The Second Wave, Greece, 20th May 1941 by David Pentland.
Following the initial parachute drops at Maleme (West) and Canea (Middle) Group East, comprising of Fallschirmjager Regiment 1 and 2nd battalion FJR2, prepared for their descent on Crete. Charged with the capture of Heraklion and its aerodrome, their departure was postponed until late afternoon due to the repairs and refuelling needed for the returning Junker 52 transports.
Item Code : DHM1412
The Second Wave, Greece, 20th May 1941 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
A Junkers Ju52 of Luftflotte 2, escorted by Me109s of JG-53, transports important military personnel over the Dolomites in 1942. With the setting sun illuminating the mountain tops in a brilliant light, the panoramic vista is both chilling and spectacular. As the aircraft lumbers across the impressive mountain scenery, members of the High Command can be seen in conference in the cabin, while crew in the cockpit concentrate on their special duties flight plan. Behind them, unprotected from the elements, a lone gunner keeps a watchful eye. The Ju52 became the Luftwaffes primary wartime transport aircraft, taking part in every German army land operation during World War II.
Item Code : DHM2145
Special Duties by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available
Claus Semmelhaack was a pilot and captain with the Luftwaffe's KGrV106, flying the Junkers Ju52. He took part in the airborne invasion of Norway during April 1940, including the Narvik Campaign. He flew on the Eastern Front, flying in the Smolensk region. Later in the war he became a flight instructor. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.
Theo Gerling was born in 1916. During the war he flew the Ju52 with the Luftwaffe's Transportgruppe, taking part in combat operations in virtually every theatre, first as an observer and later as a pilot. In January 1943, flying a Ju52, he undertook one of the very last flights into Stalingrad, before the capitulation of General Paulus and the 6th Army garrison. He flew a total of 528 combat missions during the war and was awarded the German Cross in gold.
Helmut Schwarz joined the German Armed Forces in September 1939 becoming a Leutnant in 1941. From April 1941 as Staffelkapitan of the Sonderstaffel (Special Staff), to October 1944, by then Oberleutnant, he commanded transport planes in action over the Mediterranean flying Ju52 and SM92. From then until 1945, he was involved with night fighter training. With around 1500 flying hours to his credit, Helmut Schwarz flew in more than 300 missions, and was awarded the Iron Cross Class I. After the war he was involved with the air defence sectors. He retired as Brigadegeneral.
Joining the Luftwafte in November 1939, Joachim Berking was commissioned and trained as a pilot on Ju52s and He111s as part of KG53 based at Lille in northern France. In May 1942 he was posted to KG55 Grief in Russia, joining the 4th Staffel based in Djepropetrowsk, where he completed 291 combat missions, of which 60 were night operations. In November 1943 he returned to France to become head of training of 1 L/KG5 5 at Dijon. After this posting he converted to fighters, training on the Me109, and in April 1945 was posted to command 4./JG27 Marseille. He received the Iron Cross I and II, the German Cross in Gold, and a special honorary trophy from Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering for outstanding services in air combat.
