Originale Albumseite mit 4 Privatfotos featuring several Fw 190s belonging to Schlachtgeschwader 1, photos taken in Deblin-Irina. Note the very nice views of the Gruppenabzeichen in the form of Micky Maus. A photo page on this unit appears in Erik Mombeeck's Luftwaffe Gallery 1. The pilot with RK in the cockpit is Lt. Stollnberger.
via Paddy Keating on the AHF -
Hans Stollnberger’s active career began in July 1940 during the Battle of Britain with II. (Schlacht)/Lehrgeschwader 1, based at Cambrai in northern France and commanded by Hauptmann Otto Weiss. II. Gruppe was equipped with Henschel 123s. II.(S)/LG 1 was recalled to Germany in July 1940 to retrain on Me 109 Es and then posted back to France, to Calais-Marck, in time for the finale of the Battle of Britain in September 1940. II.(S)/LG 1 remained at Calais-Marck until March 1941, when the Gruppe moved to participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia, where Stollnberger won the EK2 on 09.05.1941 as Fahnrich, his award document being signed by General der Flieger Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, Commander of VIII Fliegerkorps.
Receiving the Combat pilot clasp in Bronze on 28 June 1941, he was promoted to Leutnant on 30.06.1941. He was in 4. Staffel, commanded by Alfred Druschel, as Barbarossa was launched, flying sorties in support of Army Group South. He received the EK1 and the Combat clasp in Gold on 23 July 1941. His EK1 document was signed by Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring.
In September and October 1941, II.(S)/LG 1 was based at Kalinin, covering the unsuccessful attempt to take Moscow. On 13.01.1942, II.(S)/LG 1 became Schlachtgeschwader 1, still commanded by Otto Weiss, now an Oberstleutnant. On 07.02.1942, Stollnberger received the Ehrenpokal or honour goblet. The unit covered the advance of Army Group South towards Stalingrad and into the Crimea. On 01.05.1942, he received the Winter War Medal.
In September 1942, Stollnberger became Staffelführer of 8./Sch. G. 1 and received the DkiG on 24 September 1942, which usually preceded the award of the Ritterkreuz. He received the RK in the field on 18 October 1942 after his 460th combat mission as a Schlachtflieger with 20 confirmed victories. He received the Pendant to his Gold Fighter Clasp on 06.12.1942 and was promoted Oberleutnant on 20 February 1943.
On 24 May 1943, Stollnberger was promoted Hauptmann and flew sorties at Kursk (Zitadelle) in July 1943 as Staffelkapitän of 6./ Sch. G. 1. By now his unit had converted from its Emils to Focke-Wulf 190 Antons under Alfred Druschel. During the battle Stollnberger was shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft guns and spent four days evading capture behind enemy lines before crossing the Don river at night and reaching German lines.
Stollnberger was posted from the Eastern Front to France for a spell as an instructor with 2./SG 101, formed in February 1942 from Schlachtfliegerschule 1 and based in Reims. From 18.05.1944 to 10.11.1944, Stollnberger commanded I./SG 101, flying Ar 96s, Fw 190s and Hs 129s out of Paris-Orly and then, as Allied forces advanced through eastern France, Wischau.
He was then posted to III./SG 4 serving from 22 January 1945 with 8./SG 10 in Papa, Hungary as Staffelkapitän. SG 10 was equipped with Fw 190 Fs and Gs. As the Soviets advanced, the unit left Papa in March 1945, returning to Germany, and in the final weeks of the war, flew from Bad Vöslau, Markersdorf, Hörsching, Wels and Zeltweg.
Hauptmann Stollnberger ended WW2 with a score of 45 aerial victories plus countless ground targets destroyed during more than 600 combat missions. While he is usually listed as a Stuka ground attack pilot in correspondence (with PK) he claimed his final victories were in Me262 "Turbojäger". Given the Führerbefehl regarding the way in which the new jets were manned and deployed, especially towards the end, this is not beyond the realms of possibility..
