Sword Beach D-Day
 

An elderly relative has asked me to do an internet search for Josef Priller's book on J26. I notice that it has not been translated from the German however, so I suspect even if I got hold of a copy it may not be of much use for him.

His interest stems from the fact that he landed on Sword beach on D-Day, and witnessed Priller's attack on the beach. It is a constant source of irritation for him that all accounts of the attack describe the beach being straffed by the German planes. He maintains that there was no straffing, and only a single bomb was dropped before the attackers disappeared.

When he recently learned of Priller's book, I think he hoped to get an account of the incident by the man himself.

An hour's Googling hasn't helped me much, but did come up with this forum! I wondered if anyone who has the book recalls the description of this incident from it, or whether anyone is aware of any accounts that may support this alternative version of events?

Thanks for reading, hope this is an appropriate first post...

Phil

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

"JG 26: Top Guns of the Luftwaffe" by Donald L. Caldwell. You should be able to find it in paperback in the USA or via the web, for example through abe books.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Thanks Nick. Looks as though it's available through amazon UK too.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

In The JG 26 War Diary: Volume Two 1943-1945 (a companion to his narrative Top Guns history), Caldwell describes Priller's and Wodarczyk's attack on Sword noting that "the two fighters roared overhead at fifty feet, their machine guns and cannon clattering." Although other aircraft from JG 2, JG 26, and SG 4 sortied against the beachhead on 6 June, there are no other attacks on the beach mentioned in the book. Perhaps another pilot did so but didn't survive to report it.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

It is not clear if Priller was over the beaches!

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Franek

If you say "A" I would be very happy to hear you state "B" as well...:)
First quote I have heard stating Priller is not telling things as they were.
Care to elaborate?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Someone once posted excerpts from Priller's log book, and those strongly suggested he was nowhere near the beaches. I understand that Wolfgang Zebrowski claimed to be there, and single bomb dropped may confirm this.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

But wasn't Zebrowski flying with I./SKG 10 (soon to be III./KG 51) — if so, there's no particular reason for him to have known about what JG 26 was doing, is there?

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Perhaps I was unclear. Zebrowski claimed to fly over the beaches, and indeed he was with I/SKG 10. This may confirm the mentioned observation of dropped bomb and lack of straffing. I understand, Zebrowski's account was published in 1970s.
Another issue is presence of Priller, which seems doubtful in spite of his log book entries.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Gentlemen,


I offer the following for your consideration:

http://books.google.com/books?id=usQ...um=4&ct=result



Usual disclaimer,
Ed

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Priller simply notes in his book that because his 3 Gruppen were elsewhere, the unit had only 2 combat-ready aircraft on hand. He and his wing man flew to the "Kampfraum" (battle area), and he was happy that with an advantage of several hundred aircraft the enemy didn't shoot them down. There is no comment on straffing the beaches.

Hope this helps,
George

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Oh dang! the "rest of the story" is on page 239--AND they don't have page 239!


nm

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

..wasn't this incident immortalised in Zanuck's film (1964) .....not having read Priller's JG 26 history I'd always imagined the events depicted in the 'Longest Day' were based on Priller's own account..if this is not the case, what then?

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

There is indeed (reworked by the author) Priller's account in Ryan's The Longest Day, but the question remains in regard of validity of Priller's claims. Perhaps someone here has a copy of his log book and can post respective pages.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

...forgot the film was based on the book.....I thought Frappé in his " Luftwaffe face au débarquement .." book might have something but he doesn't, aside to say that this was a recce sortie so that Priller could find out for himself what was happening - 'apparently the invasion had begun' . There are some photos taken of Priller getting airborne that day...(not in the book though)

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

The problem is that as far as I remember, Priller's log book has only one or two local sorties, lasting about 15 minutes. This is not enough to go to the beaches. Unfortunately, I do not have any copies of the log book.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Phil, Your relative being in such unique position may be able to help things with a time. Obviously he was under some duress at that moment but does he have a timing that forum members could tie in with a pilots log book? Regards Disbos

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Sorry Franek, I see what you mean now.

As for "The Longest Day", I just checked the book. Ryan acknowledges Priller among the Germans who contributed to the book by granting him interviews.

So the story came direct from Priller.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

It might be helpful to check the unit diaries of other British units, especially those which stayed on the beach all day. If German fighters made a low level strafing pass then surely someone would have made note of the time and place.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Thanks George, just what I was hoping for when I first posted. I'll pass your information on.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Phil --

The best source for Priller's activity on D-Day is Cornelius Ryan's classic The Longest Day, which should be readily available. It was one of my major sources for JG 26: Top Guns of the Luftwaffe, which I tried to make clear in the text (the editor forbade footnotes.) Ryan interviewed Priller extensively, and Priller was in fact Ryan's most important source for Luftwaffe activity. Priller's own account in Geschichte eines Jagdgeschwaders is very brief, and does not mention strafing the beachhead. Did he stretch his story for Ryan, or did he condense it in his own book out of modesty? We'll never know. Many pilots were known as line-shooters, but Priller, while colorful, did not seem to exaggerate his own performance -- for example, his victory claims were always scrupulously documented. Most of the more colorful anecdotes in his book were inserted by Hans-Otto Boehm, his "co-author", who completed the book after Priller's untimely death. Given all of the above, I chose to believe the account in Ryan's book.

Franek, the only Priller logbook I've seen ends in July 1943. If you have knowledge of one covering D-Day, the fraternity of Luftwaffe historians would greatly appreciate learning more about it.

Phil, Ryan's claim for Priller's sortie was that he was the first over the beachhead, and his Rotte were the only fighters there in the morning. JG 2, SG 4 and SKG 10 made it later in the day. Priller's aircraft most definitely did not carry bombs, but those of SG 4 and SKG 10 would have. Priller's run was probably before 0900 hours. If that matches your relative's recollection, then he may have seen Priller. If your relative was on Sword at noon or later, he probably saw a Jabo from SG 4 or SKG 10.

Don

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Gentlemen,

Since the discussion is the D-Day beachead, I found the following account among microfilm frames from the 325th PR Wing.

"After the landing, 802nd PG filmed ground and air activities over the beaches with special Mosquitoes rigged with several motion picture cameras: one directed rearwards, one downwards, one each were installed in the external wing tanks facing forward and another in the nose.

"Interrogation of 7th PRG and 802nd PG pilots on return provided the chief source of information regarding activities during the early invasion hours. F-5s of 7th PRG encountered the first enemy air opposition. Two Fw190s attacked an unarmed F-5, but the pilot managed to escape by diving at full-throttle towards the beach area after having his canopy blown off and radio shot out."

No mention is made of this event in the official 7th PRG Association history book by Pat Keene. The attacking Luftwaffe aircraft, were they Fw190s as detailed in official records or Me109s?

Norman Malayney

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Don,

Thanks for that reply - a very interesting and useful post. I'll be passing all of this on later in the week, and will post any extra interesting information if I get any!

Thanks to all who have helped, it's fascinating stuff.

Phil

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Don
Years ago(!), on the old forum someone posted this information with reference to the Priller's log book. I will see if I can find the post in my archives. I remember that it struck me both clear denial of Priller's flight and silence of the community. It is even more interesting in spite of Bodenplatte events.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Bf 108s — I saw the "The Longest Day" at an impressionable age!

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Here's the thread to which Franek is referring:

priller-190a-8.wn − rt, Jun 24 2004 18:21
is anybody still interest on priller's wn???

Yes! − CJE, Jun 24 2004 18:24
Though I already got an answer.

Re: Yes! − RT, Jun 24 2004 18:30
so here are more
from Jan to beg July at that time is in Germany
2383
2595
2616
7213
5860
7317
7229
2386
7287
7298
7317
0118

On 6.June he has flown 2 missions //Übungsflug// on 7217 and 7298 from Vendeville from 15.25 to 1610 and from 16.22 to 16.53

Year? Thanks. (nm) − CJE, Jun 24 2004 18:32

Re: Year? Thanks. − RT, Jun 24 2004 18:40
1.9.4.4

Thank you. (nm) − CJE, Jun 24 2004 19:32

Re: Thank you. − RT, Jun 24 2004 22:00
Seeing the "furious" above answer maybe my concise ones, hv hurt anybody so I could add that Priller with his;
2383 made his 82. victory -spit
2386 83. spit
2386 84. b17
2386 a notlandung
2386 x. spit
7298 86. b17
7298 87. spit
7298 88. p47
7317 89. ventura
7298 90. b17
7317 91. b17.....

A list via FB and other sources − Jim P., Jun 24 2004 20:10
( ...Jim provided a comprehensive listing of Priller's 190s, including variant, WNr, markings, plus comments... )

Re: Yes! − Franek Grabowski, Jun 28 2004 01:30
So, if I understand correctly, his famous D-Day sortie is a myth?
Franek

Not your finest hour, Franek. The community was silent because the thread had dropped off the first couple of pages (you were four days late in joining the party.) Also, it was obvious to most people that RT was wrong about the year being 1944 because:
a) Priller's 82nd to 91st victories occurred in Jan-Jun 1943, and
b) Jim P's posting showed that the listed Werknummern were 190A-4s, A-5s and A-6s, not A-8s.

We know you like stirring the pot, but Caldwell, Frappe and others have thoroughly documented Priller and Wodarczyk's 8AM sortie on D-Day. It undermines your credibility when you readily dismiss the established research in pursuit of mindless speculation.

OK, I'll bite. What are you alluding to here?


BTW, here's another post on the subject from the old TOCH forum:

Priller − Klaus Schiffler, Jun 14 1999 23:48
There are several photos of Priller's Fw 190A-8 in existence which he flew in June 1944. It was marked Black 13 - + - but I have not seen any photos which show the tail with the werknr. The aircraft had the outer cannon deleted and it has the Erla-pylon for the jettisonable fuel tank. Heinz Wodarczyk officially belonged to the fourth Staffel and would have had a blue identification number. See Don Caldwell's books on JG 26.
The story of Priller and his wingman was made famous by the movie, "The Longest Day" and also appears in Cornelius Ryan's book of the same title. The two Fw 190's took off at 0800 and strafed the Sword and Juno beaches. French Commandos saw the pair coming and gunned down six German POW who were trying to escape in the confusion. At Juno the unit that was attacked was the Canadian 8th Infantry Brigade. One man fired his Sten gun at the Fw's and another man stated that they were so close that he could see the airmen's faces. The two also flew close to the eastern sector of Omaha beach, avoiding the barrage balloons as they flew at a height of about 50 feet. A sailor on the HMS Dunbar stated that every AA gun in the fleet was firing on the two and said, "Jerry or not, the best of luck to you. You've got guts."

Leon Venter

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

So I remembered well.
Four days was not too much on the old forum. Anyway, if it was so obvious mistake, why CJE asked for year? It is good, that this was cleared, anyway.
As Neil noted above, the mission is not documented in any means. It is a fact, Zebrowski claimed in 1970s that he was the first man over the beaches. There was a lengthy discussion in Jaegerblatt or similar Luftwaffe veterans journal IIRC.
That he missed the target and got lost. Strange for a quite experienced pilot to say the least.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Franek,
The mistake wasn't obvious at the time that CJE asked the question, but it was readily apparent after the two postings by RT and Jim P within the next couple of hours.

He makes no such claim in his autobiography, "Nachts über den Wolken", published in 1989. In the book, Zebrowski says his Kommandeur ordered one of the Stakas, Hauptmann Ebersprächer, to conduct an early Aufklärungsflug, which verified the arrival of Allied ships off the Normandy coast. The unit is then ordered to make Schwarm-level attacks on the ships "mit Bomben und Bordwaffen." Zebrowski assembles a Schwarm for take-off at 11h00, but he mentions receiving confirmations from returning flights (i.e., ones that were dispatched before his) that the invasion was in full swing.
Near Le Havre, he notices that he's lost his three comrades. He then turns westward to fly along the coast to the Orne mouth at an altitude of 300m. He experiences the "indescribable" and "unforgettable" sight of "just ships, far and wide, all the way to the horizon", as well as the gruesome sight of "masses of GI's being systematically mown down on the coverless beaches by German machine guns." He doesn't mention firing on the beaches. He then flies over the ships and decides to attack the "middle ship in a group of three battleships on the eastern flank of the invasion fleet." Diving from cumulus clouds at 2000m, he achieves complete surprise, strafing the deck with his cannons and machine guns before releasing his 500kg bomb at 600m. A massive barrage of flak opens up during his pull-out, but he miraculously suffers only a nick to the bridge of his nose.

When I have the time, I'll attempt to find the article. If you happen to recall roughly when it appeared, that'd be a big help.

Yes, that is strange, but whatever happened during Bodenplatte apparently didn't happen on D-Day.

Leon Venter

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

I know better than to get involved in these stupid flames, but for the benefit of the newbies out there, I want to make it clear that all of the data in the 2004 thread WRT Priller's logbook entries -- Werkenummern, victories, and sortie data -- came out of his 1943 logbook, which is available in the BA-MA. Only the one-word reply "1944" implies otherwise, and this appears to be an uncorrected typo by whomever made that post. There are no data backing up the hypothesis that Priller lied to Ryan, just a few people's biases.

Don

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Well, obviously not for everyone!
This could have been published in Luftwaffenring (if there was such a journal). I guess Paweł Burchardt may remember both the date and journal, I believe it was him, who told me about the controversy.
Not that much, considering it was The New Year's morning, and Priller seemed not the man, who would allow bottle to remain half full. There is no account, but he was completely pissed on 6 June, according to his own words.

Another question is, what had happened to the last log book. I recall seeing some photos of his collection in 1980s the Aeroplane.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Leon,

Thanks for the reprise of those 2004 postings; great information for me. I don't recall seeing them before. Is there any way I can access the archive of the "old" forum? Also did Jim P. provide any other of Priller's Werke Nummer for claims before and after the ones sited?

Regards,

Tom

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Hi Tom,
You're very welcome.

The archive will be available to everyone soon, but it's not quite ready for general consumption yet. I know it's been promised for some time now, but my day job keeps getting in the way...
I'll keep you posted.

Yes, here's Jim's full posting:

Fw190A-2 20216 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 8. JG 26 schwarze 7 + | KE+CP 29-Mar-42 Kdr. Alarmstart. First flew on 27.3.42. (BORRIS' machine). RK, EL, S Kanal FB; Held, Reichsvertidegung, p.25 foto; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.85 fotos Fl.Pl. Coquelles - F
Fw190A-2 5311 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 07-May-42 Kdr. Alarmstart. Luftkampf with 30 Spitfires. Claimed 2. First flight on 30.4.42. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Wevelghem F
Fw190A-2 20206 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze << + | KE+CF gelb rudder, under cowl 10-Apr-42 Kdr. Undercarriage damage. First flew on 11.12.41. RK, EL, S Kanal FB; Super Aces of LW p.129 dwg Fl.Pl. Wevelghem b F
Fw190A-2 5310 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze << + | TQ+SJ 73 vic on rudder 24-Apr-42 Kdr. His 'regular' machine between 24.4.42 - 9.9.42. #73 on 1.6.42, #77 on 29.8.42. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.72, fotos; IPMS Deutsch., Ries Rudder p94 foto Fl.Pl. Wevelghem F
Fw190A-2 5296 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze <O + | 04-Apr-42 Kdr. Luftkampf with 10-15 Spitfires between Calais & Dover. First flew on 1.4.42. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Coquelles
Fw190A-2 5292 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze <O + | 17-Apr-42 Kdr. Alarmstart on 17.4.42. First flew on 12.4.42. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Wevelghem
Fw190A-2 5389 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 weiße 3 + 03-Jul-42 Kdr. Training flight. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Wevelghem H
Fw190A-3 30552 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze << + | DJ+AZ 77 abschußbalken w/cockades on gelb rudder; exhaust paint 21-Aug-42 Kdr. Flew this machine between 21.8.42 - 28.8.42. Luftkampf with Spitfires on 21.8. Claimed 1 (#76). RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.73, fotos; War Album #1 p94 fotos Fl.Pl. Wevelghem F
Fw190A-2 5215 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 7. JG 26 weiße 13 + | 23-Mar-42 Kdr. Alarmstart. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Coquelles F
Fw190A-1 10084 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 7. JG 26 weiße 8 + | 25-Mar-42 Alarmstart. RK, EL, S Kanal FB Fl.Pl. Coquelles - F
Fw190A-1 10054 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab III. JG 26 schwarze 3 + | 27-Mar-42 Kdr. Alarmstart this date. Luftkampf with 6 Blenheims & 15-20 Spitfires. Last flight on 29.3.42. RK, EL, S Kanal FB Fl.Pl. Coquelles - F
Fw190A-4 2386 PRILLER, Hptm. Josef 101 Stab JG 26 schwarze 04-May-43 Kdr. Alarmstart 4.5.43. Also flew on 10.9.42 and 15.1.43, first with Stab III./JG 26. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Vendeville F
Fw190A-8 PRILLER, Major Hans Stab JG 26 'Jutta' His last A-8. Summer 1945. RLV Caldwell, JG 26 War Diary, II, p.479-80 fotos Flensburg 100% F
Fw190A-5 7298 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 schwarze <<- + - gelb rudder, under cowl Kom. Spring 1943. In May became 'schwarz 13.+-. RK, EL, S Kanal Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.158-9 fotos; FW190 in Action fotos; FUOTL p178 foto Fighters Defending the Reich p Belgium F
Fw190A-8 170346 PRILLER, Major Josef Stab JG 26 schwarze <-+- 15-Aug-44 Kom. Bauchlandung due to fuel shortage. Stripped & abandoned on 19/20.8. Schwarz 13? FR Caldwell, JG 26 War Diary, II, FC; Frappe, La LW face au debarquement allie, p.329; Scale Models letter La Neuvelle, SE of Rouen 100% F
Fw190A-5 57317 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 29-Apr-43 Kom. His 'backup' machine between 29.4.43 and 26.6.43. RK, EL, S Kanal Priller Flugbuch via Caldwell F
Fw190A-5 7234 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 05-Mar-43 Kom. Werkstattflug. Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Vendeville 100% H
Fw190A-5 7213 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 14-Mar-43 Kom. Alarmstart on 14.3.43. Several flights from 5.3.43. Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell "Vitry ("Wittry")" 100% F
Fw190A-5 7229 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 20-Apr-43 Kom. Alarmstart on 20.4.43. Several flights from 5.3.43. Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Vendeville 100% F
Fw190A-4 687 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 16-Jan-43 Kdr. Werkstattflug. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Fl.Pl. Wizernes F
Fw190A-6 530118 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 25-Jun-43 Kom. Werkstattflug. FR Flugbuch via Caldwell Vendeville H
Fw190A-5 2616 PRILLER, Major Josef Stab JG 26 05-Mar-43 Kom. Werkstattflug. Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell Vendeville 100% H
Fw190A-4 2383 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 schwarze <<-+- (?) 16-Jan-43 Kom. His 'regular' machine from this date until 14.3.43. #83 on 8.3.43. RK, EL, S Kanal Flugbuch via Caldwell F
Fw190A-7 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 schwarze 13 - + - 'Jutta' heart card; gelb rudder ? Kommodore. RK, EL, S RLV Markierungen & Tarnanstriche Vol.3 p39 foto; Super Aces of LW p131 dwg, fotos Markierungen & Tarnanstriche Vol.3 p108 color dwg; Tank Mag.Spl., LW Aces of WW-II p44,45 fotos
Fw190A-6 530120 PRILLER, Major Josef 101 Stab JG 26 schwarze <- + - DO+RT gelb rudder, under cowl Kom. Winter 43/44. Possibly re-painted '13-+-'. RK, EL, S Kanal Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.212-14 fotos; Super Aces of the LW p130 dwg, foto Tank Mag.Spl., LW Aces of WW-II p43 foto Belgium F


NOTE: I'm not 100% sure about the "<O + |" codes for Fw190A-2 5296 and Fw190A-2 5292 above. When Jim originally posted his message, the old forum gave him fits because it kept truncating the text for those two entries. He was eventually able to post the missing text by using a different format. I've incorporated his additions in the above text, but it's possible that I misinterpreted his comments, so please feel free to correct any mistakes.

Leon Venter

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Leon,

Thanks for the data filled post on Priller’s Fw-190s! You’ve mentioned on several occaisions, that you have archived much of the old forum and will have it up for research purposes. I’m sure that many of us here –like me- are waiting with baited breath for that happy day. Any update on when this might be up and running?

Many thanks,

Rob Romero

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Leon,

Again, many thanks,

Tom

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Well, I now know that the attack witnessed by my relative happened around noon, so that means he wasn't attacked by a famous air ace... Still he's pleased that a long-standing mystery has finally been solved. Thanks to everyone that contributed.

Re: Sword Beach D-Day
 

Regarding Jim's listing, anything new came up during past two years? I'm especially interested in Priller's Fw 190 A-8.

p.