Trying to find a 2/Nsgr7 Pilot

[PeterL]

Friends,

I'm looking for information around a Flugzeugf******252;hrerabzeichen I purchased (BSW zink). I know that the feldpostnr on it ( L49178 ) belongs to 2/NSG 7 after the 1/1 -44. Now I need some help/pointers regarding the name that is very faintly scratched on the backside.

Does someone know if a pilot with the name Lener was attached to 2/NSG 7?

That is at least what I after many hours can get from the name. Almost 100% sure of a 5 letter name ending with ner and Le is 85% certain.

I have got the basics,

10.43 - 11.5.44 Agram
12.5.44 - 1.6.44 Banja Luka
2.6.44 - 7.6.44 Pleso
8.6.44 - 25.9.44 Agram-Gorica*
26.9.44 - 5.10.44 Kragujevac
6.10.44 - 5.45 Agram-Gorica

All other information regarding 2/Nsgr7 is also welcome!

Thank you

Peter

[Larry deZeng]

On 28.02.44, a Feldwebel Josef Lener was awarded the Ehrenpokal. He was a Bordsch******252;tze. Of the 10,375 air crew members of the Luftwaffe to receive the Ehrenpokal, he is the only one with that last name. Nachtschlachtgruppe 7's 2. Staffel wad equipped with Henschel Hs 126s until spring 1944, and these had a two-man crew with a Bordsch******252;tze sitting behind the pilot. The base locations you gave fit those of 2. Staffel. It was the only one of NSGr. 7's three Staffeln to be based at Kragujevac/Serbia during late September/early October 1944. Although I cannot say with certainty that this is your man, the circumstantial evidence strongly favors him.

I have a detailed operational history of NSGr. 7, but it does not mention Lener and it is too length to post here. However, if you have some questions I will try and answer them. Here are the source notes for the history, which I took mostly from original records at the Bundesarchiv-Milit******228;rarchiv in Freiburg im Breisgau, the PRO in London, the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama, the Vojnoistorijski institut in Beograd and from Arhiv Hrvatska on the Savka cesta in Zagreb:

Dierich-VdL; Tessin-Tes; Kannapin-Fp******220;; M.Holm-website ww2.dk; M.Rauchensteiner- Der Krieg in ******214;sterreich, 1945:358-59 (citing BA-MA document Lfl.6 Ia Flieg. Nr.3175/45g.Kdos.); NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-311 rolls 187-197 (containing Oberbefehlshaber S******252;dost daily reports to OKW/WFst that include a summarized Luftlage (air situation) section reporting on Luftwaffe and enemy air activity over Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece for the preceding 24 hours; the daily reports of Fliegerf******252;hrer Kroatien are part of these daily summaries); NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-313 roll 193, frame 7453288 (Fliegerf******252;hrer Kroatien OB and strength return for 8 Dec 43); RG 242/T-314 roll 561, frame 334; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal K113 Karlsruhe Collection; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 620.01 Balkan Air Force, “History of the Balkan Air Force”, and decimal 620.3072-1 “Balkan Air Force Weekly Summaries, 17 Jul 44 – 6 May 45”; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen ******252;ber Flugzeugunf******228;lle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk); BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 2/III (Summarized Loss Reports); PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signals HP2178; HP2918, HP3524, HP5444, BT611, BTl042, KO565.

--BHS1956

[PeterL]

2/Nsgr7

Thanks a million BHS1956

And that was quick!

FW Josef Lener seems like a possible candidate but the question is then why he had the Flugzeugführerabzeichen, shouldn't he as a Bordfunker have had the FliegerSchützeabzeichen or the Beobachterabzeichen? Could it be that he retrained as a pilot when 2/Nsgr7 reequiped to Fiat CR42? Does your research shows that FW Lener belonged to 2/Nsgr7 when he was awarded the Ehrenpokal?

I understand that you have put in a lot of time in collecting the information and I would very much like to learn more. I will PM you my mailaddress

Again, I am very greatful for this information.

Peter

[PeterL]

FW Josef Lener

Just found information on a FW J Lener:

15.04.44
1.(H)/32
2 km se of Alakurtti
Wounded by flak
FW 189A-2, 125244, V7+1C

100
Lt. Jakob Vogel (F) Killed
Ofw. Kurt Nieger (Bo) Killed
Fw. Josef Lener (Bs) Killed

Information from Special Interest Group Luftwaffe in Norway.

Peter

[Larry deZeng]

Just found information on a FW J Lener:

15.04.44
1.(H)/32
2 km se of Alakurtti
Wounded by flak
FW 189A-2, 125244, V7+1C

100
Lt. Jakob Vogel (F) Killed
Ofw. Kurt Nieger (Bo) Killed
Fw. Josef Lener (Bs) Killed
Information from Special Interest Group Luftwaffe in Norway.
Peter

OUCH! Then, I am beginning to strongly doubt that Josef Lener is out man. Hmmm.....

Other information to you by e-mail.

Cheers,

--BHS1956