'Review' by Simon ('Siko54')
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Have just received my copy and wow! This is a mighty and very weighty publication indeed - nearly 400 pages, hundreds of photos, Flugbuch/wehrpass scans and various annexes. I can’t really do it justice here but this is an absolutely incredible unit history and without a doubt the final word on KG 54. It’s a shame it’s in French but google translate works well and very grateful that Mr Taghon and Lela Presse have published it in any language! Congrats!...."
from Volume II of Peter Taghon's history of KG 54
On the morning of 9 February 1945, the Kommodore of KG 54 ordered some 18 of his I./ KG (J) 54 Me 262s up from Giebelstadt to counter a huge 8th AF raid. Kommodore Volprecht Riedesel led this meagre force into the overcast skies at the controls of his Me 262 'B3+AA'. An eyewitness on the ground, Adolf Keller, mayor of Würges at the time, recalled;
‘On 9 February 1945, around midday, I witnessed an air battle near Würges. Several aircraft were in the air. A German machine appeared to collide with an American, both bursting into flames and crashing in Würges. A company of Russian Hiwis (Hilfswillige - volunteers) was stationed there. These men went to the site of the double crash and began a recovery operation. That afternoon Fw. Herrmann, who was on the Stab, gave me a ring found by a Russian. It was gold with a black stone. I asked for everything that had been collected to be brought to me and the next day Herrmann brought me the identity plate of a Cpt. James E. Browning, a photograph with his name written on the back, a small empty bag and a few dollars. In the evening, I visited the site to look at the remains of the two aircraft. Both had been burnt to a crisp. The body of the German pilot, Obstlt. Freiherr von Riedesel, had already been taken over by the Luftwaffe. I searched for the remains of the American but found only a few pieces of flesh and bone’.
The Kommodore had collided with a P-51 D (s/n 44-15630, ‘Junior Miss’) flown by Capt. James Browning of the 357th FG. Both Me 262 and P-51 came down at Würges, three kilometres east of Camberg (in a field north of the present-day Idstein Golfparks). From Keller's account, it would seem that the Kommodore deliberately hit the Mustang. This would support the rumour within KG 54 that von Riedesel gave his life voluntarily. According to Oblt. Eberhard von Brunn;
‘There is a version of the Kommodore's death that circulated within the unit. I can partly confirm it. Von Riedesel took off on 9 February probably with the intention of sacrificing himself in the face of a formation of American bombers. This would have been in response to Reichsmarschall Göring's remarks at the presentation of the Oak Leaves. In January, von Riedesel and others had been called to Karinhall for a decoration ceremony. The ceremony was due to take place at 11.00 am, but Göring kept the Kommodore waiting for a long time before arriving in his pompous clothes and without inviting the recipients to share his meal. He told the officers present that he was very surprised by the poor performance of the Luftwaffe, especially the flying personnel of the fighter and bomber units. He gave them their decorations but made it clear that they were not worthy of them. This deeply hurt von Riedesel, who left Karinhall very disappointed. He reportedly described this episode to his Adjutant, Hptm. Karl-Friedrich von Oppel, adding that he could not ignore such an affront. Shortly afterwards, he called the Kommandeure and their adjutants (for II./KG 54, Major Stamm and myself) to Giebelstadt to share an evening meal of venison, and we could see a change of mood in our Kommodore. His death on 9 February came as little surprise. As I knew him personally (having served for a time with the Stab), I was asked to prepare his funeral at Altenburg Castle near Alsfeld (Hesse). I remember talking about this Karinhall episode at the Alsfeld station hotel in front of, among others, General Harlinghausen, Major Zauner and Hptm. Petzold.."
Zauner confirmed: ‘At the burial ceremony for Obstlt. Freiherr von Riedesel, which I was able to attend shortly before my transfer as Kommandeur of III./KG 76 (Ar 234), some officers from KG 54 - whose names I have forgotten - told me about Hermann Göring's disgraceful and wretched attitude during a presentation of decorations. Freiherr von Riedesel had put his heart and soul into the conversion of KG 54 to the Me 262. This was an unacceptable and grotesque performance by the Luftwaffe's senior commander! Freiherr von Riedesel's mother and wife also told me about it. This unjustified criticism had seriously affected the Kommodore and would have been the reason for his last flight. He wanted to set an example and prove that he had always done his duty’.
It fell to Hptm. Petzold and Oblt. von Brunn to take on the delicate task of notifying the family of the deceased. Oblt. von Brunn was to write to his mother;
‘I am at the moment in Alsfeld where, with my Kommandeur Petzold, I had to inform his mother of the death in action of our Kommodore. The news was received with calm and dignity. A noble attitude that is rarely seen these days. I was impressed by her understanding and respect for her son's airmanship and build. I am looking for a billet for the honour guard and have ordered the wreaths. I shall be returning to Altenburg Castle shortly to discuss the other arrangements.."
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