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06 - WWII - Americans In Europe
Last Man Standing by Heinz Krebs
April 13th 1944. Crossing the Channel coast, lone survivor of the 545th BS, B-17G Squawkin' Chicken, flown by Lt. Dewayne Bennett galantly fights back a last attempt by Luftwaffe fighters to down her after the raid on Schweinfurt.
Signed by:
Dewayne Bennett - 'Ben' Bennett who, along with his crew, had been assigned to the 384th BG came from Newton, Iowa. He had finished his flight training in the U.S., soloed, was assigned a copilot and in Ben´s words "Away we went". After arrival in Europe Ben first flew a few relatively uneventful missions. Then April 13th came, a day that he and his crew would remember clearly for a lifetime
Adelbert Schlarb - Joined the Luftwaffe on November 1st, 1942. Flying training at "Luftkriegsschule Tulln" from March 1943 until March 1944. Posted to Reconnaicance Squadron 102 (Nahaufklärungsgeschwader 102) in Brieg. Thereafter posted to air combat training at Stolp-West and Stolp-Reitz to be trained on the Me 109 E and G6 models to fly in the "Defense of the Reich" phase of WWII. Posted to Märkisch-Friedland and further training on Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A8. Then posted to I/JG 1 from September 1944 until the war ended. Flew the Fw 190 in combat until early 1945, thereafter the Heinkel He 162 jet. Shot down by U.S. 8th AF heavies on November 21st, 1944 but returned to his unit uninjured. Adalbert Schlarb was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant shortly before the war ended in the spring of 1945.
Gerhard Hanf - Graduated as a civilian glider pilot before volunteering to become an officer in the Luftwaffe in 1941. Graduated from air combat college (Luftkriegsschule) in Breslau and awarded his military pilot wings in 1942. Started fighter pilot training in early 1943. Joined III. Gruppe of JG 77 in Romania and Italy, flying the Me 109 G-6. 2nd Lt. in June 1943. His squadron (9.JG 77) became part of I/JG 1 in the summer of 1944. At the same time, the pilots were re-trained on the Fw 190 A-8. Squadron Leader (Staffelführer) of the 4th Staffel of JG 1 from August 1944. This unit was re-named 2nd Staffel of JG 1 in February 1945 and re-equipped with the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter. At that time Gerhard Hanf was promoted to Squadron Commander (Staffelkapitän) of 2./JG 1. Four aerial victories: a P-51 on 21 April 1944 over Romania, P-38 on May 7th, 1944 also over Romania, two P-47s over France on July 7th, and July 30th, 1944. Several ground targets destroyed. Shot down three times by P-38, P-51, and B-24. Injured twice. Decorations include: Pilot badge, Combat (fighter) pilot clasp in Bronze and Silver, Wounded-In-Combat Clasp, Iron Cross I and II.
Edtition size: 1250 signed and numbered
Print size: 25"w x 18"h
