Date: 20th April 1944
Unit: 3 Staffel/Zerstoerergeschwader 101
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 110E-2
Werke/Nr. 3706
Coded: ?
Location: Kirchdorf, Germany.
Pilot: Unteroffizier Hermann Rinker Killed
Radio/Op: Gefreiter Vinzenz Majchrzak Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft crashed due to engine trouble after take off. (See letter from Staffelkapitaen to family of R/Op Vinzenz Majchrzak)
Gefreiter Vinzenz Majchrzak
From : Oberleutnant Hermann Emendt
To : Herr Majchrzak
Date : 23 April 1944
Re : Vinzent Majchrzak
I have the sad duty of giving you the news of the death of your son, Vinz.
On 20 April at approximately 17:00 your son started as Bordfunker for Unteroffizier Rinker for a training operation with a Bf 110. After the start, engine trouble occured and the crash followed shortly thereafter. Your son and the pilot died instantly. The cause of the crash cannot be established with certainty, as the Bf 110 normally still functioned perfectly with one engine. The aircraft probably became lost when the pilot attempted to climb over a summit in front of them at high speed.
When we lost your son, the Staffel lost a competent and enthusiastic Bordfunker and a good and popular Kamerad. In this hour, our thoughts are with you, his mother and his brothers and sisters, who carry the loss of a son most heavily. We hope that sincere sympathy removes a part of this pain from you.
We will keep the honourable memory of Gefreiter Vinzent Majchrzak and will not forget his commitment. His wish to go to the front as soon as possible was not fulfilled. But he stayed true to his oath of allegiance in the final loyal fulfilment of his duties exactly like a front soldier.
In your son, I saw a calm, frank, reliable and thoughtful, but also a bright and cheerful person with a good soldierly bearing, who carried out his flying with passion.
I am convinced that he would have successfully taken part in the air battle around Germany and that a road lay ahead of him full of hope, both as a person and with regard to his duty. His sacrifice serves our Endsieg and is an example.
I am always available, should you any assistance from me.
Respectfully yours,
HERMANN EMENDT
