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Info Eduard - February 2011
Page 24
HISTORY
Operations continued, but aside from one emergency
landing of Bf 110G-2 W.Nr. 5236 at Brjansk aireld on
July 22nd, 1943, no further details are currently known.
Sometime at the end of July or the beginning of
August, Panzerjägerstaffel was relocated to Brjanks. It
was the advanced signal of changes to come.
Meanwhile, in May 1943, the special Zerstörerstaffel
subordinated to Erprobungskommando 25 was
established, with Oblt. Erwina Hardtke as its CO. This
was at Wittmundhafen aireld. Zerstörerstaffel was to
test large caliber guns in combat against allied bombers.
As early as on the rst combat mission, on June 25th,
1943, it had at least one Messerschmitt Bf 110 equipped
with a 37 mm Flak 18 in the air. The rst mission was a
success for Erprobungskommando Grupenkommandeur
Hptm. Horst Geyer, who claimed one B-17. He ew one
of the twin engined types, either a Bf 110 or a Me 410.
On this day, Zerstörerstaffel recorded also its rst losses.
Bf 110G-2 W.Nr. 5245, piloted by Lt. Klaus Bierauer
with Bordfunker Uffz. Thomas Lothar, was shot down in
combat. The aircraft crashed near Meppen with the loss
of both crewmen.
Further Bf 110 losses of the Kommando were due to
technical problems. Bf 110G-2 W.Nr. 6167 bellied in after
engine problems at Gotha on September 20th, 1943.
The second lost airplane was Bf 110 W.Nr. 6338. Due to
technical problems, it suffered 50% damage on October
4th, 1943, at Achmer Airbase.
On the 26th of November, Uffz. Paul Tilmanns had
to bail out by parachute, and suffered wounds. His
Bordfunker, Fw. Gerharg Krah, died during the combat
mission. Their G-2 version Messerschmitt W.Nr. 120020
crashed near Brekum. The aircraft carried a tactical sign
consisting of a red letter ‘F’. On this day, leader of the
Kommando, Hptm. Horst Geyer, claimed a B-17 and
another kill was scored by Uffz. Topp over the same type
of enemy plane. It may be interesting for the reader to
know, that on this day, Kommando also elded Do-217s
and lost two planes.
Four days later, the unit lost two men. Pilot Ofw. Alfred
Menninger and Bordfunker Uffz. Alfonz Kraimer died due
to technical failure of their Bf 110G-3, W.Nr.5694. They
met their fate east of Achmer, near Penta.
A positively identied loss of a Bf 110G-2 with the
Rüstsatze R1 mod with Er.Kdo 25 was W.Nr. 410098
crewed by pilot Uffz Kurt Neudel and Bordfunker Uffz
Gerhard Keibisch. On the 30th of January, 1944, around
1204h, they attacked an allied bomber over the town of
Wesser near Petershagene and damaged it. The US crew
initiated an emergency bomb drop, but this did not prevent
the bomber from crashing near Hävern. Defensive re
from the bomber managed to hit the attacking German
plane. Their uncontrollable Messerschmitt Bf 110 crashed
near an area called Bückberg. It was the only loss of a
Zerstörer aircraft aside from the loss of four Fw 190s that
day for the unit.
Most likely, the last combat mission of Er.Kdo 25
was own on April 23rd, 1944. Pilots did not claim any
successes, and lost two planes. Bf 110G-2 W.Nr.170068
was lost near Neusiedler See. The pilot bailed out,
followed by the wounded Bordfunker, Fw. Karl Merk. The
second crew was not so lucky. Pilot Oblt. Erwin Hardke
An aircraft of Erprobungs Kommando 25. Note the black and white spinner, typical of Zerstorers of this unit, and again,
the combination of the Flak 18 and the W.Gr.21 launchers.