Hptm.Ihlefeld story behind this picture....

Christoph Awender · Post by **Christoph Awender** » 10 Sep 2003 11:18

Hello!

Looking through photos of the 5.Pz.Div. on the Balkans I found this one. The info says it is Hptm.Ihlefeld liberated from serbian captivity in Blace. The photos are from the Aufkl.Abt. and show some fighting for the village.
Obviously Ihlefeld was with two other Luftwaffe comrades.
Has someone the story how he was shot down?

\Christoph

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 10 Sep 2003 23:22

Christoph,

Hauptmann Herbert Ihlefeld was Gruppenkommandeur I.(Jagd)/Lehrgeschwader 2 at the time of the Balkan Campaign. His group was equipped with Bf 109E fighters. Per the below website:

Another known pilot was shot-down that day [6 April 1941]. Knight cross holder Oblt. [sic – should be Hauptmann] Herbert Ihlefeld was brought down by Yugoslavian AA. The pilot landed near Nis, and got slight head injuries.

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/belgra/belgra.htm

Regards,
Shawn

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 10 Sep 2003 23:41

Here are a few pic's of Swords winner Herbert Ihlefeld. His highest rank attained was Oberst. In the second pic, note his Spanish Cross in Gold, which is also seen in your pic, and the Bulgarian Order for Bravery, 4th Class (1st Grade) pinned below his EK I.

Regards,
Shawn

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 11 Sep 2003 03:15

Speaking of German casualties from the Yugoslav Air Force, here's another incident that occurred on the first day of the invasion. On 6 April 1941, SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Mohnke, commander of Kampfgruppe Mohnke (formed around his own II. Battalion) of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, was badly wounded in a Yugoslav air attack even before the unit had crossed the frontier. His wound was so severe that it required the amputation of one his feet. Still conscious when brought to a medical aid post, he allegedly threatened to shoot the army doctors who wanted to amputate the leg. As a result, only the badly mangled foot was removed.

Regards,
Shawn

SOURCES: Lehmann, Rudolf. The Leibstandarte I. Nick Olcott, translator. J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Winnipeg, Canada, 1987; Sayer, Ian & Botting, Douglas. Hitler’s Last General: The Case Against Wilhelm Mohnke. Bantam Press, London, United Kingdom, 1989.

Christoph Awender · Post by **Christoph Awender** » 11 Sep 2003 05:49

Thanks for the info!

\Christoph

Eckart · Post by **Eckart** » 22 Oct 2007 21:38

With this image reported the Kölnische Illustrierte Zeitung on April 16th, 1942, the seven aerial victories in a single day reached by Ihlefeld.

Dieter Zinke · Post by **Dieter Zinke** » 23 Oct 2007 09:02

Another pic from my own collection since many years

Dieter Z.