During the summer of 1943, I./JG 52 experienced problems dealing with small Russian single-seat high-wing aircraft, so-called "sewing machines", as their engines droned on like sewing machines. These aircraft flew over the Gruppe's bases during the night hours, hand-dropping grenades at low altitude on their approach to the units' accommodations. These air raids did not result in any appreciable damage, but did cause its tired personnel sleep interruption and insomnia.

Although the German's anti-aircraft defenses was properly operational, these extremely disruptive nighttime overflights could not be stopped by JG 52 by day, as the VVS partisan units were located behind the German front and were very well camouflaged.

ßThere were of course assumptions that the pilots of the sewing machines must have come from the surrounding villages because of their good local knowledge. But the Gruppe lacked clear evidence of this.

However one day some Russians from one of the surrounding villages brought a very pregnant Russian woman to the I. Gruppe's airfield. Obviously the Russians locals had learned that the Gruppe had its own small but excellent field hospital with a chief physician and professional medical staff.

The Russian locals reported to the Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Johannes Wiese and the chief physician. It was discovered that the heavily pregnant woman had a so-called breech presentation of the expected child. Wiese then ordered that the woman be admitted to the hospital and that medical attempts should be made to help the woman have a normal birth.

She was immediately taken to the hospital tent and likely for the very first time in her life lay in a hospital ward with a bed covered in white sheets. Given such good medical care, the birth was successful without complications. A day later, the Russians and the mother left the headquarters of the Gruppe with the newborn.

The result of the hospital stay was that during their stay at this particular airfield, the annoying nightly sewing machine overflights stopped!

After the end of the war Johannes Wiese returned to his old home near Merseburg, now in the Soviet occupied zone, still suffering from complications of his battle injuries received on 24 December 1944. Here he started to work in his father-in-law's landscape business.

However, as a recipient of the Knight's Cross with oak leaves and being a former high-ranking German officer, he was soon arrested by the Russian occupying force and thrown into prison. Johannes Wiese was soon to be released however, and the camp commandant greeted him in person and handed him his release papers.

The reason behind his release was that files had arrived from Moscow in which were documents describing the story of the pregnant VVS pilot, one of the so called "night witches" that had been so well treated by Wiese.

As an aside to this story, on this day, 17 July 1943, Johannes Wiese claimed his 100th to 105th confirmed victories, all of them Il-2s. It is thought that this Bf 109 G-6, based on its camouflage pattern and interpreted colors, was produced by Weiner Neustädter Flugzeugwerke (WNF) sometime in the March-April 1943 period interspersed with G-4 production.

Regarding Profile Book No 14. This week we have finished working on proof reading of the books. The printing is set to 27 May, the date weremy costomer could start to pre order this bok. The publishing date is on 18 June, first I will start shipping out the books to the pre-ordering and pre-paying customers.

Please note that I will sent out an invitation to all my old costomers on 27 May when the book has been printed, more information would follow later.

Included in the Profile Book No 14, the reader would find, Four Bf 109 A and B:s, 17 Bf 109 Emils, 27 Bf 109 Fs, 23 Bf 109 Gs, and another 13 late war Bf 109 Gs including K-4s. When it comes to the Focke Wulfs: 30 Fw 190 A-1 to A-8 would be included and seven Fw 190 Doras, another late war Fw 190 prototyp, one He 162, and another Me 163, This together with a Macchi 202 flown by Marseille. Finally, four Me 262 and a captured P-51B Mustang is included.