Unknown RKT

[VtwinVince]

If members could identify these individuals, it would be greatly appreciated.

[WJW]

Rkt

Ernst Kupfer on the right in the trio.

[VtwinVince]

I recognized Kupfer, but not the others. Autograph appears to be Hermann ?????.

[Ed Taylor]

If this picture was taken at the time Kupfer received the RK on November 23, 1941, at least three other Stuka pilots also received the RK. They were ObLt Friedrich Lang (St.G.2), Hpt Alfons Orthofer (St.G.77), and ObLt Hermann Ruppert (St.G.77). The one in the middle looks a bit like Lang. None look like Orthofer and only Kupfer is a Hauptmann. The ObLt on the left looks like he could be Hermann Ruppert, but it's hard to get Ruppert out of the autogrtaph. I have seen a broader version of this photo with a 4th ObLt with a RK standing to the left of Kupfer, but I don't recognize him.

[Ed Taylor]

The signature in the second photo looks like Kurt Lau who started out with St.G.3 was with St.G.2 and ended the war with SG.103.

[WJW]

Info

Ed, for the sake of completion, the Officer not in the picture is a FJ, Horst Trebes. I owned the photo.

[VtwinVince]

It can't be Ruppert, as he was KIA, and this is a postwar signature

[Tommy Tasker]

the one smoking the pipe is Theo Nau.

[Ed Taylor]

Trying to pin down when this photo was taken. Kupfer received his RK on Nov 23, 1941 as a Hauptmann. He was promoted to Major on April 1, 1942. In this photo he is a Hauptmann. During most of this time he was recovering from serious wounds sustained over Kronstad Harbor in Sept 1941. In late January 1942 he underwent additional major reconstructive surgery. During most of this time he was in Kitzbuhel recovering. On Nov 17 Kupfer wrote that an old friend of his from Graz had arrived from Africa and would be staying for a month (This could be Horst Trebes the forth man in the picture). Another Stuka pilot also arrived from his "heroic old 7.Schwadron". From this information I would think that the photo was taken in December 1941 or early January 1942. Probably in Kitzbuhel.

I also went through Obermaier's books on Stuka and Jager RK recipients and find only one Hermann that might be a candidate for one of the pilots (probably the one on the left). He would be Hermann Staiger. He was a Bf109 pilot with JG 51. He was severely wounded in July 1941 and might also have been recovering in Kitzbuhel during this period. He received the RK on July 16, 1941 as an Oberleutnant. The second name in the signature could be Staiger. Someone more familiar with 1930-1940 German cursif hand writing might give us a better read on the name.

I still think that the pilot in the middle could be Friedrich Lang. He received his RK on November 23, 1941 at the same time as Kupfer. He was an Oberleutnant at the time. He was also Staffelkapitan of I./St.G.2 having replaced Kupfer as Stafelkapitan of I./St.G.2 when he was injured. It is not unreasonable that he might have visited Kupfer during his recovery.

All of this is of course just speculation, but it might help with the IDs.

[Gran Sasso]

The second name in the signature could be Staiger. Someone more familiar with 1930-1940 German cursif hand writing might give us a better read on the name.

Really looks like "Staiger"

[John Toner]

It is Staiger - well done!

I have an image of him with JG 51 and the signature is identical.

Not sure about Lang for the man in the centre, though.

John

[Ed Taylor]

The pilot in the middle is wearing what appears to be a Bulgarian pilots badge. This would indicate that he served in the Balkins in the spring of 1941. Kupfer also had the Bulgarian pilots badge, but it cannot be seen in this photo.

[VtwinVince]

Thank you very much, gentlemen. The Staiger had me absolutely stumped, as I just assumed it was a Stuka pilot.

[Ed Taylor]

Do you have any thoughts yet on the pilot in the middle? Also I have sent you a Private Message.

Ed

[Trebes]

The fourth man

If members could identify these individuals, it would be greatly appreciated.

Any chance to see the cut-off Trebes?