Oberfeldwebel Alois Rusch

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="264c8c00dvldtc.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="back"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kampfgeschwader"><U><B>BACK</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=60 BGCOLOR="#333300" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Oberfeldwebel Alois Rusch</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=420 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12d6fa4b0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="331" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Under Construction</B></div> <div> <B>Born:</B></div> <div> 28 October 1909 in </div> <div> <B>Units:</B></div> <div> 0</div> <div> 0</div> <div> 0</div> <div> 0</div> <div> 0</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   II/Kampfgeschwader 355</div> <div> 00.00.00-00.00.00   II/Kampfgeschwader 355</div> <div> 01.05.39-18.08.40   4. /Kampfgeschwader 53</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="12dad5f20.jpg" border=0 width="725" height="498" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rank:</B></div> <div> 01.04.31</div> <div> 01.09.32</div> <div> 01.04.33</div> <div> 01.12.34   Unteroffizier </div> <div> 01.08.35   Feldwebel</div> <div> 01.03.37   Oberfeldwebel</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12dcd5060.jpg" border=0 width="725" height="518" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Awards:</B></div> <div> 26.08.35   Fliegerschützen-Abzeichen Für Bordfunker (Airgunner/Wireless Operators Badge)</div> <div> 01.10.36   Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse (Long Service Award 4th Class)</div> <div> 21.05.40   Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class)</div> <div> <B>Foreign Awards:</B></div> <div> 00.00.00   Bulgarisches Fliegerabzeichen "Adler"</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12ded5030.jpg" border=0 width="725" height="515" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="12dcd5060.jpg" border=0 width="725" height="518" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>History:</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12e0c23e0.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="574" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>1939</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="fe2bcee0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="494" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Members of Kampfgeschwader 53, Unteroffizier Rusch is shown in the second row on the far left. </B></div> <div> <B>His future pilot Unteroffizier Kurt Heine is pictured in the front row, farthest to the right. ca. 1939. </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >2</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>1940</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="fe4f4300.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="304" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Image of Rusch's pilot Oberfeldwebel Kurt Heine shown here behind the controls of their He 111.</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >2</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>18 August 1940</B></I></div> <div>      18 August saw the Luftwaffe launch three major air assaults against targets in southern England. In the course of these and numerous smaller actions 100 German and 136 British aircraft were destroyed or damaged in the air or on the ground. Oberfeldwebel Rusch's aircraft was one of 51 Heinkel 111's of Kampfgeschwader 53 directed to bomb the airfield at North Weald. The Heinkels were escorted by 25 Me.110's of  Zerostörergeschwader 26, and shortly after crossing the Essex coast the Germans came under attack from Spitfires of No. 54 Squadron and Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron. Meanwhile Hurricanes of No. 46, 85, 151 and 257 Squadron's closed in to assist in attacking the German force headed to North Weald. The German formations suffered the loss of only a single aircraft to the anti-aircraft defences and continued on to their target. Fortunatley for the airfield at North Weald, low cloud cover forced the German bombers to abandon their attack and head for home. It was during the return trip that the northern most elements of the German formations began to come within site of four British fighter squadron's. No. 85 and 151 Squadrons and Red Section of No.46 Squadron, with 28 Hurricanes moved into position for a head-on attack. No.256 Squadron, with 12 Hurricanes, was approaching the German formation from behind. </div> <div>    The site of the German formation turning tail was recounted by Flying Officer Richard Milne of No.151 Squadron, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >"<I>We climbed to 10,000 feet to the east of the aerodrome and had just reached the height below the clouds, when immediately in front of us appeared large formations of enemy bombers"</I></FONT><I>. </I>The Hurricanes of No.151 Squadron had taken off from Northe Weald and emboldened by the sight of the enemy fleeing in front of them sped after the bombers. Milne was one of the first to attack. The bombers of KG 53 were now flying very fast and using full trottle, as Milne later wrote, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" ><I>" I encountered fire from the rear gunner but it was not accurate as I kept on the rudder of the enemy aircraft between us. I opened fire and after four seconds smoke commenced to come from both motors. I continued firing and was enveloped in the oil and smoke of the enemy aircraft. This got thicker and I could only see the wing tips as I came to the end of my ammunition</I></FONT><I>. </I>Then Milne had to break away as tracer came flashing past his Hurricane from one of the German escorts. Milne closed, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" ><I>"I half rolled hard and evaded the rest of his attack. As I glanced behind I saw the Heinkel explode and huge pieces fly off"</I></FONT><I>.</I>    </div> <div> Milne's victim was the Heinkel carrying Rusch and the 34 year old Gruppenkommodore of II Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 53, Major Reinhold Tamm. The Heinkel H-3 crashed into the sea just off the coast taking with it all six crewman. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="12d8eee60.jpg" border=0 width="750" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Similar Heinkel 111 as crewed by Rusch on his final flight with this aircraft being a 8./ Kampfgeschwader He.111. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >1</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="f4f90bb0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="699" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="12e2d50e0.jpg" border=0 width="725" height="526" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Lost were:</B></I></div> <div> Oberfeldwebel Alois Rusch <B>BF</B></div> <div> Oberfeldwebel Kurt Heine <B>FF</B></div> <div> Leutnant Walter Ludmann <B>BO</B></div> <div> Feldwebel Erhardt Rasche <B>BM</B></div> <div> Gefreiter Klemens Kahl <B>BS</B></div> <div> Major Reinhold Tamm <B>Gruppenkommodore of II Gruppe</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Crew:</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="1020" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 285 WIDTH="196"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="285" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="196" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="285" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="196" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> No photo available</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="285" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="196" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="285" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="196" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#999900 HEIGHT= 56 WIDTH="196"><div> Oberleutnant Hans Schellong<B> FF Staffelkapit</B>än</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#999900><NOBR><div> Unteroffizier Erwin Kelloch <B>BO</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#999900><NOBR><div> Unteroffizier Gustav Howell <B>BF</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#999900><NOBR><div> Obergefreiter Fritz Linke <B>BS</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#999900 WIDTH="196"><div> Regierungsrat Herbert Kuster <B>Meteorolog</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Sources:</U></B></div> <div> 1. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >https://luftwaffeinprofile.se/Heinkel%20He%20111%20KG%2053.html, Claes Sundin</FONT></div> <div> 2. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Swis721 Ex BT" >Photographs courtesy of his grandson Alexander Heine</FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>