Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

You gentlemen innundated me just then. I need to digest but it seems so far that:

Based on the locations, Schwaiger was shot down by either LtC Dix 355Gp Ops (or Butler/McNeff- 357FS) at very beginning of the engagement from 1320-1340. They chased JG3 fighters NE from pfaffenhofen area to Regensburg area..

High probability that Fw Georg Schanz JG27 went down over/near Munich in the 1340-1400 timeframe to 354FS.

On the flip side I believe the 3 air losses of the 355 were probably due to Bartels 11/JG27 and Dahl StabIII/JG3 - matching closely with time and location of the 357FS fight. I never have been able until now to figure out what happened to Hillman and Norman - but there were no other P-51 losses that matched up to those times for any other group on 4/24.. believe mystery solved.

Richard is correct about Weinzierl (too far South on 7/28) and Roisch (1943). Believe Hirschfeld went down to McElroy S. Merseburg around 1000.

All of the 355th FG encounters on 1/14/45 were between Meppen/Dummer Lake through Munster and N.Koln from 1410-1450 if that helps with ID

Will digest and get back to you all -

Many thanks

Bill

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Leo - based on your info re:
Stembert for Oblt Herbert Schramm of JG27 - 1 December, 1943...
It could match up to a.) Macurdy of 358fs/355FG as WNW Aachen if at ~1130 where he shot down a 109., or b.) a claim by Wilkinson 78FG at Eupen or c.) Ben Johnston of 357FS/355FG with 1-1-0 Me 109's between Koln and W Aachen 1130-1135

Rheinland for Oblt Willi Kienstch on 29 January - it's SSW of Koblenz I believe which matches up to a.) Macurdy again at approx 1110.. nobody else seemed to get a 109 S Koblenz, although several Me 110/210's and an Fw 190 were scored by 56FG and 78FG in Koblenz area..

So, Kientsch seems to be a victim of Macurdy who also got an Fw190 NW Aachen before being heavily damaged in same fight.. either JG26 or ? (who else flying Fw's that day in that area? Rankin 358fs/355FG was killed in this fight and Martin was damaged to C/L later near Limburg.

Rohwer was probably shot down by bombers on 3/29 as all the scores were either way NE toward Dummer Lake, Bruswick, Osnabruck or Rheine - but theoretically nobody claimed (of the returnees) anything between Munster and Osnabruck..

Still working - your input is great!

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Leo: the 356th fg chaps were heading down to shoot up 262's but am sure anything that looked German got a good treatment with .50's

Bill: I./JG 26 with D-9's were in the area of Köln so would assume this was one of the units engaged by the 355th on 14 January 45.

Erich ~

355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Hello guys

Many thanks to both for your replies. I must say that this thread is very interesting as it involves attempting to match possible victors over Luftwaffe experten. Indeed my information states that Rohwer was brought down by return fire from B-17 four-engined bombers which forced him to belly land at Mettingen. His aircraft was then attacked by P-38 twin-engined fighters and he was mortally wounded. Bill, I am going to take this opportunity to ask you a question that I have been wanting to ask you for some time. I recall that according to your research it was quite possible that it was a pilot of the 355th Fighter Group that ended the career of Egon Mayer, the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2 who, at least in my opinion, was one of the true greats of the Luftwaffe (one of only three men to claim 100+ victories in the European theater including 26 four-engined bombers). Although the name of the 355th pilot escapes me I remember that you mentioned that his gun camara footage matches well with the events as described by Mayer's wingman. However, I recall that quite some years ago on this very same forum somebody wrote that it was possible that Captain David N Harmon of the 387th FS, 365th FG, 9th USAAF shot down Mayer's Fw 190 A-6 (W.Nr. 470 468 ) near Montmédy. Have you ever heard or read of this before and if possible could you comment on this? I do not what to interfer in or make you lose time in your current research but it would be interesting to attempt to clear this up. I am very aware that in large scale air battles it is very difficult to match victims to victors. Was the 365th Fighter Group engaged in that area? Many thanks and I am glad to have been of some help.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Leo - Your mention of the 365thFG as a possible claimant for Egon Mayer is the first time I have heard of it but that doesn't rule out the possibility..however there is no David Harmon in USAF credited with any air to air victories - or in USAF 85..for any record?

The 365FG, however has three claims for the 2March..Gross, Boles and Henry but I don't know where their claims are or for what type a/c?

Walter Greasham's combat film shows a Fw 190 at long range - 60-70 degree deflection from 8 O'clock to the Fw.. heavy strikes and then explosion mid wing left side (presumably 20mm ammo) then a series of rolls, then momentary straighten out (Presumaby full right controls), then roll again, momentary level - and then uncontrollable roll.

The fight started approximately 1355 SE Charleroi and was about a 5-7 minute chase. Both Mayer and his wingman were claimed in this fight. The rest of the 8th AF 190 claims were from S to SW Koblenz.

The above info presumably squares with his wingman's account who survived the encounter - but as you note, air to air encounters are iffy at best in respect to precise time and position.

Offhand I don't recall the exact location of Mayer's crash so that would have an influence in this discussion but the fight axis was from SE of Charleroi past the Charleville area..

Perhaps one other key is that the fight involved only one flight of P-47's from the 358FS and only two Fw190's - no other a/c in the area.

Maybe someone else can weigh on on 9th AF claims in the area?

Regards,

Bill

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

hello bill
Fw Otto Erhardt KIA 14 january 1945
13./JG 3 (Sturm)
Fw190A-8R-2 Werknr 682218 "weisse 9"
crashed at Beltrum, near Lichtenvoorde, Holland.
buried at Enschede: G3-6-171 reburied Ysselsteyn:R-1-15
probably shot down by Mustangs of 352 FG
regards
karl lusink
ARGA
www.arga-nl.nl

355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Hello Bill

Many thanks for your response clarifying this issue. If there are no victories listed for a pilot of that name (Harmon) than it is best to go with Captain Gresham as Mayer's possible victor. I am very glad to have your comments on this as it has been in the back of my mind for some time now. Many thanks and best of luck on your research!

Horrido!

Leo

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Bill,
Capt David N Harmon is credited with a FW-190 probable at 1240 hours at Bastogne on March 2, 1944.

Frank.

Re: 355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Frank (Dr) - if it ain't in Stars and Bars or USAF 85 it doesn't exist for me - I couldn't find Harmon in either case.. the Probable explains it. Thanks for clearing up Harmon's engagement on 2 March

Thanks, Bill

355 FG engagements w/experten
 

Hello guys

Two quick additions to Bill's list:

Steinke: on 29 April 1944 in Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 440 266) crashed 1 kilometer southwest Magdeburg
Schmidt: on 3 August 1944 in Fw 190 A-8/R8 (W.Nr. 670 777) in aerial combat (unknown location)

This information from Prien's IV./JG 3 volume.

Horrido!

Leo