Hello Richard, I am new here... Regarding that # 17 I can say that it is defenetivly NOT Hpt. Adalbert Karbe!
I will see if I find some Photos, scan them and post them here.
Hpt. Adalbert Karbe was a member of KG 55 "Greif", he was the Staffelkapitän of 3./KG 55, that means 3. Staffel, Group I., the Ritterkreuz was awarded at 12.11.1941 probably because of succsessful train busting at the eastern front, but I'm not shure about that (I'll do some research), he also had quite much missions completed...
Somewhen in July 1942 he was not anymore at the eastern Front, he had furlough (right word for military hollidays???), but in France at the Airbase of IV./KG 55 "Ausbildungsgruppe" ("education group" or "formation group"). The IV./KG 55 had sometimes to participate at missions to Britain, but only the more experienced crews.
At 31.07.1942 he mounted as a Observer the He111 H-6 (Stab IV./KG 55 G1+GV Wk. Nr. 7526) of Pilot Ofw. Richard Bock for a mission to Birmingham.
He wanted to get home to Berlin to visit his family, the planes of IV./KG 55 had order to fly back from Birmingham to some airbase near Berlin for fuel and then head back to France. But for Bock and his crew that never happened, they were shot down near Coombe Valley, NW of Preston, Dorset from a Beaufighter of No. 604 Squadron:
(Pilot) Ofw. Richard Bock PoW;
Hpt. Karbe KIA;
Ofw. Wilhelm Becker PoW;
Fw. Hans Delatron KIA;
Ogfr. Erhard Schäfer KIA;
I have a list KG 55 Knightscross people:
Name, First Name
Rank when awarded RK
Unit
Date when awarded RK
Details
I don't have them personally, but my Dad should have quite a lot, next time I visit him I will take some and scan them... In the Internet so far I don't have seen any pictures.....
I don't know if there are any pictures of him in "Kampfgeschwader 55 ' Greif'. Eine Chronik aus Dokumenten und Berichten 1937-1945", Wolfgang Dierich, I haven't seen this book until yet, I'm looking for it....
When I have something I will post it..
Greetings Fritz
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