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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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#	Pilot (↑)	Rank	Born	Place	Score (↑)	Units	Aircraft	Awards	*************Notes*************	Photo	Links	AuthorComments
1	Dobrick, Erich	Oblt	1/12/1917		9	2/JG-1 (9/39), 6/JG-3 (5/40), 5/JG-11 (9/43), Stab I/JG-11 (11/43), 2/JG-11 (3/44)	Bf 109E in JG-3, Bf 109G in JG-11	EP EK 1 & 2 Fighter Operational Clasp	One known victory, his 1st, a LeO-451 on 31 May, 1940, no location. A Spitfire south of London on 18 August, 1940. His 3rd, a B-17 on 26 February, 1943, an Ofw at the time. His 4th victory, a B-17 at Westerholt-Nordeney on 27 September, 1943. His 5th, a B-24 N of Emmerich on 13 November, 1943. His 6th, a B-17 NW of Eitorf on 22 February, 1944. His 8th, a B-17 N of Hölstedt on 6 March, 1944. His 9th, a B-17 near Haldensleben on 29 March, 1944. Magnus Report. L-R: Erich Dobrick : Gerd Steiger : Helmut Maul : Hans-Gerd Wenneckers. May/June 1942 Husum
2	Gerhardt, Dieter	Oblt	8/27/1922	Landweiler	8	2/JG-1	Bf 109 E Werk # 6381 (5/42), Bf 109F-4 "Black 5" (9/42), Bf 109G-1/R2 Werk # 14150 "Black 6" (lost 3/18/43)	EK 1 & 2 at least Fighter Operational Clasp in Bronze	KilledInAction (KIA) 18 March, 1943 over Helgoland; after downing a B-24 of 93BG thought to be "Eager Beaver", and while attacking a B-17, he was brought down by return fire. Prior to takeoff this date, he yelled to his wingman and closest friend, Heinz Knoke, "I want to bag the formation leader today". Gerhardt had bailed successfully and entered his dingy, but died of his mortal wounds, as reported by the ASR craft "Falke". His 1st victory, a Blenheim on 15 October, 1941, no location. A shared victory with Heinz Knoke, a PRU Spitfire AA810 piloted by F/Lt Alistair Gunn off Trondheim on 5 March, 1942. Gunn later became POW and was shot because of his involvement in the Great Escape. He was also credited with another PRU Spitfire piloted by P/O Ken Wright, near Bremen on 17 August, 1942. Another, his 3rd, a B-17 6 km north of Wilhelmshaven on 26 February, 1943. In late February 1943, he came up with the idea of dropping 100 lb. bombs onto the tightly formed American bombers. He and Knoke practiced the technique off Heligoland. His victories may only be 4. Buried Schiffweiler-Landweiler Reden. Alternative spelling: Gerhard, Dieter Steiger - Schmude - Gerhard relax at Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss). Shown right		Operational Record PRU Spitfire AA810
3	Maul, Helmut	Ofw				1/JG-51 (Battle of Britain), 2/JG-1 (3/41), 3/SG-1 (late war)	Bf 109E & F, Bf 109G-1 (7/42), Me 262 qualified 4/45	Deutsches Kreuz - Gold (?) EK 1 & 2 Fighter/Assault Operational Clasp	Flugbuch (7/40 to 6/41). Pictured and labeled in a Gerhard Bergmann photo album. Ofw Maul survived the war. Known as a friend of Oblt Oskar Ziesig while in 2/JG-1. L-R: Erich Dobrick : Gerd Steiger : Helmut Maul : Hans-Gerd Wenneckers. May/June 1942 Husum	Courtesy Christian König
4	Schmude, Hortari	Hptm			4	5/ZG-76 (6/40), 1/JG-1 (9/41), Stfkpt 1/JG-1 (11/42), Stfkpt 4/JG-11 (4/43), 8/JG-51 (2/44), 7/JG-1 (4/44 Reich Def)	Bf 110, Bf 109E & Fw 190A-4 in JG-1, Bf 109G-1 Werk # 14145 (lost 3/18/43 DeSwart), Bf 109G-5 Werk # 110051 "White 1 + I" (lost 4/22/44)	EK 1 & 2 Wound Badge Fighter Operational Clasp	KilledInAction (KIA) 22 April, 1944 during aerial combat with P-51's at Korbach. No known grave. WIA on 18 March, 1943, as Oblt, during aerial combat in his G-1, crashing into the North Sea off the Dutch coast. Rescued by ASR. One known victory, a Hawk-75A on 14 June, 1940, no location. His 2nd & 3rd, two Spitfires S of London on 2 September, 1940. A 4th, a Blenheim off Scheldt on 23 July, 1941. Wingman for Maj. Erich Mix. Steiger - Schmude - Gerhard relax at Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss)	Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss)
5	Steiger, Gerhard 'Gerd'	Lt	6/17/1919	Kandern	1	2/JG-1 (10/41 Jever or Husum)	Bf 109F-4 Werk # 8418 "Black 16" (lost 9/19/42)	EK 2 Fighter Operational Clasp	KilledInAction (KIA) 19 September, 1942 during aerial combat near Pfahlhausen, near Oldenburg. One source states that his chute failed. No known grave. One known victory, a Mosquito 10 km northeast of Scharmbeck on 19 August, 1942. Added: Buried in the War Grave Cem, Wilhelmshaven-Ehrenfriedhof, Blk Ea, Gr 231 (M.deWolf). 'Luftwaffe Victories by Name' database on this site credits Gerd with 4 victories. Steiger - Schmude - Gerhard relax at Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss) L-R: Erich Dobrick : Gerd Steiger : Helmut Maul : Hans-Gerd Wenneckers. May/June 1942 Husum	Jever 1941 (courtesy Willi Weiss)
6	Wennekers, Hans-Gerd	Fw			24	2/JGr-1 (aka Kdo Losigkeit, 6/41-5/43), 5/JG-11 (5/43 Reich Def), I/JG-11 (4/45)	Bf 109E-3 Wk#3520 "Wh 2"(6/41), Bf 109F "Blk 7"(1/42), Bf 109E-7 "Blk 16" (dam 3/6/42; crashed on frozen Lake Hallingdalselva, near Nesbyen Norway due to fuel shortage), Bf 109G-1 Wk# 14082 (eng dam 10/2/42, pilot OK), Bf 109G-6 Werk # 18216 "Black 10" (flown 6/43-7/43), Bf 109G-6 Werk # 410133 "Black 10" (20% dam 12/1/43; belly land, fuel shortage), Bf 109G-6 Wk# 410222 "Black 5" (lost 3/6/44)	Deutsches Kreuz - Gold EP EK 1 & 2 Wound Badge Fighter Operational Clasp	Opposed the 6 March, 1944 Raid on Berlin, the raid R. Kracker was shot down during. Very experienced pilot with 100+ missions. 10 bombers. On 5 March, 1942, he is reported to have downed a PRU Spitfire "AA-810. His 3rd victory, a B-17 on 21 May, 1943 over Wilhelmshaven. His 2nd victim, a B-17, came on 17 April, 1943, and another, unconfirmed on 14 May, 1943. A double victory, his 5th & 6th, both B-24s NW of Helgoland on 4 October, 1943. His 10th, a P-47 on 22 December, 1943. His 15th, a P-47 in the Qackenbrück area on 6 March, 1944. Shortly after he saved the life of H. Knoke, on 6 March, 1944, he was shot down near Quakenbrück by a P-47 of 78FG, piloted by Lt Walter Tonkin. Badly wounded in the left forearm, he bailed successfully, and later returned to action. His 16th victory, an La-5 in the Küstrin area on 15 February, 1945. His 17th, a Yak-9 in the Küstrin area on 21 March, 1945. His 20th, a Pe-2 on 16 April, 1945. His 21st, a Yak-9 on 18 April, 1945. His 22nd, a Yak-9 on 20 April, 1945. His 23rd, a Yak-9 on 24 April, 1945. His 24th, and last victory, a Yak-9 on 25 April, 1945. Flugbuch (8/40 to 4/45). See note re: Wk # 3520 on "Johnen" record. On 3/6/42 he made an Emer landing on frozen Lake Nesbyen, low fuel. OKL spelling = Wennekers; alternates: Wenneker and Wenneckers. L-R: Erich Dobrick : Gerd Steiger : Helmut Maul : Hans-Gerd Wenneckers. May/June 1942 Husum Courtesy Christian König

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