Jagdgeschwader 52 by John Weal John Weal

Author:John Weal,John Weal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten
ISBN: 9781782005469
Published: 2019-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

A smiling Friedrich Wachowiak (right) – perhaps about to go on a spot of leave in that transport He 111 in the background – proudly sports his new feldwebel insignia and recently-won Knight’s Cross. This shot must have been taken within a month of the award, for his equally happy companion – the now Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Köppen, Oak Leaves hidden by his gloved hand – would be reported missing on 5 May 1942

Fall Blau was nearing launch too, but Soviet intelligence had learned of the coming offensive, and the Red Army staged an ambitious spoiling attack to the south of Kharkov. Its aim was to cut off the German forces assembling for the advance down into the Caucasus from the main body of the front. This sudden threat resulted in III./JG 52 being rushed back to Kharkov-Rogan on 12 May.

During its two weeks in the Crimea, 9./JG 52 had been the most successful of the Gruppe’s three Staffeln, destroying 93 enemy aircraft without loss. It also gained the famous name by which it is still known to this day. Future Knight’s Cross winner Oberfeldwebel Ernst Süss had returned from leave clutching a portable record player. Unfortunately, none of the records he brought with him survived the journey from East Prussia. The only thing he had to play was a Russian record picked up locally, and the lyrics on this disc kept repeating a phrase which, to Süss’s ears, sounded something like ‘Karaya, Karaya’. Soon, the whole Staffel was familiar with the tune. Süss even sang it loudly over the R/T while on ops. It did not take long for ‘Karaya’ to become 9./JG 52’s official radio call sign.

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