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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: “trautloft and hannes

#Pilot/Crew
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1 Kath, OttoHptm6


I/JG-20, 3/JG-2 (9/39), Stab III/JG-51 (7/40), JG-54 (3/42 S.U.), JG-54 Adj.Bf 109E-3 "White <+" in JG-20, Bf 109E-4 # 4115 (lost), Bf 109F-4 # 7243 (20%), Fi 156 Wk# 5421 (lost)
EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge

probably Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold
His 1st victory, a Defiant S of Folkestone on 19 July, 1940. His 2nd, a Spitfire S of Dover on 8 August, 1940. Wounded 24 September, 1943, east of Witebsk, Soviet Union, while flying Werk# 5421. On 6 April, 1941, Kath was shot down with wounds in Werk# 4115 "Black <" near Ptuj. His first known Soviet victory, an I-18 on 6 July, 1941. On 28 March, 1942, his Werk# 7243 sustained 20% damage near the Staraja-Russa S.U. airfield. Not known if he was injured at this time. He often flew wingman for his Kdr, Hannes Trautloft. Flugbuch (8/36 to 9/43).
2 Kraft, EberhardOblt7Stfkpt 4. J/88 Legion Condor (8/36)He 51B
Spanish Cross
EK 2
Fighter Operational Clasp
Believed KilledInAction (KIA) 13 November, 1936 during aerial combat with, and colliding with, a Soviet I-15. He and Hannes Trautloft were two of the first six German pilots to arrive in Spain, in support of Franco. They were the first two Luftwaffe pilots to score victories in Spain. Their victories, Breguet XIXs and Potex 540 in 1936. All 7 of Eberhardt's in Spain.
3 Mettig, MartinMaj3/11/1903FrankenbergKdr I/JG-21 (9/39 Gutenfeld), Kdr III/JG-54 (1/40), Kdr JG-54 (8/40 Campagne les Guines), 3/NJG-6 (44)Bf 109D-1, Bf 109E-3 in JG-21
EK 1 & 2
Wound Badge
Fighter Operational Clasp
On the opening day of the Polish campaign, attempting to fire a flare, it went off in his cockpit and he was badly burned in the hands, feet and thigh. Despite the burns, he was able to lead his flight back to base safely. Channel pilot. He was replaced by Hannes Trautloft, deemed the wrong temperament for a fighter pilot, by higher authority. He is believed killed in early 1944, pressed into service in NJG-6.
4 Trautloft, Hans 'Hannes'Obstlt3/3/1912Gross Obingen Thüringen58


Agę 58

2 & 4.J/88 Legion Condor (36), IV/JG-132(39), Stfkpt 2/JG-77(9/39), Kdr III/JG-51(1/40), Kdr JG-54(6/41)He 51B-1, Bf 109V-3 Werk # 760 "6x-3" & Bf 109V-4 "Black 1" (Spain), Bf 109E-1 Wk# 4072 "Red 1 + o" (9/39), Bf 109E-4(3/40), Bf 109F-2 # 5761(lost), Bf 109G-1 "<<-+-", Fw 190A-4 Werk # 145799 "White << + --" (force land-tech defect 2/18/43), Bf 109G-6 Werk # 19456 "Wh <<" (6/44/Dorpat), Fw 190D-9 (4/45)
RK(7/27/41)

Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold (17/08/42)
EP (08/07/40 CK)

EK 1 & EK 2

Fighter Operational Clasp in Gold
Flew the first Bf 109 combat sortie on 20 January, 1937. He was the first German pilot shot down over Spain, 30 August, 1936. Channel pilot. 560 combat missions. 5 victories in Spain in an E-1 "Red 1". His first WWII victory, a Polish PZL-23 at Warta, 15 km NW of Sierda, on 5 September, 1939. His 2nd, a Spitfire SE of Dunkirk on 29 May, 1940. His 4th, a Defiant S of Folkestone on 19 July, 1940. His 5th victory, becoming an Ace, a Spitfire at Dungeness on 8 August, 1940. 45 victories in Russia. His first known Soviet victory, two DB-3s on 30 June, 1941. An I-26 on 4 October, 1941. A Pe-2 NE of Reshev on 9 August, 1942, while Kdr of JG-54. An Il-2 N of Mga on 17 January, 1943. Three Il-2s on 14 February, 1943. One of the great educators of the Fighter Arm, his name will always be connected with the "Grün Herz" (JG-54). His frankness and sense of responsibility became too annoying to the supreme Luftwaffe command. At wars end, he was Kdr. Flieger Schul 4. Prior to that, on General Gallands Staff as Fighter Inspector-Ost. Also flew a Bf 109G-2 as Kdr JG-54 Summer, 1942. Added: Later became a GenLt in the Bundesluftwaffe, retiring in 1970 (CKönig).Deceased 12 January, 1995.



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