Mechanic stuck on the tail of a Stuka?

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I have just read the book "Das waren die deutschen Stuka-Asse 1939 -1945, and on page 39 - 40 are a story about an unlucky mechanic who actually got stuck at the tail . The Stuka took off and reached the height of 500 meter before the crew discovered the unlucky man. They managed to get the Stuka down and the mechanic could actually walk away without any injury. It says that he complained about losing his cap. Does anyone know more about this incident? It happened at 7./StG 1, but I hope anyone can give me the names of the crew and this unfortunate person.

[Ian Jewison]

I have photos of the incident as I have the group to the pilot. This story actually appeared in "Der Adler" in 1943.

Can't tell you much more at the moment as I am having a few beers.

The pilot was Obfw. Siegfried Plappert DKiG with the Prüfmeister of the unit.

/Ian

[Simon O.]

Didn't something like that also happen to someone in the RAF?

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Simon,

Something similar happened in 111 Squadron in Tunisia on 12 December 1942. Squadron Leader Bartley wrote:

"[we] found it necessary to carry an airman on the tail to prevent the aircraft tipping onto its nose, until the moment of take-off, when we waved him off. When the squadron had just got airborne in a left-hand circuit, I looked back to see to my horror that Tommy Tinsey still had his man pinned to his empennage and his aircraft bucking like a wild west bronco. He must have forgotten to wave him away. When I warned him of the predicament on the RT, he answered that he was well aware of it, and couldn't 'shake the bugger off'.

I told him to make a landing with plenty of speed to prevent stalling, which he managed precariously to accomplish. The airman was tossed off on making contact with the ground, and got away with only a broken leg."

The airman's name was LAC O'Donaghue.

Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Gerdan]

Some more information on Siegfried Plappert:

http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctiona...o?itemid=13466

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=12342


Gerdan

[Ian Jewison]

The first link that Gerdan posted is an auction site where some of Plappert's items were being sold. His group was split up, however I managed to get most of it back together.
Interesting as this is the first time I have actually seen this auction as in 1999 the Honour Goblet was offered to me for £2,000 which at the time was top price, so I declined. December of that year Detlev Niemann had it for around £1,400 however my car had been stolen and I couldn't afford to buy it! I believe it went to the States....

The second link of course is one I posted......

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Ok....the article appeared in the 7th of July 1942 issue of Der Adler.

[Ian Jewison]

The photos are dated November 1941.

According to the article the photos should show:

Flugzeugführer Oberfeldwebel P (Plappert), Prüfmeister B and Gefreiter Z.

Unfortunately I have no idea of the other guys names. Also if this was November 1941 the entry is not in his Flugbuch.

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

I do have some letters from his widow, his wingman Jakob Jenster RKT and his Staffelkapitän Karl Bleckl RKT, there may some extra info in those as I corresponded with them regarding this article amongst other things. However, I do not recall anything additional.

/Ian

[Darrell]

Now that's a cross between Stupidity and lack of common sense.

"I guess I better stay on here till he tells me to get off. Hmm.. we are picking up speed. Oh well .. an orders an order"

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Thanks a lot for the information. Especially to Ian.