32 FLYPAST September 2018
Republican aircraft were claimed destroyed by Bf 109 pilots in the Spanish Civil War
Spotlight
Messerschmitt
Bf 109
320320
L
eutnant Joachim ‘Jochen’
Schypek was already a
qualified fighter pilot when
German forces attacked
Poland on September 1, 1939.
The 22-year-old Berlin-born flyer
had completed his training at the
Luftkriegsschule at Dresden. He was
based at Stubbendorf, east Rostock,
with 3 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader
76 (3./JG 76) under the command
of Oblt Franz Eckerle. The Staffel
was part of JG 76’s I Gruppe, led
by Hptm Wilfried von Müller-
Rienzburg, and flying the E-model
Messerschmitt Bf 109, the ‘Emil’.The gruppe was assigned to
defend Berlin against a non-existent
counter-attack and played no part in
the Polish campaign. Afterwards the
gruppe moved to Wien-Aspern, near
Vienna, Austria, before relocating to
Frankfurt Rhein-Main in Germany
at the end of October 1939. Just two
claims were made over the following
seven months: Uffz Max Stotz of
3./JG 76 with a French Potez 63 on
November 7, probably from Groupe
de Reconnaissance II/2 but shared
with another Luftwaffe unit, while
Lt Bernhard Malischwewski from
Stab (headquarters flight) ofA War Chariot
Called Emil
‘Jochen’ Schypek took the superlative Messerschmitt
Bf 109E to war in 1939. Chris Goss relates his exploits
Right
The badge of I./JG 76
(formerly I./JG 134),
which would also be
adopted by JG 54.
This example adorned
their ski hut in the
Austrian alps.