KITS 09/2020

Bf 109E-4, WNr. 5153, Oblt. Egon Troha, CO of 9./JG 3, Desvres, France, October 1940

UND DIE GESCHICHTE GEHT LANGSAM ZU ENDE

Troha´s plane was manufactured by WNF in autumn 1939 as Bf 109 E-3. In 1940 it was not upgraded only with new canopy but probably also

with new MG FF/M cannons, so unit kept the airplane in records as E-4. The sea horse emblem was created by original core of unit´s pilots

who were supposed to form fighter squadron of German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin. Camouflage consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65. Egon Troha

was born in Austria in 1916 and after pilot and fighter training started to serve in JG 26 in 1939. Later on he joined JG 27 before being finally

assigned to III./JG 3. Troha scored five victories during 1940 including one Dutch Fokker C.V and on October 1st he became commander

of 9./JG 3. His last kill, probably a Hurricane of No. 605 Sq., was scored on October 26th shortly after noon west of Boulogne. On October

29th during mission over England Oblt. Troha was attacked by Spitfires of No. 74 Sq. He believed his wingman is covering him, but instead

received a radiator damage. He force-landed near Shepherdswell. During interrogation Troha maintained this was not his personal aircraft

and did not want to disclose identity of the pilot. There was good reason for it, the original pilot was Troha´s friend and five victory Austrian

ace Lt. Franz Achleitner captured on August 24th. In Canada Troha lost an eye in riot and was repatriated. After return to Germany he was

promoted to Hauptmann and served with operational training unit JG 108 till the end of war.

Bf 109E-4, WNr. 4869, Lt. Bernhard Malischewski, Stab II./JG 54, Campagne-les-Guines, France, October 1940

UND DIE GESCHICHTE GEHT LANGSAM ZU ENDE

This „Emil“ was manufactured by company Arado as E-1/B or E-8 version in September 1940. At unit level the armament was changed to

two cannons in the wing, but earlier type of canopy was not changed. After the upgrade this Bf 109 was kept in unit records under E-4

designation. Camouflage consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65. It was personal mount of Stab II./JG 54 officer Lt. Bernhard Malischewski who served

with the unit already under its original designation I./JG 76. He scored one victory during Sitzkrieg and three more in French campaign and

Battle of Britain. The last one occurred on September 29th, when he shot down a Spitfire near London, while his boss Gruppenkommandeur

Dietrich Hrabak claimed a Hurricane. Hrabak later became Kommodore of famous JG 52 and JG 54 on Eastern Front, claimed 125 victories in

over 1,000 missions and was awarded with Knight Cross with Oak Leaves. Malischewski was captured on October 12th after forced landing

south of Tenterden, Kent. It is believed that his victor was S/Ldr R.S. Tuck, however Malischewski said he suffered engine failure during dog

fight. Indeed his airplane did not have any hits from enemy fire. In UK he was kept as prisoner of war at Camp 13, the Hayes Camp, in Swanwick, Derbyshire. He joined to group of prisoner, including Franz von Werra, who were planning escape through a tunnel. They nicknamed

themselves as „Swanwick Tiefbau A. G.“ (Swanwick Construction Company). Three prisoners including von Werra escaped, but Malischewski

gave up the effort earlier during digging process. In February 1945 he was sentenced to 28 days detention for attempting to escape from the

train bringing him from one Canadian camp to another. He was promoted in captivity to rank of Oberleutnant and passed away in 1975.

INFO Eduard - September 2020

eduard

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