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HISTORY
supported by witness report. Moreover there
was also Luftwaffe photographer who took shots
how Koller sits in cockpit of “Black 12” recei-
ving congratulations from his wingman. He also
photographed group of personnel next to tail of
the very same aircraft carrying W. Nr. 550 889.
Mr. Koller remembered after 60 years the ac-
tion of the photographer, but he has never seen
the photos in the meantime. After my analysis
resulted in the impression that 550 889 must be
“Black 12” of Mr. Koller, I showed him the photos.
He was extremely excited and conrmed that in-
deed it is him the cockpit and it is his “Black 12”.
The aircraft had to be ferried to Estonia next
day. After take off at 8.45 from Immola he
was going to stop in Helsinki to refuel. Over the
Gulf of Finland he noticed a lone IL-2 attacking
a passenger or cargo ship. After Koller´s rst
burst the gunner thought it better to jump out of
the plane but his parachute caught in the tail of
the Il-2 . The Soviet pilot turned south towards
his base in Lavansaari trailing the gunner be-
hind him. After a while the pilot did a sharp turn
to free the gunner who then landed safely on
a small island. H. Koller downed the bomber with
one burst (at 9.20). Upon approach to Helsin-
ki the clouds/fog were almost at ground level.
After several unsuccessful hair-rising landing
attempts H. Koller decided to bail out (at 9.45)
and barely avoided HV wires during his descent
on the parachute.
The engagement with Il-2 took place according
to H. Koller somewhere around Kotka and bom-
ber crashed aprox. halfway to the island in the
south (supposed to be Lavansaari).
Soviet ground attack units lost 8 Il-2s and 7
crews (including one pilot awarded with HSU) on
June 18 over Gulf of Vyborg and G. of Finland.
According to detailes provided by K.-F. Geust
all losses were ofcially credited to anti aircraft
artillery, that was however quite frequent Sovi-
et administration trick how to hide some losses
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Info Eduard - June 2011
Heribert Koller
Heribert Koller was born in 1920. Entered Army in 1939. Part of his
air training was performed also in former Czechoslovakia. In Janu-
ary 1943 joined 6./JG 54 (II./JG 54) on the eastern Front. Served
also with Stab II./JG 54 under famous Assi Hahn. Later transferred
to 5./JG 54. In winter 1944/1945 served as instructor in Austria
(Luftwaffe student pilots were more dangerous than Soviet pilots)
Victories: 49 conrmed by 5./JG 54 and 1 more by 6./JG 54
16 of his victories were Il-2 Sturmoviks
Last victory: Jak 3 on April 9, 1945 in Kurland
Last ight (nr. 1236) on May 8, 1945 – 2 hours and 40 minutes eva-
cuation ight from Kurland to Flensburg (including passangers in-
side of his Fw 190). Awarded among others with German Cross in Gold
and also Finnish Freedom Cross 4th Class.
Immola airbase, Finland, 17th June 1944. Heribert
Koller sits in cockpit of „black 12“, while Oberfähnrich
Hans-Veit von Obernitz congratulates him for a recent
victory. After 60 years, when I have shown this photo
to Heribert, he remembered this situation clearly.
(photo: H. Koller via J. Bobek)
Discussion close to tail of the „black 12“. Mr. Koller believed,
that it’s him who stands back to the photographer.
Ground personnel of Schlacht-
geschwader 3 (part of Gefecht-
svebrand Kuhlmey) spending
some spare time playing cards.