The signatories
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Dewayne Bennett
'Ben' Bennett who, along with his crew, had been assigned to
the 384th BG came from Newton, Iowa. He had finished his flight
training in the U.S., soloed, was assigned a copilot and in Ben´s
words "Away we went". After arrival in Europe Ben first
flew a few relatively uneventful missions. Then April 13th came,
a day that he and his crew would remember clearly for a lifetime
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Adelbert Schlarb
Joined the Luftwaffe on November 1st, 1942. Flying training at
"Luftkriegsschule Tulln" from March 1943 until March
1944. Posted to Reconnaicance Squadron 102 (Nahaufklärungsgeschwader
102) in Brieg. Thereafter posted to air combat training at Stolp-West
and Stolp-Reitz to be trained on the Me 109 E and G6 models to
fly in the "Defense of the Reich" phase of WWII. Posted
to Märkisch-Friedland and further training on Focke-Wulf
Fw 190 A8. Then posted to I/JG 1 from September 1944 until the
war ended. Flew the Fw 190 in combat until early 1945, thereafter
the Heinkel He 162 jet. Shot down by U.S. 8th AF heavies on November
21st, 1944 but returned to his unit uninjured. Adalbert Schlarb
was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant shortly before the war ended in
the spring of 1945.
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Gerhard Hanf
Graduated as a civilian glider pilot before volunteering to become
an officer in the Luftwaffe in 1941. Graduated from air combat
college (Luftkriegsschule) in Breslau and awarded his military
pilot wings in 1942. Started fighter pilot training in early
1943. Joined III. Gruppe of JG 77 in Romania and Italy, flying
the Me 109 G-6. 2nd Lt. in June 1943. His squadron (9.JG 77)
became part of I/JG 1 in the summer of 1944. At the same time,
the pilots were re-trained on the Fw 190 A-8. Squadron Leader
(Staffelführer) of the 4th Staffel of JG 1 from August 1944.
This unit was re-named 2nd Staffel of JG 1 in February 1945 and
re-equipped with the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter. At that time
Gerhard Hanf was promoted to Squadron Commander (Staffelkapitän)
of 2./JG 1. Four aerial victories: a P-51 on 21 April 1944 over
Romania, P-38 on May 7th, 1944 also over Romania, two P-47s over
France on July 7th, and July 30th, 1944. Several ground targets
destroyed. Shot down three times by P-38, P-51, and B-24. Injured
twice. Decorations include: Pilot badge, Combat (fighter) pilot
clasp in Bronze and Silver, Wounded-In-Combat Clasp, Iron Cross
I and II.
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'Ben' Bennett and his crew in 1944. |
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