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Messerschmitt Bf-109F JG3.2 ((+- $Karl-Heinz Krahl W.Nr 8784 Sicily Mar 1942 01
Photo 01: The II./JG3 served in Russia until November 1941when it was withdrawn to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim and re-equipped with Bf-109F-4 Trop aircraft before transferring to the Mediterranean theatre in January 1942.The Gruppe was then under the command of Hptm. Karl-Heinz Krahl, the previous Gruppenkommandeur, Hptm. Gordon Gollob, having been assigned to the E-Stelle at Rechlin.This photograph shows Hptm. Krahls Bf-109F-4 in Sicily, from where the Gruppe flew operations against Malta, Krahl claiming a Spitfire as his 19th victory on 10 March 1942. Note that this photograph confirms that at least some of the aircraft from this Gruppe adopted the 78/79 camouflage scheme.
Pilots JG3.2 $Karl-Heinz Krahl 01
Karl-Heinz Krahl was born on 25 September 1914 at Breslau. He joined the German army pre-World War 2 but later transferred to the Luftwaffe and underwent flying training. Krahl served in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion as a bomber pilot. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwerten for his service there. On his return to Germany, Krahl re-trained as a fighter pilot. At the outbreak of World War 2, Krahl was serving with JG2. Oberleutnant Krahl was assigned to the Stabsstaffel of I./JG2.
He later became Staffelkapitän of 1./JG2. He recorded his first victory on 21 April 1940, when he shot down a French Morane fighter near Saarbrücken. Krahl was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG2, based at Mardyck in Belgium, on 5 September 1940. He led the unit during the Battle of Britain gaining 10 further victories. Krahl recorded his 10th victory on 28 September, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane fighter.
On 20 October 1940, Krahl was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG2. On 13 November 1940, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 15 victories. During 1941, he was to claim four victories over the Channel front, including three victories on 24 July to record his 16th through 18th victories. On 21 November 1941, Krahl was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG3 and led it to the Mediterranean theatre on 18 January 1942. Based at Comiso on Sicily, operations over Malta were undertaken. He recorded his 19th, and last, victory on 10 March, a RAF Hurricane fighter shot down over the island. On 14 April 1942, Krahl was making a low level attack on Luqa airfield on the island of Malta, flying Bf-109F-4 (W.Nr 8784) <<, when he was shot down and killed by the island’s anti-aircraft defences. Karl-Heinz Krahl claimed 19 enemy aircraft shot down. All his victories were recorded over the Western front.
No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location / Comments 1 21.4.1940 17:26 Morane 1./JG2 S Saarbrücken 2 19.5.1940 12:50 Hurricane 1./JG2 Cambrai 3 20.5.1940 18:35 Blenheim 1./JG2 Péronne 4 21.5.1940 19:12 Morane 406 1./JG2 Compiègne 5 26.5.1940 17:00 Spitfire 1./JG2 Calais 6 30.8.1940 12:45 Hurricane 3./JG2 - 7 31.8.1940 18:55 Hurricane 3./JG2 - 8 31.8.1940 19:30 Curtiss 3./JG2 Dover 9 5.9.1940 16:05 Spitfire 3./JG2 - 10 28.9.1940 15:44 Hurricane 3./JG2 - 11 5.10.1940 14:50 Hurricane 3./JG2 - 12 15.10.1940 13:40 Hurricane 3./JG2 Portsmouth 13 29.10.1940 15:45 Hurricane Stab I./JG2 - 14 5.11.1940 14:30 Hurricane Stab I./JG2 NE Portland 15 5.11.1940 14:35 Hurricane Stab I./JG2 NE Portland 16 24.7.1941 14:23 Spitfire Stab I./JG2 Brest-Brignogan 17 24.7.1941 15:25 Wellington Stab I./JG2 20km N Brignogan 18 24.7.1941 15:25 Wellington Stab I./JG2 - 19 10.3.1942 17:10 Hurricane Stab II./JG3 Malta / Hurricane (Z5140) “C” of 126 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt JM Mayall, killed Victories : 19 Awards : Ritterkreuz (13 November 1940) Units : JG2, JG3 http://www.luftwaffe.cz/krahl.html
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