55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

While analyzing losses and kills of P-38 units during the Normandy campaign, I ran into 11th June 1944. On that date 55th FG bombed marshalling yards in Compiegne, whereupon it was vectored to Beauvais, where it clashed with JG 26. According to this source: USAF Historical Study No. 85, USAF Credits for The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, WW II, (Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, 1978 ), 55th FG pilots were credited with eight victories. Who lost those eight machines? Not JG 26, which scratched only one Focke Wulf after the scrap with Lightnings (source: Caldwell's JG 26 War Diary vol. II)
There was also I./JG 5 involved in the skirmish with 55th FG. Any idea if the aforementioned losses could be, if only partially, attributed to this unit? Or was there another air battle fought by 55th FG on that day?

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

I./JG 5 apparently recorded two losses on 11 June 1944. In return, three P-38s were lost by the 55th FG.

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Thank you Christer for the info!

Btw, I'm looking forward to BC-RS vol. III. should be out any time soon? :)

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

I dare not say. . .

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

According to my records for 11 June 1944 (Olynyk) 338thFS and 343rdFS of 55FG, flying P-38s, each claimed four enemy aircraft destroyed -- 4 Bf 109 and two Bf 109 and two FW 190 respectively in the vicinity of Beauvais between 1500 hours and 1520 hours. US 8thAF records (Andrews and Adams) record three losses (one POW Maj Bolwerk, two evaded --Lt Hjelm, Lt Goethal) MACRs 5575, 5574, 5573.

Between 1525 hours and 1538 hours in the vicinity of Beauvais (Frappe), JG 5 claimed two and JG 26 claimed five P-38s destroyed (one by Priller). Fw 190 6 blue of 4./JG 26 was lost (Lt Wiegand wounded), two Bf 109 from 1./JG 5 and one from 3./JG 5 were lost (Uffz Wenninger KIA, Uffz Geilert wounded and a third unknown as to identity or fate.

It would appear that 55thFG claimed eight but only four German aircraft were lost. At the same time JG 5 and JG 26 claimed seven but only three were lost.

Hope this helps
Dave Clark
Angels Eight -- Normandy Air War Diary

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Hello Dave
according to Foreman's Over the Beaches, 55th FG lost only 2 P-38s in this fight and the third loss, Maj. V. W. Bollwerk in P-38J 42-104396, happened an hour later and was due flak at Beauvais. So you have come to a different conclusion on Maj. Bollwerk's case than Foreman, haven't you?

Juha

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Hello Juha,

Also according to "Fighter Units & Pilots of the 8th Air Force, Vol. 1" by Kent D. Miller Maj. Val W. Bollwerk was taken POW after being shot down by Fw 190. Location in this book is given near Amiens.

Ota

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Thanks Ota
So probably a mistake in the Foreman's book.

Thanks again
Juha

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Dave, I have only these two I./JG 5 losses for 11 June 1944:


Bf 109 G-6, WNr 163839, White 10, Uffz Johannes Geilert, 1./JG 5, injured in air combat.

Bf 109 G-6, WNr 412255, Uffz Franz Wenninger, 3./JG 5, killed in air combat.

Which is your source to the third I./JG 5 loss on 11 June 1944?

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Thank you gents for this very informative discussion. Btw, is there any good book on JG 5's exploits in the West?

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Well, there is no democracy in history, so I would not dismiss John's claim. A look into the records is necessary.
German records are incomplete, so I would not draw too many conclusions as well.

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Franek,

you may quite well be right. A long time ago there was a file (on belgian Air War Europe page IIRC) about ETO Lightning losses in June 1944, where it was stated about Bollwerk´s loss: At 15.38 hrs, Major Valentin Bollwerk strafes Amiens-Glisy airfield. He is hit by 20mm Flak and can make a belly landing near Poulainville (Amiens), his plane nevertheless destroyed by fire. Pilot POW.

Juha, I hope I have not created more confusion.

Ota

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Hello Ota and Franek
Ota, no problem.
I printed your answer on a piece of paper and put it inside the Freeman’s book in the proper place, now I must only print a new piece of paper, so no problem. And thank You for reminding me on those Belgian pages, I have printed the lost list but have forgot it. Thanks, more info is always welcome.

Franek, I know. I am a historian by training. I only thought that it was more probably that the mistake was in Foreman’s book but I kept my options open.

Juha

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Long time from this thread but - MACR 5575, J-1378
Bollwerk hit by flak strafing a marshalling yard, seen to catch fire and belly land. The witness believed the crash site about "2 1/2 miles from Beauvais" and he was seen walking away.

J-1378 states he was captured near Amiens

He was not shot down by LW fighter.

Regards,

Bill

Re: 55th FG vs. Luftwaffe on 11th June 1944 - wild over-crediting?
 

Hello Bill
thanks for the confirmation.

Juha