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Stams, Otto (Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg")

Date of birth:
April 5th, 1903 (Grätz (Posen), Germany)
Date of death:
May 16th, 1976 (Munich, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

01.08.1926: began flying with Sportflug GmbH
01.01.1927: to DVS (unspecified)
01.04.1936: took part in some exercises in the Luftwaffe
00.11.1937: Leutnant d.R., transferred to 1./ KG 152
00.00.1937: Tech.Offz. in Stab, KG 152
01.11.1938: Oblt., Techn.Offz. I./ KG 152
01.07.1939: Hptm., transferred from I./ KG 152 to FFS C Pyritz
00.09.1939: with I./ KG 152 - became II./ KG 1
01.07.1940: Staka, 7./ KG 1
01.09.1940: Hptm., III./ KG 1
00.01.1941-27.06.1941: Kdr. II./ KG 1
01.03.1941: promoted to Major
27.06.1941: Kdr., Stab, II./ KG 1, WIA badly in the lower left leg - when his Ju 88 A-5 coded 'V4+AC' was hit by ground fire 3 km West of Ligatne - hospitalized a long time and permanently removed from flying status
01.08.1941: Hptm., awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr. II./ KG 1
09.08.1941: Hptm., awarded the Ehrenpokal
19.08.1942: following hospitalization, appointed Kdr. Erprobungsstelle Karlshagen
16.12.1942-00.01.1944: Maj., Leiter Versuchs- und Erprobungsstelle d.Lw. Peenemünde-West
15.10.1943: Maj., Kdt. Fl.H.Kdtr. Jesau
01.01.1944: promoted to Oberstleutnant
01.01.1944: Leiter of Erprobungsstelle Jesau
24.01.1945-00.05.1945: Kommodore Flugzeuguberführungsgeschwader 1

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg"
Awarded on:
August 1st, 1941
Awarded for his command achievements in the early stages of the war, his total of 50 missions flown, as well as the impressive achievements of his Gruppe in the first days of Barbarossa. They included the following...

- Destroying 200+ enemy aircraft on the ground.
- Effective attacks against Fortress Libau.
- The sinking of several transport ships.
- The destruction of important bridges.
- The effective bombing of trains and railway stations (Stams personally destroyed two trains on 27.06.1941).
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
August 9th, 1941
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg

Sources

Photo