"Flugzeugfuehrer Moll" ?

[mikec]

I believe it was Hermann Schmidt (from Stuttgart area).

[Lawrence Milner]

Originally Posted by mikec

As I understand it, Rosenstein’s observer was a Leutnant Martin.

No I never met Charlotte Opfermann, although I believe Fritz Beckhardt’s son did.

As regards Beckhardt and Willi Rosenstein, they certainly met and knew each other as there was a meeting of the RJF in Stuttgart on 5 January 1935 in which both men spoke along with a 3rd pilot called, if I remember correctly, H(?) Schmidt about their respective war time careers as pilots.

Which I suppose raises at least in passing the question; what happened to pilot Schmidt?


Mike.

Mike - the names I have of observers with Willy in Feldfliegerabteilung 19 in 1915 were: 1st Hauptmann Dennert,2nd Ltn. Erwin Martin (an old school mate) and 3rd Uberltlnt Speer.

I dont have any record of the meeting in 1935 with Fritz and Schmidt - I would be very interested in details - all I have on gatherings of old comrades is the reunions with Carl Degelow and members of Jasta 40.

Lawrence

[mikec]

Lawrence, sorry I gave you a bum steer regarding the date of the meeting. I was relying on what laughingly passes for my memory. The correct date of the flyers meeting in Stuttgart was 31.1.35.

I can’t lay my hands on the article at the moment but at the meeting Beckhardt was presented with a lapel badge with the RJFs shield emblem on it. On the back of the badge was inscribed, “O.G. Stgt 31.1.35” Given that FB was given a badge, on a commonsense level, the likelihood is that WR [and Schmidt] would have been given one also.

Within this context is it possible for a German speaker to make a sensible guess as to what “O.G.” stood for?

[Lawrence Milner]

Originally Posted by mikec

Lawrence, sorry I gave you a bum steer regarding the date of the meeting. I was relying on what laughingly passes for my memory. The correct date of the flyers meeting in Stuttgart was 31.1.35.

I can’t lay my hands on the article at the moment but at the meeting Beckhardt was presented with a lapel badge with the RJFs shield emblem on it. On the back of the badge was inscribed, “O.G. Stgt 31.1.35” Given that FB was given a badge, on a commonsense level, the likelihood is that WR [and Schmidt] would have been given one also.

Within this context is it possible for a German speaker to make a sensible guess as to what “O.G.” stood for?

Mike, While you are acquiring derails of the meeting in Stuttgart I thought I would pass on the information I have on the Guthmanns, who played such an important part in your Grandfather's life. Forgive me if you already have this:
Charlotte Opfermann died on 22 November, 2004 in Houston, U.S.A. and her ashes were interred at Mainz Main Cemetery. Her father Berthold Guthmann (13th April 1893) died in Auschwitz (unknown date). Her brother Paul (22nd March 1922 - 12th March 1945) died in Mauthausen. Jacob Guthmann (Grandfather?) died in Theresienstadt (3rd April 1868- 18th september 1942). No knowledge of Claire.

[rammjaeger]

Mike,

I think a good guess could be "Ortsgruppe".

Then it means "Ortsgruppe Stuttgart 31.1.35".
In fact the "Ortsgruppe Stuttgart" is probably the "Flieger-Ortsgruppe Stuttgart" (Ort = location, Gruppe = group) of the "DLV e.V."

The latter means "Deutscher Luftsportverband e.V." (e.V. = eingetragener Verein).

[mikec]

Originally Posted by rammjaeger

Mike,

I think a good guess could be "Ortsgruppe".

Then it means "Ortsgruppe Stuttgart 31.1.35".
In fact the "Ortsgruppe Stuttgart" is probably the "Flieger-Ortsgruppe Stuttgart" (Ort = location, Gruppe = group) of the "DLV e.V."

The latter means "Deutscher Luftsportverband e.V." (e.V. = eingetragener Verein).

Thanks Hannes.

Ortsgruppe = local branch or regional group seems a likely explanation.

I think it referred to the RJF itself rather than the Deutscher Luftsportverband though. I understand FB never flew again after the war as a hobby.

Mikec

[rammjaeger]

I think you nailed it.

I should have looked more carefully to the date of the year. The DLV was founded in 1933 - a first step of the "Gleichschaltung" before the DLV was turned into NSFK (next step) in 1937.