May 1
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/R6 of II./JG 5 Eismeer. Text on cowling read "Radiator is integrated in the hood/bonnet. Open carefully." Location and date unknown
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Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/R6 of II./JG 5 Eismeer. Text on cowling read "Radiator is integrated in the hood/bonnet. Open carefully." Location and date unknown
Rudi Müller was one of the great aces of JG 5 “Eismeer” in the north. On April 19, 1943 he lost his last battle against Nikolaj Bokij in his P-39. (Bundesarchiv)
Photo and caption featured in Stalin's Eagles: An Illustrated Study of the Soviet Aces of World War II and Korea (Schiffer Book for Collectors and Designers) by Hans D. Seidl
A tale of four JG 77 Herz As (Ace of Hearts) Leutnants. L-R: future 60 victory ace, Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) holder and 600+ missions veteran Horst Carganico, future 32 victory ace Rudi Glöckner, future 208 victory ace Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves) holder and 400+ missions veteran Heinrich Ehrler and future 18 victory ace Hanns-Diether Hartwein, 25 September 1941, Petsamo, Finland.
Horst Carganico was KIA on 27 May 1944. Now Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 5 Eismeer, Major Carganico was involved in the Defence of the Reich against USAAF heavy bombers. Following combat over France, his Messerschmitt Bf 109G-5 was severely damaged. While attempting an emergency forced landing near Chevry, France, his aircraft struck high-tension power lines, resulting in a fatal crash.
Rudi Glöckner was KIA on 19 September 1944. Now serving with JG 5 Eismeer, he was shot down in aerial combat against Soviet forces over the Polar Front near Petsamo.
Heinrich Ehrler was KIA on 4 April 1945. He had transitioned to flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter with Stab/JG 7 Nowotny and during a battle against a formation of USAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers over Stendal, Germany, he ran out of ammunition. He radioed his wingman, famously stating, "See you in Valhalla," and deliberately rammed his jet into an American bomber, destroying both aircraft (his 208th and final kill) and killing himself in the explosion.
Hanns-Diether Hartwein was KIA on 21 August 1942. Serving as a Staffelkapitän in JG 5 Eismeer, Oberleutnant Hartwein scored his 16th and final victory on this day before his Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 took critical hits to the engine. He attempted a belly landing in Soviet-controlled territory near Lake Udero. His squadron members watched in horror as his aircraft hit a rock upon landing and burst into flames; Hartwein was unable to escape the cockpit and burned alive
65 victory ace Feldwebel Hans Döbrich's Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2, 'Yellow 10' W.Nr. 13916 of 6./JG 5 Eismeer, Alakurtti, Finland, 1943. For more, see my Facebook group - Eagles Of The Reich
94 victory ace Feldwebel Rudolf Rudi Müller's Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 (Y3+EL) W.Nr. 14810 of 8./JG 5 Eismeer, Finland 1943. He was shot down on 19.4.43 and shot dead while attempting to escape on 21.10.43. He was posthumously promoted to Oberfeldwebel. For more, see my Facebook group - Eagles Of The Reich
94 victory ace Feldwebel Rudolf Rudi Müller, Staffelkapitän (Squadron leader) of 6./JG 5 Eismeer, being awarded the Knight's Cross, Luostari, Finland, 19.6.1942. Shot down and captured on 19.4.43, he was shot dead during an escape attempt from a POW camp on 21.10.43 and was posthumously promoted to Oberfeldwebel (Staff Sergeant). For more, see my Facebook group - Eagles of the Reich
Arado Ar 240A, JG 5 Eismeer, Finland, date unknown. Only twelve were built and flown, three being used for high reconnaissance flights over England and others, such as this example, being used for similar missions on the Eastern Front. For more, see my Facebook group - Eagles Of The Reich
Despite the adverse conditions and minimal amount of daylight, successes were still being achieved as 1942 drew to a close. On the last day of the year rising star Feldwebel Walter Schuck of 9./JG 5 scored a trio of kills to take his total to 15
Photo and cqption featured in Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 124 Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces by John Weal