German Air Force

Grosser Bahnof

FB brummbar

During the" Grosser Bahnof " (celebration for achieving a certain number of missions, or aerial victories), sometimes a ground crew disguise himself in chimney sweep garb, to give luck (it's probably unique to the german culture) The pilot depicted it is Herbert BAUER, Kapitän of 3./SG 2 which just achieved his 1000th mission, on 3 May 1944 at Husi, Rumania. The "chimney sweep" is Unteroffizier HAGEBOCKER Herbert Bauer is credited with 11 confirmed victories (10 with Fw 190 and one with Ju 87), 12 unconfirmed, 51 tanks and also some soviet ships Source : Collection H. Obert