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Knights Cross winner Major Herbert Kaminski.
Born:
24 May 1909 in Ohmswalde (Ost Preussen)
Under Construction
Units:
00.00.00-00.00.00
00.00.00-00.00.00
00.00.00-00.00.00 Blindflugschule/Celle
00.00.00-00.00.00
00.00.00-00.00.00
26.08.39-26.06.41 I/ Zerostörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"
00.00.00-00.00.00
07.11.41-24.07.42 I/ Jagdgeschwader 53
00.00.00-00.00.00
00.00.00-00.00.00
08.07.43-04.10.43 Stab - Luftflottenkomando 2
05.10.43-09.08.44 II/ Zerostörergeschwader 76
15.12.44-16.02.45 Flugzeugführerschule A/B 41
16.05.56-18.05.56 LW Lehrgang, Wahn
19.06.56-30.09.56
01.10.56-30.04.57
01.05.57-31.12.57
01.01.58-15.08.59
16.08.59-01.09.59
02.09.59-31.01.60
01.02.60-28.09.64
29.09.64-30.09.65 Luftwaffenamt Po
Page 12 and 13 from Kaminski's Wehrpas.
Rank:
06.04.32 Polizei Wachtmeister
22.02.35 Oberwachtmeister der L.P.
20.04.35 Leutnant
01.10.36 Oberleutnant (30)
01.01.40 Hauptmann
01.01.40 Staffelkäpitan
25.05.41 Gruppenkommandeur I/ Zerostörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"
07.11.41 Gruppenkommandeur II./ Jagdgeschwader 53
01.04.42 Major
05.10.43 Gruppenkommandeur II./ Zerostörergeschwader 76
15.12.44 Kommodore Flugzeugführerschule A/B 41
Awards:
17.10.27 Reichssportabzeichen (Reich Sports Badge)
02.01.36 Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse (Long Service Award 4th Class)
26.04.38 Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Pilots Badge)
26.10.39 Medaille Zur Erinnerung An Den 1. Oktober 1938 (Commemerative Medal of 1.10.38)
02.06.40 Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwartz (Wound Badge in Black)
08.06.40 Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class)
28.08.40 Eiserne Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st Class)
25.05.41 Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Silber (Wound Badge in Silver)
06.08.41 Ritterskreuz des Eisernes Kreuz (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross)
10.08.41 Frontflug-Spange für Jäger in Silber (Operational flying clasp in Silver for fighters)
03.01.42 Frontflug-Spange für Jäger in Gold (Operational flying clasp in Gold for fighters)
00.00.?? Ärmelband Kreta (Crete cuff-title)
18.02.44 Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Gold (Wound Badge in Gold)
Foreign awards:
00.00.00 Italienische Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Italian Pilots Wings)
29.05.42 Bulgarisches Tapferkeitsmedaille 4. Klasse, 1. Stufe
01.07.42 Bulgarisches Flugzeugführerabzeichen
History:
1931-34
1935
1936
A youthful Leutnant Herbert Kaminski photgraphed
in front of a Fw 44 of Blindflugschule/Celle. ca. 1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
10 May 40
Invasion of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The I Gruppe Zerostörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" is then based in Niedermendig flying Bf110's.
15 May 40
The 2nd staffel of ZG 26 was engaged by Bloch MB-152s from the GCI/8 at around 11:15 while patrolling over the Meuse valley between Fumay and Givet on the Belgian border. In the ensuing combat 2./ZG 26 lost two aircraft while two more were damaged one being the Bf110 of Staffelkäpitan, Hauptmann Herbert Kaminski and his wireless operator/ air gunner Obergefreiter Karl-Heinz Brockstedt. Both are wounded as a result of the combat but they managed to return with their damaged aircraft.. Their Bf 110 was subsquently written off due to the landing and combat damage.
During the combat Kaminski claimed one Morane (1st victory) at 11:15 although GCI/8 recorded no losses as a result of this action..
2 June 40
Kaminski is awarded the Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwartz (Wound Badge in Black) for his wounds suffered during the 15th of May aerial engagement.
18 August 40
The Luftwaffe launches three major air assaults against targets in southern England. Zerostörergeschwader 26 including Kaminski and Jagdgeschwaders 3, 26, 51, 52 and 54 are directed to provide the necessary close escorts and free hunting patrols "freie jagd" to cover the attacks directed at the British fighter base Kenley by forty eight Do. 17's and Ju.88's of Kampfgeschwader 76. Approximately twenty Me110's of Zerostörergeschwader 26 escorted twenty seven Dorniers of I and Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 76.
19 August 40
22 August 40
Unshaven and tired from spending four nights in a rubber dinghy in the
English Channel, Kaminski and his Bordfunker Unteroffizier Strauch
shown here after being rescued.
1941
25 May 1941
22 June 1941
Invasion of the Soviet Union, I/ Zerostörergeschwader 26 is allocated to the front of Heeresgruppe Mitte.
A Bf110E 3U + AB of Stab I./Zerostörergeschwader 26, June 1941, of Gruppenkommodore Herbert Kaminski . 1
26 June 1941
6 August 41
11 August 41
Telegram from Feldmarschall Kesselring congratulating Kaminski for receiving the Knights Cross.
12 August 41
Feldmarschall von Richtofen telegrams Kaminski to congratulate him for receiving the Knights Cross.
Telegram from Feldmarschall Richtofen congratulating Kaminski for receiving the Knights Cross.
19 August 41
General der Flieger Foerster telegrams Kaminski to congratulate him for receiving the Knights Cross.
Telegram from General der Flieger Foerster congratulating Kaminski for receiving the Knights Cross.
27 August 41
Telegram from Feldmarschall Milch congratulating Kaminski for receiving the Knights Cross.
20 December 41
1942
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTuKqr7N0h4
28 June 42
1 July 42
27 July 42
Kaminski receiving flowers from an Italian youth leader while he was recovering in a Berlin hospital.
His wounds were the result of a crash landing in July 42 while serving with JG 53 on the Eastern Front.
Note his Knights Cross hanging on the wall above his head.
1943
Major Kaminski while serving as Gruppenkommodore of II Gruppe Zerostörergeschwader 76. Note that Kaminski
wears the honarary cuff-title of his former unit Geschwader "Horst Wessel" and the Kreta cuff-title.
1944
15 December 44
After recovering from wounds while serving as Gruppenkommodore of II Gruppe Zerostörergeschwader 76 Kaminski is appointed Kommodore of Flugzeugführerschule A/B 41, an elementary flying school based in Frankfurt/Oder. Kaminskis tenure was short as the unit was disbanded in January 1945.
1945
1946-71
The Last of the Prussians, Herbert Kaminski,
as a member of the Bundeswehr.
18 July 1971
Herbert Kaminski "Die Letzte Preussen" is killed in an automobile accident in Garmisch.
Reference sources:
1. Source: Messerschmitt Bf 110 profile by illustrator John Weal from Osprey Combat Aircraft "Messerschmitt Bf110 Zerostörer Aces of World War 2".
Victory Claims:
Date
|
Rank
|
Unit
|
Cl #
|
Aircraft
|
Place
|
Time
|
Opponent
|
Conf.
|
1-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.05.40
|
Hauptmann
|
2./ ZG 26
|
1
|
Morane
|
Maas
|
11:15?
|
GCI/8
|
?
|
07.10.40
|
Hauptmann
|
2./ ZG 26
|
2
|
Spitfire
|
Yeoville
|
|
|
?
|
07.10.40
|
Hauptmann
|
2./ ZG 26
|
3
|
Hurricane
|
Yeoville
|
|
|
?
|
16.05.41
|
Hauptmann
|
2./ ZG 26
|
4
|
Gloster Gladiator
|
Iraklion
|
|
|
?
|
22.06.41
|
Hauptmann
|
Stab
I./ ZG 26
|
5
|
Martin Bomber
|
Lunna
|
|
|
?
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
Major Herbert Kaminski document group
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