A few of my Dad's models.

[U534]

Nice collection.

[billbert]

What KG did he fly with Willi??? Billbert

[KM-NZ]

very nice ! Did you share his wartime exploits before ?

[redjames2004]

Awesome Luftwaffe model airplanes!!!!! No surprise these model planes are built by a real Luftwaffe Ju88 pilot. Willi,Thanks for showing your dad's LW model planes!

[Glenn McInnes]

Really great work...I remember doing plastic models of tanks,airplanes etc,I had that damn glue over everything..


It's very tedious work.







Glenn

[Willi Z.]

Thanks Glenn. One day I will post some of his Panzers. We would buy kits together and he wouldn't put it down until the kit was finished. I was a little slower....

BTW, can you delete post #35 for me please. It is completely locked for me, which is very odd, and the edit button does not appear. When I posted it changed my original post.

Here are a couple more photos. To answerr someone's question on Ju88 paint schemes, most of those units used a standard splinter scheme. My Dad was very careful in mixing the correct colors, because in the 70s the "out of bottle" colors were not accurate.

[rbminis]

Excellant work Willi. Would you please repost what you said in post #35, I found it quite interesting.

[Willi Z.]

Excellant work Willi. Would you please repost what you said in post #35, I found it quite interesting.

As to his record: he flew 166 missions in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, and the Western Front (some over England in late '44 which he called "suicide" missions). He was shot down near Gorki<st1:City w:st="on"> </st1:City>behind Soviet lines and the crew killed a Russian soldier (who for some reason decided to approach them by himself) who was trying to disarm them (he must have been some sort of rear area guard) with his own rifle. The unfortunate Russian was trying to relieve my Dad of his holstered P38, and my Dad pretended not to understand his commands and his motioning with the muzzle of his rifle (he was using the muzzle in an effort to pull the holster off), which lured the Russian even closer. When the Russian was too close my Dad grabbed his rifle and with the help of the crew they beat the Russian to death. They then spent the next two weeks returning to German lines. They turned their Fliegerblusen inside out, hid in the woods during the day, and only moved at night. My Dad is now experiencing some bad nightmares over this specific incident.<O></O>
<O></O>
Anyhow, he never really liked to talk a lot about his wartime experiences. Once he in a while he would share some stories with me and at shows with others. I have tried to capture most of his stories and am only now in the process formalizing them. After spending some time in a hospital in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Poland</st1:country-region> he was posted to Salonika and flew over <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region> (Anzio, Cassino). He then moved to northern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>. After again loosing all their aircraft to Allied bombing raids he was sent to Braunschwieg were it appeared he was going to end up in a late war FJ formation. This was in November 1944 and he was able to briefly visit his home (this was his last visit and also the last time he saw all but one of his family again), so he left all of his documents and photos there. His home was 12 kms east of Schneidemühl. While flying into Madgeburg to pick up supplies in Jan of 1945 there was an effort to send some trains to the east with volunteers (of those from that area) to help defend their homes at "Festung Schneidemühl" as the Soviets were advancing. In what he claims was the toughest decisions of his life, my Dad decided to not go. None of his friends who did return were ever heard from again.<O></O>
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His unit surrendered to British forces in May of 1945. He destroyed his Soldbuch before surrendering as they had all heard rumors that anyone with service in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> would be turned over to the Soviets. After a stay in a POW camp for several months they released him into the British zone of occupation, as the farmers were needed to work the fields. My Dad and some of his buddies who lived in the East decided to return in an effort to return to their homes and find their families. After some additional episodes with Soviets, which resulted in additional up close and personal deaths, they returned to the West. <O></O>
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My Dad attended many shows in NJ and Pa, as well as a couple of Max Shows. A few collectors, including a couple here on WAF, used to hear his stories.<O></O>

[Ralph P]

Willi - Thanks for taking the time and write down your dad's past history for us to read and additionally taking the time to work and preserve it. Thanks...

[AFF96]

Willi....thanks soooo much for sharing your Dad's stories and models! Would love to read more. Quite a guy! Wish him a late Happy "B"Day!
Greg