A little help on some research please

[John_B]

Guys, I know this is a long shot, but i just picked up a little grouping including a wehrpass to a Luftwaffe Observer by the name of Willi Beimgraben from a weather staffel Wetter-Erkundungs-Staffel, according to the list of winners, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 01.10.44 (posthumously)
The awards listed are Front Sp Bronze, silver and gold, EK1 & 2 Beobachterabz,(observers badge) Fliiegerschutzen- abzeichen,(air gunner) Ehrenpakal LW, and DK. My question in, has anyone any information on him being listed as receiving the honour goblet, I am missing that list.and it would be nice to just confirm the award. Not that I have any doubt (we all say that). It came with a photo album of him from his time in the HJ, and into main service. The book has a nice touch, being stamped missing in action.

Thanks for any help

[Gerdan]

In the Volksbund list are only two soldiers listed KIA with the name "Beimgraben".

Both are born in "Wilster" but their first names are Gustav and Rudolf. So your guy Willi is not listed.

Gerdan

[John_B]

Thanks for the time to look through.

Thanks again Gerdan

[hucks216]

The Ordenstrager lists him for the Ehrenpokal...

Beimgarten
Willi
Inspekteur
Meteorologe
28.02.44
Ehrenpokal

...and the DKiG...

Beimgraben
Willi
Gefreiter
Wetter-Erkundungs-Staffel
01.10.44
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (Luftwaffe)

[hucks216]

I've just noticed the difference in the spelling of the surname for the Ehrenpokal, and the difference in ranks. I'd say that this is the same man - does the date for the Ehrenpokal in the wehrpass match the one given here?
I wonder if he was transferred from a civilian office to a military unit (hence the change from Inspekteur to Gefreiter)?

[JeremyJ]

Wp

John if you have a chance to post scans of the Wehrpas I'd love to see them.

I did find a bit more on Beimgraben, which you may already have. At the time of his death on 27 April 44 he served with Wekusta 2 Ob.d.l.. This of course you have in his Wehrpas.

Since there appears to have been only one loss to the unit on that day his crew was as follows:

FF Uffz. Alfons Meyers
BF Uffz. Findeis (first name not indicated)
BM Uffz. Wierscheim (again first name not listed)


Cheers

Jeremy

[John_B]

Jeez. so much information, thanks everso much. Yes the dates do tally, and I will get some photos done and posted up. I really appreciate the information on this. There was me thinking "just another pass"!

how the h**ll did you find the crew members, beats the hell out of me. Still I suppose its like everything else, if you know how, its easy

[Gerdan]

The same day 28.2.1944 was also KIA :

Nachname: Findeiss
Vorname: Alois
Dienstgrad: Unteroffizier
Geburtsdatum: 23.01.1909
Geburtsort: Marktredwitz
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 28.02.1944
Todes-/Vermisstenort: H.V.Pl. Krgslaz.(mot.) 1/603 Proskurow

Gerdan

[JeremyJ]

Wp

No problem John,

It does help to have a decent collection of books on the subject to narrow it down fairly quickly.

Wettererkundungstaffelen are not written about in much depth however there is one book (listed below) which deals specifically on this subject. It goes through the history and development of these units, gives a brief history of them and lists personnel in the reverse.

Worth the purchase if you want to research their ops more.

Wekusta - Luftwaffe Meteorological Reconnaissance Units and Operations 1938-1945

Cheers

Jeremy

[Ian Jewison]

That is a good book that Jeremy mentions.

Also from that same book.............

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Interestingly the book also states that an experienced aircrew was nearly all killed on 27.4.1943 with only the air-gunner surviving!
They were receiving conversion to the new problematical Heinkel He 177 when flying at 600 m the aircraft crashed after going into an uncontrolled dive.

/Ian

[John_B]

Wow, thats some information there!

I've done some scans on the book, hope it turns out still to be good news, call me a pessimist, but you know how this hobby goes

[JeremyJ]

Wp

John thanks for the images.

Looks like a nice/well filled in Wehrpas also interesting that his DKiG is listed in the Wehrpas. Since he had already been kia it is more common to see these posthumous awards not listed.

Jeremy

[John_B]

Thanks Jeremy. I have learnt a lot. One last "daft" question. The stamp "ABGESCHLOSSEN" Literally translated means "locked", is it safe to assume that in this case it means lost in action? Like, they don't know where he went

Daft question I know

Thanks again

[hucks216]

Abgeschlossen means Completed which I would take to mean that his records are all up to date (or as up to date as they could get) and the file has been closed.