Hentschel, Karl Hauptmann JG77

[Richard Gordon]

Hello once again!

Would anyone have further information on this luftwaffe officier:

Karl Hentschel, Hptm of II Gruppe, JG77 during the early stages of the BoB? I understand they were based in Stavanger/Trondheim and were part of the order of battle for BoB.

He later received the DKiG and was a veteran of the Spanish Civil war.

If you can add anything further or even a picture please post here.

Thanks!

Rich

[Guest Rick Research]

Karl Hentschel was born 23 September 1899 in Neudamm bei K?nigsberg, East Prussia. Died 12 December 1956 in M?nster.

Army 28.9.14-29.2.20

Police 8.4.20-30.9.34

Air Force 1.10.34-July 1948 (released from POW camp)

DKiG 9.11.42

Gefreiter 27.1.15

Unteroffizier 25.8.15

Sergeant 31.3.19 (that was the German title for this rank, Old Army)

Polizei-Unterwachtmeister 8.4.20

Pol-Wmr 1.2.21

Pol-Owmr 1.12.23

Polizei-Leutnant 29.4.27

Pol-Oberlt 26.3.29

Pol-Hptm 1.7.34

Hauptmann 1.10.34

Major 1.1.39

Oberstleutnant 1.10.41

Oberst 1.4.43

Generalmajor 1.12.44

Infantry NCO, POW in Russia 1916-18

His entire career in the Weimar police was spent in "Polizeiflugwache" units all over Germany

In Spain 1.1.-15.4.38 as Staffelkapit?n of Reconaissance Squadron A/88 Legion Condor.

Commanded IInd Group, Jagdgeschwader 77 1 April 1940 to 13 January 1941

Was on staff of Special group Iraq (plus ?a chnage) May-June 1941

Got German Cross as CO of Fighters 2-German Bight 17.8.42-30.9.43

Ended the war as a Fighter Division/remnant "Gefechtverband Hentschel" commander.

POW May 1945.

His portrait ?

[attachmentid=63700]

in Karl Friedrich Hildebrand's "Die General der deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945" Band 2 (Biblio Verlag, Osnabr?ck 1991) shows him as a pre-war Luftwaffe Major wearing both classes of 1914 Iron Cross, the Hindenburg Cross X, Luftwaffe long services 18 and 4, and what appears to be a Sudeten Annexation Medal, Hungarian WW1 Commemoirative Medal X and 1936-39 campaign medal finishing out his ribbon bar, with embroidered Spanish wings in the center of his right breast pocket over his brand new Spanish Cross X, the pinback Spanish Military Merit star, Luftwaffe pilot badge, and 1918 Black Wound Badge.

[Richard Gordon]

Rick

You are unbelieveable!!!

I thought perhaps there might be a grainy photo, or a few scraps of info but this...this is just superb!

Attached is the very Cruz de Guerra that Hentschel is wearing in the photo.

I bought this from German ebay and unfortunately missed the ribbon bar. It was only later after receiving the cross that I thought to ask the seller if the recipient was known. This was the name that was given and the seller has some additional docs that they are keeping one mentioned was the 1st cl spange for EK1.

Amazing!

Many thanks Rick!

Rich

Edited December 6, 2006 by Richard Gordon

[Richard Gordon]

UPDATE!

The seller kindly sent me a scan of the document they have for the 1st class spange to the EK1 1914.

Rich