Hans Grünberg

Hans Grünberg
Nickname(s)Specker
Born(1917-07-08)8 July 1917
Gross-Fahlenwerder, Kingdom of Prussia
Died16 January 1998(1998-01-16) (aged 80)
Ellerau
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1939–45
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 3, JG 7, JV 44
Battles / wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans "Specker" Grünberg (8 July 1917 – 16 January 1998) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 82, aerial victories—that is, 82 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in approximately 550 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with 21 claims over the Western Front, including five flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.

Born in Gross-Fahlenwerder, Grünberg served in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) in 1942, operating on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first aerial victory on 19 August 1942. On 9 May 1944, Grünberg was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 3 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944. In January 1945, Grünberg was posted to Jagdgeschwader 7 "Nowotny" (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing), the first jet fighter wing where he served as a Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel. He died on 16 January 1998 in Ellerau.

Military career

Grünberg was born on 8 July 1917 in Gross-Fahlenwerder in the Province of Province of Pomerania as part of the German Empire, present-day Ściechów in western Poland.[1] Following fighter pilot training,[Note 1] he was posted to 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) with the rank of Unteroffizier (a junior non-commissioned officer) in May 1942.[3] Initially his commanding officer in 5. Staffel was Oberleutnant Harald Moldenhauer, replaced by Oberleutnant Joachim Kirschner on 1 October. The squadron was subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 3 headed by Hauptmann Kurt Brändle.[4]

Following the Battle of Kalach on 15 August, the German 6th Army attempted to win bridgeheads on the eastern banks of the Don river and advance towards Stalingrad, which then became the Battle of Stalingrad.[5] Grünberg achieved his first victory on 19 August, when he shot down a Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 twin-engine bomber.[6] In December 1942, Grünberg volunteered for the Platzschutzstaffel (airfield defence squadron) of the Pitomnik Airfield. The Staffel, largely made up from volunteers from I. and II. Gruppe of JG 3, was responsible for providing fighter escort to Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft and Heinkel He 111 bombers shuttling supplies for the encircled German forces fighting in Stalingrad.[7] By the end of 1942, Grünberg had amassed 11 victories. He had bailed out four times during his time in the Soviet Union.

Grünberg became an "ace-in-a-day" on 5 Juli 1943, the first day of Operation Citadel, the German offensive phase of the Battle of Kursk. That day he was credited with seven aerial victories.[8] On 16 July, it is possible he became a victim of a female fighter pilot Lydia Litvyak.[9] On 1 August 1943, Grünberg claimed his last aerial victory on the Eastern Front when he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.[10]

Western Front

Grünberg then flew with 5. Staffel of JG 3 on Defense of the Reich duties based in Germany. On 9 May 1944, Grünberg was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 3. He replaced Leutnant Leopold Münster who was killed in action the day before.[11] Grünberg was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 June 1944.[3]

Flying the Messerschmitt Me 262

A color photo of a twin engine jet-fighter aircraft standing in a hangar.
A Me 262 of JG 7 similar to those flown by Grünberg on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.

JG 7 "Nowotny" was the first operational jet fighter wing in the world and was named after Walter Nowotny, who was killed in action on 8 November 1944. Nowotny, a fighter pilot credited with 258 aerial victories and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), had been assessing the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet aircraft under operational conditions.[12] JG 7 "Nowotny" was equipped with the Me 262, an aircraft which was heavily armed and faster than any Allied fighter. General der Jagdflieger (General of the Fighter Force) Adolf Galland hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the Allies' numerical superiority. On 12 November 1944, the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL—Air Force High Command) ordered JG 7 "Nowotny" to be equipped with the Me 262. Galland appointed Oberst Johannes Steinhoff as its first Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander).[13]

JG 7 "Nowotny" was initially formed with the Stab (headquarters unit) and III. Gruppe at Brandenburg-Briest from the remnants of Kommando Nowotny. I. Gruppe was created on 27 November from pilots and personnel from II. Gruppe of JG 3 and placed under the command of Major Theodor Weissenberger.[14] Weissenberger's appointed Staffelkapitäne in I. Gruppe were Oberleutnant Grünberg, Oberleutnant Fritz Stehle, and Oberleutnant Hans Waldmann, commanding 1.–3. Staffel respectively.[15] In March, 1. Staffel was based at Kaltenkirchen.[16] Grünberg claimed his first aerial victory flying the Me 262 on 31 March 1945. That day, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force attacked Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, and Hamburg.[17] This attack force was intercepted by 20 Me 262 jet fighters from I. and III. Gruppe of JG 7. At approximately 08:15 Grünberg took off with his Staffel of eight Me 262s and was vectored to a point of intercept over the urban area of Hamburg where Grünberg claimed two Avro Lancaster bombers shot down.[18][19]

On 10 April, the United States Army Air Forces (USAF) Eighth Air Force sent 1,315 heavy bombers against German operations, attacking the airfields at Brandenburg-Briest, Rechlin-Lärz, Oranienburg, Neuruppin, Burg and Parchim. The bombers were escorted by 905 fighter aircraft. The bombers were intercepted by 30 Me 262 jet fighters. In this encounter, Grünberg shot down two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.[20] Grünberg claimed his last aerial victory on 19 April. That day, 20 Me 262s from JG 7 and I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 54 (J), the jet fighter equipped Gruppe of the 54th Bomber Wing, intercepted USAAF bombers in the Dresden-Aussig-Pirna area. In the timeframe 12:14 to 12:34, six B-17 bombers of the 3rd Air Division were attacked by Me 262s from JG 7. Five B-17s were shot down, including one by Grünberg.[21] In the second half of April, assumed in the timeframe 17 to 27 April, Grünberg joined Adolf Galland's Jagdverband 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment).[22]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Grünberg was credited with 82 aerial victories.[23] Spick also lists Grünberg with 82 aerial victories claimed in approximately 550 combat missions. This figure includes 61 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further 21 victories over the Western Allies, including 14 heavy bombers, among them five flying the Me 262.[24][Note 2] Obermaier also states that he was credited with 82 aerial victories with 61 on the Eastern Front and 21 over the Western Allies. Additionally, he was credited with destroying 21 trucks, one locomotive and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 61 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 17 over the Western Allies, including 10 heavy bombers, among them five flying the Me 262.[25]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 40793". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[26]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Grünberg an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Grünberg did not receive credit.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[27]
Eastern Front — May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 19 August 1942 12:35 DB-3 PQ 40793[28]
vicinity of Spartak 		7 17 December 1942 12:22 Yak-1 PQ 29152[29]
2 15 October 1942 09:26 LaGG-3 PQ 38363[30]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Kotelnikovo 		8 17 December 1942 12:25 Yak-1 PQ 29173[29]
3 17 October 1942 15:50 Pe-2 PQ 38381[31]
30 km (19 mi) south of Kotelnikovo 		9 20 December 1942 12:36 Il-2 PQ 4939[29]
4 29 October 1942 09:37 LaGG-3 PQ 29784[31] 10 22 December 1942 12:05 Yak-1 PQ 39282, Kalach[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Pitomnik
5 30 October 1942 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 28141[31] 11 27 December 1942 13:32 Il-2 PQ 49191[29]
vicinity of Stalingrad
6 30 November 1942 14:00 Il-2 PQ 26232[31]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[32]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 3 August 1943
12 11 April 1943 05:18 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 86774, east of Kijewskoje[33] 38♠ 5 July 1943 03:37 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60135, east of Kharkiv[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Kharkiv
13 11 April 1943 05:28 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 86774, east of Kijewskoje[33]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Bolschoj Rasnokol 		39♠ 5 July 1943 03:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60165, northeast of Kharkiv[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kharkiv
14 16 April 1943 14:44 P-40[35] 40♠ 5 July 1943 04:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60193, south of Kharkiv[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Kharkiv
15 19 April 1943 17:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85541, southeast of Gelendzhik[36]
vicinity of Leprasorium 		41♠ 5 July 1943 14:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61362, west of Belgorod[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Volchansk
16 20 April 1943 11:56 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75462, southeast of Novorossiysk[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kabardinka 		42♠ 5 July 1943 18:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61618, south of Belgorod[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Belgorod
17 20 April 1943 11:57 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75462, southeast of Novorossiysk[36]
vicinity of Kabardinka 		43♠ 5 July 1943 18:55 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61618, south of Belgorod[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Belgorod
18 21 April 1943 11:02 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75459, south of Novorossiysk[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kabardinka 		44?[Note 3] 6 July 1943 11:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61486, southeast of Belgorod[37]
19 21 April 1943 11:07 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75461, southeast of Novorossiysk[36]
vicinity of Kabardinka 		45 6 July 1943 15:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61486, southeast of Belgorod[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Belgorod
20 23 April 1943 14:42 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85244, east of Cholmskaja[36]
Black Sea, 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Anapa 		46 7 July 1943 03:42 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61473, south of Belgorod[37]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod
21 24 April 1943 05:40 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 85123, southwest of Mingrelskaja[38]
vicinity of Sswobodnyj 		47 7 July 1943 03:45 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61417, southeast of Golowina[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Belgorod
22 27 April 1943 13:06 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85372, east of Gelendzhik[38]
vicinity of Gelendzhik 		48 7 July 1943 19:43 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 61732, Lipzy[37]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Kharkiv
23 27 April 1943 17:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86793, Fedorowskaja[38]
south of Timashyovsk 		49 9 July 1943 06:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 62795, vicinity of Kuschetowka[37]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Prokhorovka
24 28 April 1943 16:22 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85122, east of Krymskaja[38]
vicinity of Sswobodnyj 		50 11 July 1943 16:32 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 62761, vicinity of Iwnja[39]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Oboyan
25 29 April 1943 05:32 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85111, northeast of Krymskaja[38]
vicinity of Mertschskaja 		51 12 July 1943 05:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 62561, south of Oboyan[39]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Oboyan
26 29 April 1943 10:16?[Note 4] Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85151, north of Abinskaja[38]
Abinsk-Achtyrskaja 		52 14 July 1943 04:56 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61428, northeast of Belgorod[39]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Belgorod
27 8 May 1943 14:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85113, north of Mertschanskaja[40]
vicinity of Mertschskaja 		53 14 July 1943 04:57 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61492, north of Schtschebekino[39]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Belgorod
28 8 May 1943 18:03 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75261, southwest of Krymskaja[40]
vicinity of Krymsk 		54 15 July 1943 18:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 5] PQ 35 Ost 61882, vicinity of Stary Ssaltow[41]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Malinovka
29 23 May 1943 06:57 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 62674, Iselezkoje[42]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Oboyan 		55 16 July 1943 06:15 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 62856, north of Prokhorovka[41]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Prokhorovka
30 31 May 1943 06:41 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 70593, west of Radkowskije Peski[42]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Izium 		56 16 July 1943 08:50 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 61223, south of Prokhorovka[41]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Prokhorovka
31 4 June 1943 17:50 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70316, vicinity of Starowerowka[42]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Malinovka 		57 23 July 1943 12:30 Il-7 PQ 34 Ost 88286, east of Kuteinikowo[43]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Jalisawehino
32 8 June 1943 18:20 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70316, Starowerowka[44]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Malinovka 		58 31 July 1943 05:39 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88283, west of Marijewka[45]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Jalisawehino
33 10 June 1943 05:25 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 70318, Malyi Burluk[44]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Malinovka 		59 31 July 1943 05:56 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88262, north of Kuibyschewo[45]
vicinity of Dmitrijewka
34 16 June 1943 03:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70141, east of Martowaja[44]
25 km (16 mi) east of Malinovka 		60 31 July 1943 11:21 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 88221, southeast of Tschistjakowo[45]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Jalisawehino
35 19 June 1943 13:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60434, vicinity of Grakowo railroad station[44]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Malinovka 		61 31 July 1943 11:26 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost Ost 88253, northwest of Marijewka[45]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Jalisawehino
36 30 June 1943 17:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 70172, southeast of Petschnenegi[34] 62 1 August 1943 18:53 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 88235, west of Dmitrijewka[45]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Jalisawehino
37♠ 5 July 1943 03:30 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60234, Bolshaya Babka[34]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Malinovka
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[46]
Western Front — 1 September – 31 December 1943
63 30 November 1943 11:25 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/LG-7[47]
vicinity of Neerpelt
—
?[Note 6] 		20 December 1943
—
 Spitfire
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[46]
Defense of the Reich — 1 January – 6 June 1944
64 24 February 1944 13:50 B-24[50] Zella-Mehlis 68 11 April 1944 11:08 B-17[50] vicinity of Gardelegen
65 23 March 1944 11:20 B-17*[50] Soest 69 18 April 1944 14:33 B-17[50] vicinity of Nauen, west of Berlin
66 5 April 1944 15:38 P-51[50] north-north-east of Königslutter 70 29 May 1944 12:27 B-24[51] north of Stettin
67 8 April 1944
—
 B-24[50]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[46]
Invasion of Normandy — 7 June – 22 August 1944
71 7 August 1944 18:28 P-47[51] Chateauneuf-en-Thymerais 74 18 August 1944 19:30 P-51[52] vicinity of Beauvais
72 14 August 1944 07:26 P-38[51] vicinity of Montmirail 75 20 August 1944 15:49 P-47[52] vicinity of Houdan
73 16 August 1944 17:15 P-47[52] 120° from Rambouillet
According to Prien and Stemmer, Grünberg claimed two further aerial victories of unknown type in August 1944.[52] These two claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[46]
– 1. Stafel of Jagdgeschwader 7 –[46]
Defense of the Reich — March – April 1945
78 31 March 1945 08:00+ Lancaster[53] vicinity of Hamburg 81 10 April 1945
—
 B-17[54] vicinity of Oranienburg
79 31 March 1945 08:00+ Lancaster[53] vicinity of Hamburg 82 19 April 1945 12:00+ B-17[55] vicinity of Prague
80 10 April 1945
—
 B-17[54] vicinity of Oranienburg

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
  3. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[32]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:06.[32]
  5. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  6. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed in the 2008 book by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[48] However, the claim is listed in 2003 book by Prien and Stemmer as his 63rd aerial victory.[49]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 123.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 438.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 140.
  5. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 141.
  6. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 382.
  7. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, pp. 144, 146.
  8. ^ Bergström 2007, p. 34.
  9. ^ Yenne 2013, chptr. 18.
  10. ^ Weal 2013, p. 50.
  11. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 329.
  12. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 6–10.
  13. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 15.
  14. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 20.
  15. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 21.
  16. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 61.
  17. ^ Boehme 1992, p. 137.
  18. ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 138–139.
  19. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 88.
  20. ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 159–160.
  21. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 110–111.
  22. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 66.
  23. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  24. ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
  25. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 438–440.
  26. ^ Planquadrat.
  27. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 438–439.
  28. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 152.
  29. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 155.
  30. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 153.
  31. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 154.
  32. ^ a b c Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 439.
  33. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 78.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 85.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 79.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 80.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 86.
  38. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 81.
  39. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 87.
  40. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 82.
  41. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 89.
  42. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 83.
  43. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 90.
  44. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 84.
  45. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 91.
  46. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 440.
  47. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 293.
  48. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 294.
  49. ^ Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 398.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 399.
  51. ^ a b c Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 400.
  52. ^ a b c d Prien & Stemmer 2003, p. 401.
  53. ^ a b Boehme 1992, p. 139.
  54. ^ a b Boehme 1992, p. 160.
  55. ^ Boehme 1992, p. 169.
  56. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 81.
  57. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 90.
  58. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 152.
  59. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 352.
  60. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 205.

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