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The Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: Axis Powers Pilots and Crew




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You searched for: “"mons"”

#Pilot/Crew
SORT (↑)		RankBornPlaceScore
SORT (↑)		PhotoUnitsAircraftAwards*************Notes*************LinksAuthorComments
1 Mons, RudolfMaj1914/02/10Vienna


Courtesy CK

I/KG 40 (09/41), Kdr Ep.u.Lehr Stf He 177 (01/42), Kdr III/KG 40 (11/43)He 111H, Fw 200 C & He 177 A-3 "F8 + DM" Werknr 535670 (lost 11/26/43) RK (18/09/41)
EP (05/05/41)

EK 1 & 2

most probably Bomber Operational Clasp in Gold		KIA 26 November, 1943 in the Mediterranean theater. His He 177 fell victim to enemy fighters and crashed at sea, off Bougie, Algeria. Remaining crew (KIA): Uffz Karl Enz, Obs; Fw Heinrich van Oopen, R/O; Fw Walter Laib, Flt Engr; Ogefr Dieter Tschöpe, Gnr and Uffz Heinz Niele, Gnr. Added: Awarded the Ritterkreuz for sinking 63,000 GRT of enemy shipping and severely damaging a further 32,000 GRT.


Courtesy CK
2 Westphal, Hans JürgenHptm3/26/19161511/JG-26, Stab III/JG-26 (5/40), 7/JG-26 (10/40), 6/JG-53 (4/43), Act Kdr II/JG-53 (6/43)Fw 190A-4 in JG-26, Bf 109G (Trop) in JG-53EP


EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		An occasional wingman for Adolf Galland in JG-26. 3 Bombers. 12 Victories in JG-26. His first victory, believed unconfirmed, a Hurricane "L-1646" of RAF No. 87 Sq., 20 km NNW of Mons on 14 May, 1940. His first confirmed victory, nos. 1 & 2, a Hurricane and a Spitfire at Dunkirk, 31 May, 1940. A "damaged" Spitfire SE of Dover on 15 August, 1940. His 3rd, a Spitfire S of Sevenoaks on 25 October, 1940. His 4th, a Spitfire at Dover on 9 June, 1941. Nos.5 & 6, both Spitfires in the Boulogne-Etaples area on 16 June, 1941. His 7th, a Spitfire W of Etaples on 17 June, 1941. His 9th(?) per OKL, a Spitfire off Gravelines on 22 June, 1941. His 13th, a Spitfire S of Dunkirk on 30 July, 1942. One known Desert victory, his 14th, a P-40E 10 km southwest of Zembra on 19 April, 1943. His 15th, a Spitfire 5 km south of Gela. Both while in 6 Staffel. Magnus, 20 victories. Bowers/Lednicer, 22 victories.


Courtesy Christian König
3 Wendt, Kuno CunoHptm4Flt Instr at Werneuchen (8/39), Stfkpt 8/JG-26 (3/40 repl Edu Neumann), 4/JG-3 (7/42 S.U.)Bf 109E "Black 1" in JG-26, Bf 109F in JG-3
EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		One known victory, his 1st, a Morane 406 SE of Mons on 14 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Fairey Battle northwest of Dunkirk, 2 June, 1940. A 3rd, his first known Soviet victory, a MiG-1 on 2 July, 1942. A 4th, a Boston III on 10 July, 1942.
4 Wendt, GerhardtOblt18/JG-26Bf 109E EK 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		One known victory, his 1st, a Morane 406 southeast of Mons, 14 May, 1940.
5 Thurz, HerbertHptm1918/12/22 (CK)Cologne (CK) LKS Gatow (1937 CK), JFS Schleissheim (1939 CK), 1./LG 2 (09/39-05/40), 1./JG 77 (05/42 CK), Stfkpt 2./JG 77 (06/42 Russia; 07/42 Malta - 01/43 CK), Stfkpt 3./JG 77 (10/42 N. Africa), Stfkpt 1./JG 105 (03/43) Bf-109 E-3 Werknr 5895 (lost, CK), Bf-109 G-2/trop, "Black 1" Werknr. 10543 (CK)
EK 1 & 2

at least Fighter Operational Clasp in Silver
Wound Badge 		POW 17 May, 1940 after a mid-air collision with another squadron 109, Werknr 5950, piloted by Oblt Hans Erwin Jäger (KIFA), crashing near Boussu 13 km SW of Mons- shot by ground troops while still in his parachute - hospitalized at Valenciennes. Repatriation from French captivity. Hospitalized 1942/10/27 for wounds, Oblt Ernst Laube Acting Stfkpt at the time. WIA/POW on 1944/04/13 (CK) Added: Deceased 1987/09/09 (CK)
Matmata-Tunisia 1943
6 Steingress, HelmutUffz1/20/1922Salzburg6/JG-11 (France)Bf 109G-6/AS Werk # 440964 "Yellow 4" (lost 6//22/44)Fighter Operational ClaspKIA 22 June, 1944 during aerial combat with a P-51, crashing at the Mons-en-Chaussee, France airfield, aka Peronne. Source: L. Wiegels & D.Drury). Added: He is buried in the German War Cem. at Fort-de-Malmaison, France, Blk 7, Row 35, Gr 1395 (D.Drury).
7 Senft, HugoUffzStab/KG-54He 111 (lost)Bomber Operational ClaspPOW 19 May, 1940 when his 111 crashed near Mons during the French Campaign. Source: A. Rosseels.
8 Schmidtke, KurtFw28/JG-26 (joins 7/43), 4/JG-26 (1/44)Fw 190A-3 "Blue 5" w/ 4 Staffel, Fw 190A-8 Werk # 731033 "Yellow 6" (lost)
EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 7 July, 1944 during aerial combat in his "Yellow 6" with a P-51 6 km SE of Nantes, on the Invasion Front. One known victory, his 1st, a B-17 of 95BG in the Mons-Maubeuge area on 24 January, 1944. His 2nd, a P-38 of 55FG S of Beauvais on 11 June, 1944. One "unconfirmed", a B-17 on 30 December, 1943, no location. Pictured with his good friend, Gerd Wiegand in JG-26 War Diary, Vol 2. Alternate spelling: Schmidke (Perry Claims).

Courtesy Christian Konig
9 Schetelig, WilhelmLt8/27/19191
Lommel, Belgium		5/JG-2 (3/40)Bf 109E EK 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 27 May, 1940, II/JG-2s sole fatality during the Battle for France. Buried Lommel, Block 63/493 (Rosseels). One known victory, his 1st, a Hurricane over Mons, 16 May, 1940.
10 Salewski, OttoUffz2III/JG-26 (joins 11/43), 12/JG-26 (2/44), 10/JG-26 (3/45)Fw 190A-7, Bf 109G-6 Werk # 161784 "Blue 14" (lost), Fw 190D-9 Wk# 400247 "Blk 4" (lost) EK 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 7 March, 1945 during aerial combat in "Black 4" with Tempests at Schüttorf. WIA & bailed successfully from "Blue 14" after battling escort fighters over Helburg on 23 March, 1943, not w/o injuries. One known victory, his 1st, a P-47 in the Dour area near Mons on 14 January, 1944. A 2nd, a P-38 at Lisieux/Bernay on 4 July, 1944.
11 Rinker, WolframLt11/NJG-4 (7/44 - 1/45), 2/NJG-4 (3/45)Ju 88G-6 Werk # 622829 "3C + EK" (lost 3/4/45) EK 2
Wound Badge
Night Fighter Operational Clasp		This ac reported lost due to a fuel shortage 4 March, 1945, unnamed crew bailed safely, pilot injured (Ju 88 Loss List). The Ju 88 crashed near Ellenstädt during Operation Gisela. Source: T. Boiten & A. Rosseels. Added: The crew bailed over Ellenstädt, but the ac flew on another 190 miles, crashing at Itegem Belgium. Remaining crew: Gefr Reis, R/O and Gefr Fischer, Flt Engr (D.Drury). Added: One reported victory, a "4 mot" in the Mons area while in 1/NJG-4 (C.König).
12 Alpers, Friedrich Ludwig Herbert Maj3/25/1901Sonnenberg

3(F)/121 (9/39), Kdr (H)/Aufkl.Gr. 4 (4/42), released from service 9/42, recalled 2/44 to FJR 9Fw 189A-3


RK(10/14/42)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(4/9/42)

EK 1 & 2
Observer Operational Clasp 		Committed suicide 3 September, 1944 near Bougnies-Mons-Maubeuge France.

Friedrich Alpers (25 March 1901 – 3 September 1944) was a German Nazi politician and SS-Obergruppenführer. He was also a Minister of the Free State of Brunswick,[2] and Generalforstmeister (General forest supervisor). Alpers was responsible for numerous political crimes in Brunswick. Alpers committed suicide in 1944, while in US custody. NSDAP and SS career Born in 1901, Alpers studied law and political science at the Heidelberg University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and University of Greifswald. He became a lawyer in 1929. In June 1929, Alpers joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP membership number 132,812). In May 1930 he joined the Sturmabteilung (SA). On 1 March 1931 he joined the SS (membership number 6,427). He was an active member in the SS, rising to the rank of Obergruppenführer. Since October 1930, he was Minister of the Brunswick State Parliament. Alpers was twice temporarily suspended from the SS in 1933 following complaints of excessive violence made against him during the Nazi takeover of Brunswick. Minister of the Free State of Brunswick After the Nazi seizure of power, Alpers became Finance and Justice Minister of Brunswick on 8 May 1933 (a position in which he served until 1934) under the Ministerpräsident Dietrich Klagges. Along with Klagges and Friedrich Jeckeln, Alpers was one of the main persons responsible for the Gleichschaltung and persecution of political opponents in the Free State of Brunswick. Rieseberg-murder Subordinated to Alpers was Klagges "Hilfspolizei" ("Auxiliary Police"). This force was directly answerable to Klagges and consisted of SA, SS and Stahlhelm men. On 4 July 1933, Alpers was directly involved in the Rieseberg-murder of eleven communists and labor organizers in Rieseberg, about 15 miles (24 km) east of Braunschweig.
13 Metzner,Lt2(H)/31Hs 126 (Dam)Wound Badge
Observer Operational Clasp		WIC 18 May, 1940 during the French Campaign, crashing near Mons. Source: A. Rosseels.
14 Melhorn, G.Lt7/KG-54He 111 (lost)Bomber Operational ClaspPOW 19 May, 1940 after crashing near Mons during the French Campaign. Source: A. Rosseels.
15 Lange, FriedrichLt85/JG-26 (6/43, 8/43 Beauvais), 6/JG-26 (1/44), Stfkpt 6/JG-26 (3/44)Fw 190A-5 Werk# 710007 "Black 10" (40% dam 8/17/43), Fw 190A-6 Werk # 470202 "Black 6" (lost)


EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 2 March, 1944 in aerial combat in "Black 6" with a P-47 of 365th FG over the Eifel. WIA 17 August, 1943 from B-17 return fire at Eindhoven. One known victory, a P-47 at St. Jean near Ypres on 13 June, 1943. A 2nd, a B-17 3 km W of Goes near Tholen on 22 June, 1943. His 3rd, a Spitfire IV at the Somme Estuary on 15 July, 1943. His 4th, a B-17 (e.V.) 20 km S of Lille on 29 January, 1944. His 5th, a P-38 at Le Quesnoy on 11 February, 1944. His 6th, a B-17 19 km SW of Mons on 20 February, 1944. His 7th, same day, a P-47 6 km SW of Lüttich. His 8th, a P-47 15 km NW of Breugel, near Eindhoven, on 22 February, 1944. Magnus.
16 Kupka, HeinzOblt8/11/19152Added: 6.(J)/Tr.Gr. 196 (-08/39), 5.(J)/Tr.Gr. 186 (09/39-03/40), Stfkpt 9./JG 3 (-06/40) (CK)Bf-109 E-4 (lost, CK)
EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 4 July, 1940; no further detail, buried Bourdon France, Block 32/11/436 (A. Rosseels). One known victory, his 1st, a Lysander "L-4742" of RAF No. 4 Sq. over Gembloux, 14 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Blenheim at Hiermont/Yvrench, 6 June, 1940. Alternate spelling: Kuppka. Added: KIA in an air combat with Hurricanes near Mons-Boubeert (CK)
17 Kosse, WolfgangHptm9/27/1918Berlin27

Courtesy Christian König

6/JG-26(5/40), Stfkpt 5/JG-26(8/40; 9/41 Morseele, Be.), Stfkpt 6/JG-26 (4/42), 1/JG-5, Sturmstf 1(2/44), 10/JG-3(6/44), Stfkpt 13/JG-3(10/44)Bf 109E-7 "Blk 8", Fw 190A-1 Werk # 0100 "Blk 10" (9/41), Fw 190A-4 "Wh 10"in JG-5, Fw 190A-9 Wk# 205265 (lost)
Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(1/1/45 Post)



EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 24 December, 1944 in Wk# 205265 "< O +" (or "White 6" by another source) during aerial combat with an RAF Tempest in the Luttich/Liege area. His body has never been found. Busted from Oblt to Flieger on 30 November, 1943, for damaging an aircraft during an unauthorized flight. By the time of his death, he was promoted back to Hptm.. His 1st eleven victories in JG-26. His first victory was a Lysander at Mons on 17 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Morane 406 at Cambrai, 18 May, 1940. His 3rd, a Hurricane at Dunkirk, 1 June, 1940. His 4th, a Hurricane 20 km NE of Dunkirk on 2 June, 1940. His 5th, a Hurricane at Dungeness on 31 August, 1940. His 9th, a Spitfire on 9 August, 1941 S of St Omer France, thought to be either Douglas Bader or "Buck" Casson, Kdr of RAF No. 616 Sq.. Added: Claimed, but not credited, a Blenheim IV of No.21 Sq. near Ostende on 23 July, 1941. Credited to a flakship (H.Wheeler). His 10th, a Spitfire NNW of Calais on 4 April, 1942. A double victory on 11 February, 1944, two B-17s (n.l.) by Heidelberg as a Flg in Sturmstaffel 1(added: 1 claimed by OFhr. Heinz Steffen), CKönig) His 20th, a B-24 on 9 April, 1944, no location. Two B-17s on 29 April, 1944 (Perry Claims). His 25th, a P-47 at Aachen-Kerpen on 17 December, 1944. Two Typhoons in the Ardennes sector on 24 December, 1944. Mombeek MIA List. Added: regarding the demotion of Hptm Kosse: according to the JG 5 website he trusted a transfer order to his Norwegian girlfriend. The conversation was listened to and forwarded to staff. For this purpose on 15/06/43 he was demoted to Flieger and removed from his post (CKönig)

Sturmstaffel 1: 9 Left Gefr. Kosse



18 Kollak, ReinhardStabsFw3/28/1915Ögenau, Ostpreussen49I/ZG-1, 1/NJG-1, 7/NJG-1 (8/42), 7/NJG-4 (9/42), 4/NJG-4 (4/43), 8/NJG-4 (8/43)Bf 110C "3C + LR" (Summer 42 in 7/NJG-4), Bf 110E "3C +LR" in 7/NJG-4
RK(8/29/43)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(5/29/43)
EP(9/18/42)

EK 1 & 2
Night Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold with pendant		250+ combat missions, all victories were Night victories. His first known victory, a Whitlet at Houthalen, 10 km NNE of Hasselt, on 17 June, 1941. A Stirling I of RAF No. 149 Sq. at Thieulain (Hainaut), 12 km E of Tournai Belgium, by Leuze, 27 km northwest of Mons, the night of 24-25 August, 1942. Another victory, a Stirling I of RAF No. 149 Sq. at Tongrinne, 8 km southwest of Gembloux Belgium the night of 16-17 September, 1942. Another victory, a Lancaster on 16-17 September, 1942. On 19 September, 1942, he downed a Stirling 6 km NE of Revigny. His 20th (?) victory, a Lancaster SE of Metz on 24 February, 1944. A Lancaster 3 km S of Beaumont on 1 May, 1944. A 2nd Lancaster, same day, 3 km SW of Chateaudun. Another double victory, both "4 mots"; one at Bar-le-Duc, the other E of St Dizier, on 15 July, 1944. Four "4 mots" on 19 July, 1944; all in the Rommily/St Dizier areas. Bowers/Lednicer, 49 victories. Deceased 6 February, 1980. Also spelled Kollack. Added: His Radop Hans Herman flew with Kollak until the end of the war. Kollak was the most successful pilot in III./NJG 4 but never received higher decorations because of his NCO status (CKönig)

Operational Record

Archive Report Lancaster ND684

Archive Report Stirling W7578 1942-09-19/20
19 Hepe, Hans JürgenHptm10/30/1912111.J/88 Legion Condor, Stfkpt 1/JG-2(3/40), Stfkpt 5 & 4/JG-2(5/40-4/41), Stfkpt 1/JG-2(8/42),Kdr I/JG-105(9/43)Ar 96, Bf 109E, Bf 109F-2 Werk # 5768 or 6758 (lost 7/2/41 in JG-2), Fw 190A-3 in 42, Fw 190A-4 Werk # 5675 (lost 5/29/43), Fw 190A in JG-105
Spanish Cross
EP (6/25/43)

EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp		Shotdown with wounds 2 July, 1941 during aerial combat 1 km southwest of Cassel. Bailed successfully. Shot down a second time on 29 May, 1943, at "La Martiniere, Langan Fr., and did not return to combat. One victory in Spain. One known victory, his 1st, a Hurricane over Mons, 16 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Hurricane over Antwerp, 18 May, 1940. His 3rd, a Blenheim 6 km north of Plouestat, 6 April, 1941. His 4th & 5th, both Spitfires at Boulogne/Hardelot on 21 June, 1941. A Blenheim and a Spitfire on 23 June, 1941, no locations. his 8th, a Spitfire in the Lille area on 2 July, 1941. A Spitfire near Boulogne on 13 October, 1941. His 9th, a Spitfire 2 km west of Dieppe on 19 August, 1942. His 10th, a Spitfire on 8 September, 1942. His 11th, a B-17 near St. Nazaire on 1 May, 1943. Alternate spelling: Heppe. Magnus, 14 victories.
20 Friedrich, HermannUffz111/JG-26 (10/43 Channel), 10/JG-26BF 109G-3 Werk # 16300 "Yellow 12" (lost 10/20/43), Bf 109G-6 in 10 Staffel EK 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp		WIA 20 October, 1943 during aerial combat with a P-47 of 78FG at Harchies, west of Mons. His one victory, a Spitfire E of Caen on 30 June, 1944. Does not appear to be any other Friedrich in JG-26.
21 Dörre, Franz EdgarFw9
9/JG-26 (8/42; 9/43 France)Fw 190A-2, Bf 109G-6 Werk # 18829 "Yellow 5" (lost 9/8/43)EP


EK 1 & 2
Fighter Operational Clasp		KIA 8 September, 1943 during aerial combat in "Yellow 5" with Spitfires. He crashed at Lens, N of Mons. Magnus. One known victory, his 1st, a Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk on 25 July, 1942. His 2nd, a Spitfire at Dieppe on 19 August, 1942. His 3rd, a Spitfire 10 km north of Zeebrügge on 19 November, 1942. His 4th, a B-17 at Edern, east of Brion on 23 January, 1943. His 5th, a B-17 2 km southwest of Ploemeur on 16 February, 1943. His 6th, a Spitfire southeast of Calais on 12 March, 1943. A 7th, a B-17 40 km NW of Helgoland on 25 June, 1943. His 8th, a B-17 at Bittburg-Wittlich on 28 July, 1943. A 9th, a B-17 by Genk near Limburg on 17 August, 1943.
22 Dochtermann, Hans Joachim E.Maj3/4/1912Augsburg, Bavaria, GermanyLegion Condor (36), II/KG-355(37), 3/KG-53(5/39), 5/KG-53(4/40), RLM, 15/KG-40(12/41)He 111 in KG-53, Fw 200C in KG-40, He 177 in KG-50, Fw 190F(Mistel)
Spanish Cross

EK 1 & 2
EP

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(6/12/44)
Bomber Operational Clasp w/Pendant		POW 31 May, 1945. Approximately 2000 missions. Interned in Great Britain. He served as a translator during his captivity, and was released on 23 May, 1946. Assignments Contd.: Stfkpt 2/KG-50(7/42), Kdr I/KG-50, II/KG-40(10/43), Kdr II/KG-40(2/44), 6/KG-200(2/45). Hans began his flying career in the German Civil Air Patrol in 1934 and then flew for a brief time with Lufthansa. He was selected as one of the first three pilots in the newly formed German Luftwaffe. Subsequently, he joined the Legion Condor flying in Spain. On 23 November, 1943, his aircraft released an Hs 293 glider bomb that hit MHT Rhona, killing nearly 1200 American servicemen, the greatest American loss at sea in Naval history. His Group Commander, Major Rudolph Mons, was killed during this operation. Hans took over as temporary Group commander until his official appointment in February, 1944. Besides the action in Spain, he served in Poland, the Low cCountries, the Battle of Britain, France and Russia. Source: K.C. Dochtermann.

Results 1 to 22 of 22.



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