Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland

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Luftwaffen Legion - Lettland Liepaja-Grobina, Latvia

Under an OKL order of August 11, 1944 the Latvian Flying Units were combined into the Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland. The training centre at Liepaja-Grobina became Erg. Flg.Gr. Lettland (Latvian Replacement Training Group) Obstl. Janis Rucels (a Latvian) was appointed commander of the Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland. 80% of the Latvian flying personnel had been decorated with the Iron Cross. Lt. Teodors Abrams was the most combat-experienced Latvian Airman. He was recommended for the German Cross in Gold (DKG). An order was made for disbandment of this group as there were(unfounded) fears the Latvian Airmen could abscond to Sweden.

Fw Zanis Tamsons of 1./NSGr.12(lett)the most decorated Latvian night harassment (Bomber Group) October 8 1944 made his way to Gotland with an Henschel Hs 126 (6A+NL) taking his Mechanic with him.

A new Fighter Group was organized of two groups of 5 Latvian Airmen. These were:

    JUNE 1944                         JULY 1944
    Oblt.Eduards Millers           Uffz. Vitolds Berkis
    Lt. Arnolds Mencis             Uffz. Valdemars Livmanis
    Lt.Janis Lecis                 Uffz. Julijs Stars
    Uffz.Haralds Makars            Flg.Roberts Dumpis
    Uffz.Harijs Klints             Flg. Edgars Lazdins

The first group were sent to the Jagdfliegervorschule in Parow (near Stralsund) afterwards the five Airmen were posted to Plathe, Lignitz and Sagan (now Żagań, Poland) for training on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190As. The second group were mainly assigned to low level ground support tasks.

(Source: Alex Vanags-Baginskis who was there)

[edit] See also

• Luftwaffen Legion - Estland