Photos and History of the German
Luftwaffe from Bf 109G-4 Reconnaissance Pilot - Lt. Hans Buchwald
Page 2
Provided by his nephew Chris Gilbert and his son Hans Buchwald
The cover and the last two pages of entries for the reconnaissance
flights flown by Lt. Hans Buchwald as they appear in his mission log. Note
that there is no entry for July 9, 1943, the day of his last mission, other than a certified addition to the log apparently made by some officer
for that fateful day.
According to this copy of an official Luftwaffe document obtained from the British Imperial War Museum and provided
by Roger Juglair (via Ferdinando D'Amico, Gabriele Valentini, & Giuseppe Versolato), Lt. Hans Buchwald in a Bf 109 G-4 (19345) with white number "10"
was downed by Flak on July 9, 1943 as part of Luftflotte 6, 1./N.A. Gr. 4 over northern Kursk on the eastern front.
Additional documents and letters about Lt. Hans Buchwald provided by his nephew Chris Gilbert and his son Hans Buchwald appear below chronologically. Please click on each thumbnail image to see a larger image.
01
02
03
04
The first document (01) shows the certificate for Buchwald's pilot pin.
Documents 02 & 03 are from Buchwald's flight school photobook showing Hans with some of his classmates.
The fourth document (04) shows the certificate for Buchwald's reconnaissance pilot pin.
05
06
07
08
09
The fifth document (05) is the certificate for Buchwald's Iron Cross - 2nd Class.
The sixth document (06) is Lt. Hans Buchwald's official death certificate dated July 9, 1943.
The seventh document (07) is the certificate for Buchwald's Iron Cross - 1st Class. He had been recommended for this award prior to July 9, 1943 but it was not officially granted until six days after his death.
The last two documents (08 & 09) are for the letter from the Luftwaffe notifying relatives of Buchwald's death.
Roger Juglair provided the following information about the
Bayerische Flugzeugwerke Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4 "Gustav" aircraft:
Bf 109 G-4/U3
short description
Heersaufklärer ohne Druckkabine, ausgestattet mit 2x Reihenbildgerat RB 12,5/7 x 9 Kameras.
Army reconnaissance aircraft without pressurized cabin, equipped with 2x Reihenbildgerat RB 12.5/7 x 9 cameras.
Technical Data
length (m) : 8,85 mt.
height (m) : 3,67 mt.
wing span (m) : 9,92 mt.
max. airspeed (km/h) : 640 km/h
max. range (km) :
max. altitude (m) :
own weight (kg) :
flight weight (kg) : 2695
used engine(s) : DB 605 A
engine armament(s) : keine (none)
fuselage armament(s) : keine (none)
wing armament : keine (none)
drop armament(s) : keine (none)
radio(s) : unbekannt (unknown, possibly Fug 17)
other device(s) : Rb 12,5/7x9
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02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09