Monday 30 November 2015

Hs 123 in the East, III./ JG 77 Emil on Crete - daily Ebay photo find #137



..somewhere on the Russian Front according to the seller but more likely Poland if this is a combat aircraft apparently operating from an unprepared field strip close to the front. The Stammkenzeichen does also suggest an unknown FFS (pilot training school).


From Edgar Alcidi's current Ebay sales here

See all Hs 123 photos on this blog at this link

Below;  despite the Schlacht triangle marking of II./ LG 2 this Emil belongs to III./ JG 77 - note the wolf's head badge on the cowling. Seen at Malemes, Crete 1941, note three Abschußbalken on the rudder. The name 'Seidel' below the cockpit probably recalls Ofw. Albert ' Harry' Seidel who had been KIA on 15 March near Kent/Dungeness in aerial combat with 615 Sq. Hurricanes. His machine was WNr.3725 "schwarze L" of 5.(S)/LG 2.. Original picture source, Michael Payne via Omert in "More Emils, More markings", Aviation News 7-20 May 1983, also in Prien JG 77 Vol 1. Bottom, Von Werra in front of a JG 53 Friedrich
Darius Werner's latest auctions are here