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)