Tracing Luftwaffe crews KG 4

[noggin1969]

Hope this is in the right section . I have been doing some research into the bombing of the Ransome & Marles bearing factory in Newark Nottinghamshire on March 7 1941. I had two great aunts and a grandad that worked there during the war. Both aunts were at work on the day and survived the attacks. My grandad was not at work on the day but also worked as an Auxilary Fireman and turned up to help only to be injured by a second raider that attacked the works an hour later. I have traced the 2 crews but am hoping to fill in a few blanks. 1st aircraft was a Heinkel He 111 H6 of 1./KG 4 out of Soesterberg crew were Lt. Günter Rudolph , Lt. Bernhard Metzmacher , Uffz. Otto Groper and Uffz. Burghard Hahn. Rudolph , Hahn were KIA and Groper WIA 8/2/42 when He 111 5J+JH was hit by flak near Shchekotets 3.75 km NNE of Parafino and 6 km east of Sloboda. ( also KIA was Hans Schwarz ) Metzmacher was promoted to Oberleutnant 43 and also gained the DKiG in 43 but I can't find anymore records after this.

Second aircrew was in a Heinkel He 111 H6 of 6./KG 4 out of Eindhoven were Oberleutnant Ulrich Knauth , Ofw. Johann Schumm , Ofw. Kurt Hell , Ofw. Heinz Möller , Uffz. ? Berger. I have full details of Knauth up to his death in 1974 in Madrid Spain. Schumm was KIA 10/44 , Hell was WIA 29/9/42 no record after that , Möller gained the DKiG 1/4/43 but no record after that , Uffz. Berger I have no record of at all due to no christian name. Anymore details will be very much appreciated or any way of finding more details



Cheers Shaun

[Snautzer05]

Correct spelling of "Soesterburgh" is Soesterberg , Holland. I./KG 4 was there from Jul 40 – Jun 41

[noggin1969]

Thanks , amended.

[noggin1969]

Found a little more on one crew member. Ofw. Johann Schumm at time of his death 21/10/44 Staffelkapitän 6./KG 4 Hptm. Johann Schumm , Uffz. Heinz Geilber , FW Friedrich Bunker , FW Leonhard Mayer KIA/MIA when Heinkel He 111H-20 5J+GP crashed into the Aegean off Crete after a attack by a Bristol Beaufighter of 108 Squ. Wally Cunningham & Bob Common in Beaufighter mk 6 ND145W attacked the 111 and it's starboard engine caught fire and the aircraft crashed vertically into the sea.

[noggin1969]

Still after a few more details to aircrew if anyone can add anymore info :

Lt. Bernhard Metzmacher : 4./KG 4 - 1941
2/KG 4 - 1942
DKiG - 24/06/43
Promoted Oblt. 43
Stab, KG 4: 10/43 - 03/44

Uffz. Otto Groper : WIA 08/02/42


OFw. Kurt Hell : DKiG 15/10/42
WIA 29/10/42

OFw. Heinz Möller : DKiG 04/01/43
Possibly KIA 02/03/44 in Estonia

Uffz ? Berger , I know this one is a long shot but he was in a He 111 with Oblt. Ulrich Knauth , OFw. Johann Schumm , OFw. Kurt Hell and OFw. Heinz Möller on a raid to Newark on Trent 07/03/41

[Tim_DC]

Hi Shaun, I have an original postcard sized portrait of the sole survivor, Uffizier Otto Gröper.
Here he is posing in Utrecht, Holland, March 1941, just after a dive bomber attack on the 'Kugellagerfabrik' in Newark upon Trent, England.
What a coincidence that this portrait was taken only hours or days after the event that you are researching.
He survived the war and was still alive in 1986.

[noggin1969]

Thank you very much for the info , I am about to do a talk for the 75 anniversary. I knew he was badly injuried in Feb 42 when the other crew members were killed. I had not been able to find him again in the records , so wondered if he had died of his injuries later or been discharged from the Luftwaffe. Thanks again.

Shaun

[noggin1969]

Was there anymore pics of the crew , how do you know he was alive in 1986 ? I found out Lt. Bernhard Metzmacher and Kurt Hell survived the war. Hell died in 1995.

[Tim_DC]

Hi Shaun, sorry, only this single portrait and no further info - I got the information from a hand written dedication on the back.

[noggin1969]

Thanks Tim