SB and WP of a fighter pilot in JG2

[Andy F-P]

Wehrpass 6. Finished!

[Larry deZeng]

It's a shame others aren't as interested in pursuing the history of the individuals and units as you are. Your recapitulation looks pretty good. The young fellow followed a typical career path en-route to the cockpit and, sadly, after that, too. Only a small percentage got to be Erich Rudorffers or a Helmut Bolz:

RUDORFFER, Erich. (DOB: 01.11.17 in Zwochau/Sachsen). (RES, DKG). 01.11.39 trf from civil aviation to the Luftwaffe. 1940 Ofw., in I./JG 2. 28.10.40 promo to Lt. 01.05.41 Lt., awarded Ritterkreuz, 6./JG 2. 06.41 Oblt., appt Staka 6./JG 2. (to at least 31.12.42). 12.41 Oblt., in 6./JG 2. 20.12.41 Lt., awarded DKG, 2./JG 2. 06.04.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 14.06.43). c. 01.07.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. IV./JG 54 (to 30.07.43). 01.08.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 54 (to c. 14.01.45). 11.04.44 Maj., awarded Eichenlaub, Kdr. II./JG 54. 14.01.45 Maj., appt Kdr. I./JG 7 (to 04.04.45). 25(26?).01.45 Maj., awarded Schwerter for service as Kdr. II./JG 54. Credited with 222 air victories in over 1,000 combat missions.

BOLZ, Helmut-Felix. (DKG). 01.07.39 Oblt., trf from I./JG 88 to I./JG 3. 01.11.39 Hptm., appt Staka Erg.Jagdstaffel 2 (to 30.11.39). 01.05.42 Hptm. and Staka 5./JG 2, appt Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 05.01.43). 06.01.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./JG 2 (to 18.08.43). 01.09.43 Hptm., appt Kommodore JG 105 (to 30.09.44). 17.10.43 awarded DKG, I./JG 2. 01.12.43 promo to Maj. 02.12.44 Maj., appt Kdr. FFS A/B 114 (to 26.04.45).

--BHS1956

[Larry deZeng]

It's a shame others aren't as interested in pursuing the history of the individuals and units as you are. Your recapitulation looks pretty good. The young fellow followed a typical career path en-route to the cockpit and, sadly, after that, too. Only a small percentage got to be Erich Rudorffers or a Helmut Bolz:

RUDORFFER, Erich. (DOB: 01.11.17 in Zwochau/Sachsen). (RES, DKG). 01.11.39 trf from civil aviation to the Luftwaffe. 1940 Ofw., in I./JG 2. 28.10.40 promo to Lt. 01.05.41 Lt., awarded Ritterkreuz, 6./JG 2. 06.41 Oblt., appt Staka 6./JG 2. (to at least 31.12.42). 12.41 Oblt., in 6./JG 2. 20.12.41 Lt., awarded DKG, 2./JG 2. 06.04.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 14.06.43). c. 01.07.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. IV./JG 54 (to 30.07.43). 01.08.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 54 (to c. 14.01.45). 11.04.44 Maj., awarded Eichenlaub, Kdr. II./JG 54. 14.01.45 Maj., appt Kdr. I./JG 7 (to 04.04.45). 25(26?).01.45 Maj., awarded Schwerter for service as Kdr. II./JG 54. Credited with 222 air victories in over 1,000 combat missions.

BOLZ, Helmut-Felix. (DKG). 01.07.39 Oblt., trf from I./JG 88 to I./JG 3. 01.11.39 Hptm., appt Staka Erg.Jagdstaffel 2 (to 30.11.39). 01.05.42 Hptm. and Staka 5./JG 2, appt Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 05.01.43). 06.01.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./JG 2 (to 18.08.43). 01.09.43 Hptm., appt Kommodore JG 105 (to 30.09.44). 17.10.43 awarded DKG, I./JG 2. 01.12.43 promo to Maj. 02.12.44 Maj., appt Kdr. FFS A/B 114 (to 26.04.45).

--BHS1956

[peter u]

Hello Andy,

I know even the origin of your wp/sb group.
This and many other German pilots that got MIA sb/wp groupings came from the German military archives and the were put on the market about 15 years ago.
And you could buy them by the dozen at that time with militaria dealers in Belgium, specially bomber pilots and observers.
Now you have the compleet story until the present.

Cheers,
Peter

[Andy F-P]

Hello Peter and BHS1956,

Thank-you for your replies.

Peter - I can remember about 10 years ago there were many pilot SB and WP for sale on the British militaria market. For about two years there seemed a good supply of these documents and now nothing. Were they stolen from the Archives or did the Archives sell them? I brought this grouping in 1999 from the Shoreham aeromart from a collector friend of mine. I have tried to do it justice by researching it as much as I can. I have another couple of WP to fighter pilots that I have shown on this Forum.

BHS1956 - Rudorffer and Bolz were the lucky ones and through skill in the air and massive luck, I think Rudorffer was shot down about 16 times!, they managed to survive the madness.

Best regards,
Andy

[peter u]

Hello Andy,

Archives don't sell their items!
The rest you find out for yourself.

But that sourch has dried up for a while now.
Everything is in private collections now, sometimes being split up.

Cheers,
Peter

[Andy F-P]

Hello Peter,
I thought that this would be the case when you mentioned it. I had heard on the grapevine that some items had been taken from Archives. So me and many other collectors hold stolen goods.
Regards,
Andy

[peter u]

Hello Andy,

Do not worry about it.
You didn't ask it to be taken from the archives, did you.
Neither did I or any other forummember here active I think.
It is just a fact of live when you collect.
And perhaps these wp/sb's are better of with collectors like you who take care about them, and who research them to the maximum like you do.
Otherwise their just in a archive room rotting away most probabily.

Cheers.
Peter

[Tim Calvert]

Andy, thanks for sharing and doing the research. It's great that Rudorffer filled in some blanks. That should make this little group priceless for you.

[Andy F-P]

Tim,
Thanks for the reply.I must admit, this is my favourite group due to the way I was able to 'make history come alive'.
Regards,
Andy

[Ian Jewison]

Old thread but I remember this item for sale years ago and that someone had put it on the forum.

Andy, here is a photo of him from the Vermisstenbildliste.

/Ian

[Andy F-P]

Ian,
That is brilliant, thanks!

I have not been around much lately as I moved house a couple of months ago and have so much to do. My home computer is also not working. Should have another one in the next couple of weeks.

To look on the Forum and find another photograph of Franz Sommer in existance has made my day!
Thanks again Ian,
Best regards,
Andy

[Andy F-P]

[QUOTE=Andy F-P;3464323]Ian,
That is brilliant, thanks!

I have not been around much lately as I moved house a couple of months ago and have so much to do. My home computer is also not working. Should have another one in the next couple of weeks.

To look on the Forum and find another photograph of Franz Sommer in existence has made my day!
Thanks again Ian,
Best regards,
Andy F-P/QUOTE]

[Luft 76]

I am happy to see again that very nice group ! And more because Dieppe is 50 km from home...

[walter1010de]

SB and WP Fighter Pilot

Very nice set and full of history.