Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Manfred Stechbarth??

[STUPA216]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me how many kills this Luftwaffe pilot is credited with? He was a Leutnant in JG27.

Thank you
Kurt

[Ian Jewison]

I can only find one at the moment but he apparantly had 2 victories.

2.3.1945 - Ltn. Manfred Stechbarth. - 13/JG 27 - Typhoon over Achmer.

Looks like he was wounded that day as he was probably shot down by F/Sgt Jacques Groensteen as he filed a combat report on Lt Manfred Stechbarth Bf 109 K-4 333 945 13./JG 27 or Gefr. Robert Sonnet Bf 109 K-4 334 154 15./JG 27, both wounded. IV/JG 27 lost 6 aircraft destroyed, III/JG 27 lost another 4, all in the Rheine/Achmer area on 2 March.

/Ian

[STUPA216]

Thank You

Appreciate the info Ian. I have several books here on Luftwaffe fighter pilots but of curse much to my chagrin they only discuss those with 20+ kills.

Kurt

[STUPA216]

Thank You

Appreciate the info Ian. I have several books here on Luftwaffe fighter pilots but of course much to my chagrin they only discuss those with 20+ kills.

Kurt

[The Dragon]

I came across this on a website a combat report for Jacques Groensteen.

"F/Sgt Jacques Groensteen of 350 (Belgian) Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 2 March, 1945:

I was flying Blue 2 to F.Lt Hoornhaert, and the squadron was operating with 130 Squadron led by W/Cdr Keefer on a fighter sweep. We were N/E of Rheine and we were giving cover to 130 who had gone down to attack. When at about 10,000 feet I saw a gaggle of e/a at about seven or eight thousand feet. I followed my No. 1 down and I picked out a Me 109 which was flying at an angle of about 90 degrees to me. I turned and got on to his tail and the e/a began to turn. I kept on to his tail and I opened fire from 400 yards closing to about 100 yards. I was dead astern and I fired with cannon and machine guns. I had closed to what I estimate about 50 yards when the pilot of the e/a jettisoned his hood, turned the aircraft on its back and baled out.
I claim the Me 109 destroyed."