Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

I have one:
1944-10-28, 7./JG 54, Fw 190 A-8, 690155, 10 weiße, Fl.Pl. Libau-Grobin
Flugzeugführer Uffz Männlin, Hans, verletzt
Überschlag bei Landung um 11.35 Uhr. Bruch ? %. Start 10.55.

Matti

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Thx a lot, Matti.
"Überschlag bei Landung" is a very tricky reason - is it possible, that aircraft, damaged by enemy, and crashed on landing, have just "Crashed on landing" reason of loss?

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Also, gentlemen, is it possible to find a photo of Olt Georg Ritzel? Extremly needed for an article.

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

And also a question, regarding a VbKz of Oblt. Ritzel's aircraft: "White 1".

Who was a StaffelKapitan of 1./JG54 in that time?


I have:
Oblt. Helmut WETTSTEIN from december 1943 to october 1944, when he was assigned to a new formed 6./JG54.

Lt. Heinz (“Piepl”) WERNICKE from "Late 1944".

Is it known, those two direct dates? When Wettstein went out from 1./JG54 and when Wernicke became StaKa? Only a speculation at the moment, but could Oblt. Ritzel (10 victories to 27.10.44) be StaFu after Wettstein and before Wernicke?

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Hello Evgenyi,

The Luftwaffe summary losses database for this day has the following:
1 aircraft of I./J.G.54 missing due to enemy action (reported on 05/11/1944)
1 aircraft of II./J.G.54 destroyed without enemy action on operational flight (reported on 05/11/1944)

No damaged aircraft reported for JG 54 this day. If Männlin was wounded in a landing crash, his aircraft was probably damaged more than 10% and so "should" be in the above report. You can never be sure, but the aircraft of II./JG 54 above was probably his, and so was not involved.

The first loss was the aircraft of Oblt Ritzel that you are asking about.

Best regards

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Gentlemen: are there any losses recorded by III./SG3 on 28 october 1944?

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Also from the Luftwaffe summary losses database: III./SG 3 had one aircraft damaged without enemy action on operational flight on this day (reported on 1st November).

For such queries, you can check directly the online database here:
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_summ_los...iew.asp?PAGE=1

You will need the meaning of the loss categories. I don't remember where I found them years ago but here they are (a quick search on the above site brings no result):
Category Meaning
1 Missing Due to enemy action
2 Destroyed by anti-aircraft artillery during operational flight
3 Damaged by anti-aircraft artillery during operational flight
4 Destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy
5 Destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, not observed by enemy
6 Damaged by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy
7 Damaged by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, not observed by enemy
8 Destroyed by gunfire from enemy infantry during operational flight
9 Damaged by gunfire from enemy infantry during operational flight
10 Destroyed on the ground by enemy bombs
11 Damaged on the ground by enemy bombs
12 Destroyed on the ground by gunfire from enemy aircraft
13 Damaged on the ground by gunfire from enemy aircraft
14 Destroyed on the ground by enemy gunfire from ground forces
15 Damaged on the ground by enemy gunfire from ground forces
16 Destroyed by other enemy action
17 Damaged by other enemy action
18
19
20 Destroyed without enemy action on operational flight
21 Damaged without enemy action on operational flight
22 Destroyed without enemy action on non-operational flight
23 Damaged without enemy action on non-operational flight

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

Matti thx for info!

Start 09:55 is local time or Berlin time?

Also, I found 3 entries:

Loss date: Unit: No of Aircraft: Category: Report date:
29.10.1944 I./J.G.54 1 1 05.11.1944
29.10.1944 I./J.G.54 1 16 05.11.1944
29.10.1944 III./S.G.3 1 7 09.11.1944

1 - missing due to enemy action
16 - Destroyed by other enemy action
7 - Damaged by enemy gunfire on operational flight

Any further details?

Re: Questions about three Luftwaffe losses on 30 October 1944
 

I cannot say for sure, but I think that normally Luftwaffe used Central European (German) time everywhere in the Reich. At least the times reported to the Finnish air surveillance units (German flights in Finland) are not local, but German times.

Matti