MY SEARCH FOR DENIS J. ALISON (CONT.)

MY SEARCH FOR DENIS J. ALISON (CONT.)
By:Martin Kösters

This is an Photo-Recon Picture, dated 24 December 1944. (Click on photo for larger view.) Note that, in the lower left corner, you see a single farmhouse, this was the one where the guns of "Hookin Bull" where rebuilt.
Alison's crashsite isn`t seen in this picture,it is located approx. 100 meters more in an northern heading. In the picture north is to the left - or in other words the R.A.F.-PR-aircraft flew from west to east. Thus, east is at the top.
You can see on the right side the local railway station, with a train that has been unloaded. As you see in the surounding forest there is a big house (actually, a Castle). This was one of many local "V-2" launching areas. The above mentioned train brought a great number of missiles into the area. In those days there many attacks flown against the railway plant in Legden. Perhaps the Loco-Busters where involved?

INFORMATION ON WILLI BANZHAFF
(The Me-262 Pilot Downed on Mission 202)
Name: Willi Banzhaff
Rank: Oberfähnrich (Officer Cadet)
Born: 27 November 1923 Stuttgart,Germany
K.I.A. 04 November 1944 Schneverdingen (near Lüneburg)
- Service Record -
Willi Banzhaff (shown at left in a pre-war ID photo,) joined the German armed forces on 10 July,1942. After he had lessons in different Officer Academies, he flew for the 3./ Ergänzungs - Transportgeschwader 53 (Supplementary Transport Wing) (11 March, 1944 - 15 June, 1944). He received his first flight lessons at the Fugzeugführerschule ("Pilot's Training Unit ") B1. His first operational unit was the I/Zerstörergeschwader 101 from 18 March, 1944 -15 June, 1944, after that was assigned to II/Zerstörergeschwader 101 until 28 July, 1944. His next Unit was from 29 July, 1944 - 16 August, 1944 Ergänzungsstaffel Zerstörergeschwader 26, where he joined the III/ZG (Zerstörergeschwader) 26. This Unit was, at this time abandoned and represented the roots of the Ergänzungsjadgeschwader 262, equiped with the Me-262. This happened in southern Germany, I believe it was Leipheim or Schwäbisch Hall. The pilot who flew Me-210s or Me-410s were trained for this new job while their gunners went to technical support units, to learn how to maintain this new plane.
The Kommando Nowotny (named for Walter Nowotny, who was shot down by 77th.FS ace Capt. Ernest Fiebelkorn,) was formed out of this first (experimental) Unit. The pilots were hand selected and Banzhaff, being an experten (Luftwaffe term for an ace,) joined the Kommando Nowotny on 29 September, 1944.
Banzhaff was shot down during the engagement of 01 November, 1944. He was the only victory claim made on that date in the entire 8th. Air Force. Though claims were made by a number of pilots, including Lt. Flowers of the 20th.FG, after scrutiny of all gun camera footage the victory was officially split between Bill Gerbe (486thFS/352ndFG) and Walter Groce (63rd.FS/56th.FG). Banzhaff only had days to live, however; he lost his life on November 4th. when his Me-262 (werknumber 111483,) was shot down by R.A.F. Wing Commander J.B. Wray of the 122nd Wing.
According to the German WAST,(an office which has information on every Wehrmacht member who is MIA or KIA,) Banzhaff was buried in Schneverdingen. An odd footnote of this story is that Banzhaff never claimed Lt. Denis Alison's P-51.

MORE ABOUT LT. ALISON
RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG

(Photographs courtesy of Martin Kösters)
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