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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: “kittel”

#Pilot/Crew
SORT (↑)		RankBornPlaceScore
SORT (↑)		PhotoUnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************LinksAuthorComments
1 Kross,StbGefr2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
2 Wiese, Johannes 'Hannes'Maj3/7/1915Breslau Schlesien133

Recon pilot, 2/JG-52 (8/42), 5/JG-52, Stafkpt 2/JG-52 (7/43), Kdr I/JG-52 (8/43 S.U.), Kdr JG-77 (44)Bf 109F "Black 3", Bf 109G-2/R6 "Black 3" & Bf 109G-4 Werk # 19510 "Balck 1" in 2/JG-52, Bf 109G-2 "White 1", "Bf 109G-6 "Black 5", Bf 109G-6 Werk # 15999 "Black <<+" in I/JG-52, Bf 109G-14 "Black <<"
RK(1/5/43)
EL(3/2/44)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(2/8/43)
Romanian Order
EP(11/6/42)

EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Ftr Oper Clasp		Plus 75 Unconfirmed. My "Pen Pal", "Hannes", NN "Kubanski Lion". Russian POW, 10 years. Shot down on 24 December, 1944 over Bottrop. His parachute was either burning or faulty, because he sustained a serious back injury when parachuting. Succeeded Johannes Steinhoff as Kdr of JG-77, and replaced by Maj Erich Leie after his injury. Turned over to the Russians after the war and confined until 1950. 480 missions. The Luftwaffe's 3rd highest Sturmovik killer with 70+ victories over the Il-2. Third only to Otto Kittel (94) and Joachim Brendel (88).His first known Soviet victory, A P-2 on 3 August, 1942. His 2nd, a LaGG-3 on 4 August, 1942. Four Il-2s on 25 October, 1942. Three Il-2s on 25 December, 1942. A Yak-1 and an Il-7 on 9 May, 1943. A Yak-1, a Pe-2, a Spitfire and a LaGG-3 on 26 May, 1943. An Il-7, a Yak-1 and a LaGG-5 on 28 May, 1943. Two Il-7s on 30 May, 1943. Probably his highest scoring day, on 5 July, 1943, he downed Eight Il-4s and four Il-2s, bringing his total to 88. Two Il-7s and two Il-2s on 17 July, 1943, equaling 100 victories. All victories in the East. NN "Kubanski Lion". His Wk# 19510 was flown to Turkey by Fw Gerhard Jüngel 25 July, 1943. Deceased 16 August, 1991. Photos & Autograph
(Added by Pietrzak Youngs)
Johannes Wiese (7 May 1915 – 16 August 1991) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945. After the war in 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and attained the rank of Oberstleutnant . He retired on 30 November 1970. His most successful day was 5 July 1943 when he shot down twelve enemy aircraft in one mission. [1 ] Johannes Wiese was officially credited with 133 victories claimed in 480 combat missions. Additionally he had 75 more unconfirmed claims. [1 ] Among his claims are 70 Il-2 Stormoviks . Soviet fighter pilots therefore greatly respected Wiese, and referred to him as the "Lion of Kuban ." On December 1, 1944, Wiese became Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 77 . Only three weeks later he was severely injured when, following ejection at an altitude of more than 9000 meters after combat with British Spitfires, his parachute ruptured 80 meters above ground. He spent the rest of the winter in hospital, and was replaced as commander by Erich Leie . He surrendered to U.S. forces at the end of the war but was released from captivity only weeks later. However, Wiese spent over four years in Soviet POW camps from September 1945 onward, having been denounced by German communists. (Source: Wikipedia)





3 Trotz,201/JG-102, JG-54 (Russia)Bf 109G on JG-102, Fw 190AFighter Operational ClaspFlew wingman for Otto Kittel. Jager Blatt 6/2001.
4 Schmidt,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
5 Rössler,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
6 Renner, OskarOfhr12/JG-54 (10/44 S.U.)Fw 190A EK 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		His first known victory, a Soviet Il-2 on 27 October, 1944. Member of "Schwarm Kittel". He witnessed Otto Kittels death near Dzukste, on 14 February, 1945.
7 Rabe, Fw2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
8 Pettesch,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
9 Leusse,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
10 Frank,HptGefr2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
11 Kreibsch,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
12 Körfges, WernerOfw2/JG-54Fw 190A-4 Werk# (14)2494 "Black 8" (lost)Fighter Operational ClaspMIA/POW 15 October, 1943 north of Kursk. His "Swarmführer this date was Otto Kittel. He was released from Soviet captivity in 1949. Alternate spelling: Koerfges.
13 Kittel, WernerLt1901II./JG 51Bf 109 E-4 Werknr 5095 (lost)
EK 2
MIA/ KIA on 28 October 1940 at Fielding Land, Dymchurch. He was found 1973. His wedding ring can be clearly seen and was returned to his widow Inge who attended his burial with Full Military Honours at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire


Courtesy CK

CKönig
14 Kittel, Otto Eduard 'Bruno'Oblt1917/02/21Kronsdorf (Komotau), Sudetenland267


Bruno

1./JG 54, Stfkpt 2./JG 54 (Kurland Pocket)Bf 109 F-2 "Red 8" w/1/JG-54, F-2 Werknr 12725 (lost 5/31/41; mech failure, pilot OK), Fw 190 A-4 "Black 10"Werknr 142481 (2-3/43), Fw 190 A-6 "White 1" Werknr 550529 in 1/JG-54, Fw 190A-8 "Black 1" Werknr 960282 (lost 2/14/45)
RK(10/29/43)
S(11/25/44)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(2/26/43)
EP(12/21/42)

EK 1 & 2
Wnd Bdg

Bomber Operational Clasp in Gold with pendant "500"
KilledInAction (KIA) 14 February, 1945, in # 960282, in aerial combat with eight Il-2s in Tukum Kurland. His A-8 plummeted to earth trailing a long sheet of flames, Kittel having no chance to bail. EL conferred on 14 April, 1944. 583 combat missions. All 267 victories in the East. His first known Soviet victories, two SB-2s on 24 June, 1941. Another of his many multiples, a LaGG-3, a LaGG-5, an I-180 and a Pe-2 on 19 February, 1943. The most successful pilot of JG-54! Six victories on 12 January, 1943, one of many multiples. Germanys 4th ranked fighter Ace. Shot down twice. On 15 March, 1943, after downing his 47th, a MiG-3, he managed to escape Russian confinement being downed 60 km behind Soviet lines in Fw 190A-4 #(14)2481 over Dzukste Kurland. took 3 days to return thru the bitter cold. Bailed safely from F-2 #12725 "NI+EY" lost at Spiekeroog 5/31/41 due to tech diff. Scored JG-54s 4000th victory (his 39th), 19 February, 1943. Scored his 100 victory on 14/09/43. Also flew a Bf 109F-2 "Blk 8" in I/JG-54 in May 1942. Flew A-6 "Yellow 5" in 9/44. His last victory, his 267th, was an Il-2 at Dzukste on 14 February, 1945, just before he was killed. Nick-named "the Quiet NCO" or "Butcher Killer".

Trautloft left - Kittel right



15 Hildebrand, WalterHptm2/16/1914Rybnik1(F)/127 (38), Stab/KG-26 (39), Stfkpt 3/KG-26 95/43)He 111H-11 Werk # 110363 "1H + TL" (lost 10/21/43)
RK(4/6/44 Post.)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(10/17/43)
EP(8/24/42)

EK 1 & 2
Bomber Operational Clasp		MIA 21 October, 1943; last seen making a torpedo run against convoy MKS 28 off Cape Tenes, Algeria, probably hit by AA fire after dropping his torpedos. Remaining crew (MIA): Lt Helmut Renz, Obs; Fw Ernst Kittel, R/O and Fw Theodor Eckert, Gnr.. The ship believed to have downed Hildebrand's ac was the Norwegian M/S Belnor (D.Drury).
16 Hertwig,Uffz2/JG-54 (2/45 Kurland)Fw 190A-8Fighter Operational ClaspFlew the same mission with Otto Kittel, the day Kittel was killed. Jager Blatt 2/2004.
17 Helfer, ArnoOgefr


Ogefr Josef May

2./KG 4He-111 H-16 Werk # 162407 "6N + IK" (lost 1/19/44)Bomber Operational ClaspPOW 19 January, 1944 after his ac made a belly landing in enemy territory south of Skadovsk, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine. The cause is open to question between a night fighter attack and/or a navigational error. The ac marking suggests it was from 2/KG-100 when I/KG-100 transitioned to the He 177A. Remaining crew (believed POW): Uffz Otto Kittel, Obs; Ogefr Josef May, R/O (born 20/07/23) and Fw Alois Rasche, Flt Engr. One source suggests the crew were MIA, but since the ac was captured intact, they are presumed POW (D.Drury).

Results 1 to 17 of 17.



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

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