffz Hans Fortmüller, R/O (KilledInAction (KIA); buried Lommel Be., Blk 42, Gr 184) and Uffz Johann Wörlein, Flt Engr (KilledInAction (KIA); buried Lommel Blk 42, Gr 578) (D.Drury).

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

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