Karayastaffel / Experten (9./JG 52): Graf Grislawski Süss & Füllgrabe

 After becoming the Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 50 (JG 50) in June 1943, Hermann Graf was allowed to pick any pilots he wished for the new unit, and he chose a three aces Alfred Grislawski, Ernst Süß, and Heinrich Füllgrabe from his old unit - the 9. Staffel of JG 52. This picture shows the first "Karayaexperten" (Karaya Experts) from JG 52 seated on the wing of the Messesrschmitt Bf 109, but now with the new high-altitude "Höhenjagdgeschwader" JG 50, in the defense of the Reich. From left to right: Hauptmann Alfred Grislawski (Gruppenkommandeur I. Gruppe), Major Hermann Graf (Geschwaderkommodore), Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Füllgrabe (Jagdlehrer), and Leutnant Ernst Süss (Staffelführer 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe).

During the war in the Eastern Front in the summer of 1942, 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) developed into the most successful Jagdstaffel of the entire war. At the same time, the "Karaya-men" were notorious for their lacking discipline. In his foreword to the book "Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces" by Christer Bergström, Alfred Grislawski writes: "In 1941 - 1943, the Karayastaffel was probably the most non-militaristic unit in the entire Wehrmacht."

The Karayastaffel was characterized by the friends' quartet Hermann Graf, Alfred Grislawski, Heinrich Füllgrabe, and Ernst Süss. Within this quarter, Graf and Grislawski stuck together closest, while Füllgrabe and Süss were inseparable. "They even went together to the 'Thunderbeam' (latrine)," Alfred Grislawski recalls.

The Karaya mens' pranks alone could fill a volume. Once they drove a staff Oberst completely out of his mind when he arrived to inspect their first-line makeshift airfield. On one occasion, one of the men in the quarter hi-jacked Generaloberst von Richthofen's Storch to fly an injured comrade to a field hospital.

A Reichsverteidigung Geschwaderkommodore threatened to have Grislawski court-martialled. When a large formation of U.S. bombers shortly afterward approached, a fighter leader decided to nullify the court-martial: "Grislawski must lead our fighters! Who else can lead?"

In 1943, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring personally instructed Graf to lead a new "Mosquito-hunting" fighter unit, JG 50. Graf received the Reichsmarschall's personal authorization to pick any man that he wanted. Graf picked not only his three friends Grislawski, Süss, and Füllgrabe - but also the entire German National Soccer Team. At the same time as Graf formed JG 50, he formed a new soccer team - "The Red Fighters" (which caused a senior Nazi functionaire to accuse Graf of spreading Communist propaganda) - of which the soccer legend Fritz Walter was a part.

Later, Graf was assigned to lead JG 1 in the Home Defense. Once again, he brought his three friends and the soccer players with him. "Wherever Graf goes, he brings his rat tail along," Fighter General Adolf Galland complained. Shortly afterward, Graf was shifted to command JG 11, also in the Home Defense.

Only two of the "Karaya Quartet" survived. Ernst Süss was shot dead by U.S. Mustangs (the unit in question is known) while he hung in his parachute straps. Heinrich Füllgrabe was killed in action on the Eastern Front during the last days of the war.

After the war, Grislawski became one of the first German POWs to become released, because his interrogation officer found out that Grislawski had never joined the Hitler Jugend, nor the NSDAP. (For this reason, Grislawski also had never been awarded with Göring's Goblet of Honor.)

Hermann Graf spent many years in Soviet captivity.

The first "Karayaexperten" (Karaya Experts) from 9./JG 52 but now with the new high-altitude "Höhenjagdgeschwader" JG 50, in the defense of the Reich. From left to right: Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Füllgrabe (Jagdlehrer), Major Hermann Graf (Geschwaderkommodore), Hauptmann Alfred Grislawski (Gruppenkommandeur I. Gruppe), and Leutnant Ernst Süss (Staffelführer 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe).

The same "experten" a few months earlier - May 1942 - as pilots of 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52): three of them still as Oberfeldwebel shortly before promotion to Reservekriegsoffizier (reserve war officer). Oberleutnant d.R. Hermann Graf (second from left, Staffelkapitän) just came back from the Schwerter award ceremony with Hitler in the Führerhauptquartier, while Heinrich Füllgrabe holds on to the "Karaya" standard. Alfred Grislawski (second from right) and Ernst Süss is standing at right.

Source :
http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/gg/intro.htm
http://www.jg52.net/ritterkreuztraeger/hermann-graf/

Fritz Witt and Sepp Dietrich near Kharkov

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") pays a visit to the headquarters of SS-Standartenführer Fritz Witt (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 / SS-Panzergrenadier- Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") at Olchowatka, Belgorod, near Kharkov, in March 1943. Dietrich wore a sheepskin coat which had the official name "Sous-vetementent en peau fourrée Modele 1938", with an added collar, lace and zipper. Even so, it seems that the Divisionskommandeur still felt the weather is too cold so he prepared a thicker fur coat stored in the car seat, a stark contrast when compared to Witt who looked quite comfortable even though he was only wearing a standard uniform! Dietrich's trousers were of the stiefelhose, combined with the Luftwaffe's Flieger-Pelztiefel (aviation boots) with a furry top. The car used by Dietrich was of the Einheits-Pkw Horch 40 type with a very low number plate (SS-502). In addition, jerrycans for spare gasoline have been modified so that they can be attached to the side of the car. This photo was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Johan King, who accompanied the Leibstandarte Division in the many heavy battles on the Eastern Front in 1943 and 1944.

Source :
https://fjm44.com/product/large-18x24-cm-original-waffen-ss-press-photo-with-sepp-dietrich/

Karl Müller with His Pilot Comrades

Oberfeldwebel Karl Müller (centre), a bomber pilot with 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 2, relaxes with comrades on a French Airfield (probably Epinoy) during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Müller would be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15th October 1942.

Ritterkreuz Actions of Adolf Galland

 

Adolf Galland (19 March 1912 - 9 February 1996) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #96 on 29 July 1940 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The following wartime excerpt (dated 30 August 1940) describes why Galland received the Ritterkreuz: “Major Galland has distinguished himself as a Gruppe commander in a Jagdgeschwader as a result of his exceptional aggressiveness. By now he has shot down 14 enemy aircraft. Under his leadership the Gruppe executed numerous successful ground attack attacks as well, which included one mission (19 June 1940) where he eliminated 3 Anti-Aircraft batteries.”

Galland received the Eichenlaub #3 for his Ritterkreuz on 24 September 1940 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 40 confirmed aerial victories.

Galland received the Schwerter #1 for his Ritterkreuz on 21 June 1941 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 69 confirmed aerial victories.

Finally, Galland received the Brillanten #2 for his Ritterkreuz on 28 January 1942 as Oberst and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 94 confirmed aerial victories.

Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/215/Galland-Adolf-Dolfo-Keffer.htm

Josef Wurmheller and Other Pilots from JG 2

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aces Oberleutnant Josef Wurmheller (wearing Ritterkreuz) and Oberfeldwebel Paul Bleyer of JG 2 (Jagdgeschwader 2) in France, July 1943.

Source :
ECPAD Archive, Courtesy of Blanluet Christophe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152986901863424/

Bio of Luftwaffe Ace Rolf Pingel

Hauptmann Rolf Pingel (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26) with his dog.

Rolf Pingel was born on 1 October 1913 at Kiel. Following completion of his flying training, Leutnant Pingel was posted to the newly formed I./JG 134 based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim on 15 March 1937. Pingel served in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion from September 1937. Leutnant Pingel was assigned to 2. Staffel of J 88. He recorded six victories, flying some 200 missions, during his service in Spain. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwerten for his achievements in that conflict. On his return to Germany, Pingel was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 334 on 1 October 1937. On 1 November 1938, 2./JG 334 was redesignated 2./JG 133 and  2./JG 53 on 1 March 1939. Oberleutnant Pingel shot down a French Mureaux 113 army reconnaisance aircraft over Saarlautern on 10 September 1939 for his first victory in World War 2. On 30 September, he led 2./JG 53 in a successful interception of five RAF Battle single-engine bombers attempting a reconnaisance over the Saarbrücken-Merzig area. Four of the bombers were shot down, including one claimed by Pingel, and the fifth crash-landed on its return to base and was destroyed. On 5 June 1940, Hauptmann Werner Mölders was shot down by French fighters to become a prisoner of war. Hauptmann Pingel was temporarily placed in command of III./JG 53 to replace Mölders. On 11 June, Pingel shot down two French Morane fighters to record his 7th and 8th victories of World War 2. Pingel relinquished temporary command of III./JG 53 to Hauptmann Harro Harder (22 victories, killed in action 12 August 1940) in July 1940. He returned as Staffelkapitän to 2./JG 53. On 22 August 1940, Hauptmann Pingel reported to JG 26 to take up the role of Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 14 September for 15 victories. On 28 September, Pingel shot down a RAF Hurricane fighter over Maidstone but his own aircraft, Bf 109 E-4 (W.Nr. 3756), was badly damaged in the combat. He ditched near Hastings and was rescued by the German air-sea rescue services. It is thought that Pingel’s victim in this engagement was the South African ace Albert Lewis (16 destroyed, 2.5 probable and 2 damaged victories) of 249 Sqn, RAF who baled out badly burned. It is also thought that Pingel was, in turn, shot down by British ace John Beard (6 destroyed, 1 probable and 3 damaged victories) of 249 Sqn, RAF. Pingel achieved his 20th victory of World War 2 on 22 June 1941, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Dunkirk in an engagement with the British Circus No. 18 attacking Hazebrouck. The British Circus No. 42 targeted Chocques on 10 July 1941. Three RAF Stirling four-engine bombers, accompanied by their fighter escort, were intercepted by Pingel’s I./JG 26. Pingel followed a damaged Stirling bomber back to England, further damaging its tail section. However, the gunners’ return fire hit his Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 12 764) “<< +” in the engine. He descended to low altitude but was intercepted by Spitfires. He force-landed his aircraft in a grain field near Dover and was taken into captivity. He was promoted to the rank of Major during his imprisonment.

Rolf Pingel was credited with 28 victories in 550 combat missions, including 200 flown during the Spanish Civil War. Included in his total are six victories gained during the Spanish Civil War. All his World War 2 victories were recorded over the Western front.

Source :
http://histomil.com/viewtopic.php?t=3918&start=2670
https://www.luftwaffe.cz/pingel.html