IV/JG 54 info
 

I am currently putting together a “Combat Diary for IV/JG 54” for 1944. I still have a few bits of information but sadly not enough for the Eastern Front. Not yet ready to get into their Western Front.

I need help on these Russian names that I believe are now in Poland.
Вильга
Стары
Вола
Воска
Закшея
Мынишев

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Have you tried pasting these names into Google Maps or Google Earth? I have had some success like this with former place names.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Hello Nick,
Yes I have tried Google and even a Russian map search. I think that they were changed after WW2.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Can you tell us the area you think these places are more presicely, and the date range ?

ANother possibility is that these places were part of Poland in 1939 and are now in Ukrain, so have now an Ukrainian name, different from both Polish and Russia

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Laurent, the time period of the Soviet reports are 1944 and all the locations are to the south of Warsaw, Poland. The names are in Russian but don’t show up on entering into a Russian map search anymore.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Different search machine.

сельская гмина Вильга
Гарволинский повят, Мазовецкое воеводство, Польша
Координаты: 51.847401, 21.402416

south of Warsaw.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Стары-Жабенец
сельская гмина Вильга, Гарволинский повят, Мазовецкое воеводство, Польша
Координаты: 51.830735, 21.480856

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thank You Sidney.

5 August 1944
Kapitan Leonid Ryzhiy 347 IAP claimed a Fw-190 (13) southeast of Stary (Стары)
I am looking at IV/JG 54 to see if they had a loss this day in the morning hours.

Still trying to verify the name and location of Zaksheya (Закшея)

Another player is II/SG 2:
Fw. Hans Schwarz 6/SG 2 Yak-9 16:50 12333 50 m.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Wilga
Stary
Wola
the rest is a big question mark.

Regards

Robert

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thank You Robert. Now if some one can advise if any known losses occurred for Fw 190 from IV/JG 54 and II/SG 2 on the 5 August 1944. The Soviet pilots made 1 claim for a Ju 87 at the Vistula River crossing at Wilga during that mission.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Voska or Woska
Zaksheya
Possibly Kazakh

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Воска
Warka?
Закшея
Zakrzew? Two in the area on both banks.
Мынишев
Myniszew - either Mniszew or Magnuszew

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thank you Ed and Franek. Getting these names has helped me greatly with the German claims of IV/JG 54 and II/SG 2 for the 5 August 1944.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

According to the database of summary Luftwaffe losses, on 5 August 1944 IV./JG 54 had one aircraft damaged without enemy action on operational flight, and II./SG 2 one aircraft damaged by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, not observed by enemy. No aircraft was lost by this unit according to this source.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thank you Laurent. I have another question reference the PlQu. Map. I have Prien’s map for 1943 which lists 05 Ost/63658 and 63629 as near Twente, Netherlands. It seems a little far from Arnheim.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Nokose,

Not sure what your question is about, but I researched IV./JG 54 time in the west (September 1944 - January 1945) for quite some time.

John

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

John

I have read the 56 FG reports that indicate that their claims were around Arnheim but I am trying to figure out the location of their losses. Western Front losses haven’t been my area of research for along time. I am now trying to string together the IV/JG 54 together for 1944 with what I have for the Eastern Front. Unfortunately, with current events there is no way forward with the Eastern part. Also, I have found that some of the units involved from Soviet sources have empty folders in Moscow. So if you have research on IV/JG 54 it would be very interesting.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

For losses in the Netherlands you can use the SGLO Loss Register

https://verliesregister.studiegroepl...rlog.nl/zz.php

This gives you further details on all losses in the Netherlands, German and Allied.

John

Ps. We are currently working on a major upgrade of the register, probably it will be available by the end of the month.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thanks again John. I must be doing something wrong as I am not getting any results. I have 353 FG serial numbers for 23 Sep 1944.

Also I am looking for any comments from any books on the 353 FG for the afternoon mission on the 23 Sep 1944 in which they suffered losses.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Not sure what you are doing wrong. Just type 21-09-44 or 23-09-44 and you will get a list of losses. You can click on the individual T-numbers to see the individual loss charts.

John

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

John, I was entering the serial number but guess I was putting the date in wrong.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

There's roughly a page on that fight in the book Jonah's Feet Are Dry (it's a unit history of the 353rd FG), though it reads like it's excerpts from Encounter Reports.

Speaking of which, two of the Encounter Reports from the 353rd FG for the afternoon fight on 23 September 1944 can be found here:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...r-reports.html

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Steve, I looked at the reports on that website and they are all 352 FS/353 FG from a mission around 08:00. I believe that the mission that I am looking for was flown by 350 FS/353 FG. 2nd Lt. Gerald F. Province 350 FS/353 FG was killed at Arnhem during the mission that I am looking at this day, probably around 18:00(?). Have found several mentions of victory claims by pilots from that squadron but no details.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

My apologies! I hadn't realized those reports were from an earlier fight.

Jonah's Feet Are Dry lists three pilots from the 350th FS shot down and KIA on 23 Sept. 1944. MACR numbers aren't in the book; I'm listing them along with the link for each at NARA. All are timed 1800 hours; claims are all timed 1745 hours.

2Lt. Gerald F. Province MACR 9157:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066753

Capt. Ellis S. Middleton MACR 9156:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066719

2Lt. John G. Edwards MACR 9155:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066707

Give me a little time, I'll type out all of the 350th FS claims for the afternoon fight.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

350th FS claims for 23 Sept. 44, from Frank J. Olynyk's (may he R.I.P.) USAAF (European Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2 (Victory List No. 5).

All have the time given as 1745 hours; all have the location given as SE of Arnhem.

2/Lt. Robert W Abernathy Me-109
1/Lt. Harold Emerson Asper Fw-190
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Me-109
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Fw-190
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Fw-190 prob (originally claimed destroyed)
2/Lt. Gerald Patrick Devine Fw-190
2/Lt. Gerald Patrick Devine Fw-190 dam
1/Lt. Harry E Haynes Me-109
1/Lt. William P Knowling Me-109 prob (originally claimed destroyed)
Capt. Ellis Spear Middleton Fw-190
Capt. William Jeavons Price Fw-190
2/Lt. Gerald Francis Province Fw-190
1/Lt. Vernon G Rafferty Me-109
1/Lt. Vernon G Rafferty Fw-190
2/Lt. Lester M Grainger Fw-190 dam
2/Lt. Lonnie M Davis Me-109 dam

There are also four claims for the 352nd FS, also all timed at 1745 hours, location for each also given as SE of Arnhem (according to Jonah's Feet Are Dry it's the same fight that the 350th FS was in):

2/Lt. James F Cross Fw-190
Capt. John W Eanes Fw-190
2/Lt. George N Porterfield Fw-190
2/Lt. Charles E Sladek Fw-190

No losses for the 352nd FS this day.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thanks Steve. This is going to be a cluster to figure out with II/JG 27 and IV/JG 54 this day. Both claimed P-47s this day. Hopefully, no other FG claimed in that area.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

385th FS/364th FG 4 claims at 1745 hours, 2 of them 10 miles E of Arnhem, the other 2 at Emmerich.

505th FS/339th FG 3 claims at 1530 hours, Geldern-Weeze area.

503rd FS/339th FG 4 pilots made claims at 1600 hours, SW of Wesel (5135-0628)]

504th FS/339th FG 1 claim at1615 hours, vicinity of Venlo.

That's it for the USAAF. Have you checked RAF Tempest and Typhoon squadrons?

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Gentlemen, Arnheim battles are a nightmare to sort out on certain days, unless they were seperate battles in different locations like 21.9.44.

John

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Steve the 339 FG is out time wise. 364 FG it depends on what they claimed. 353 FG is definitely time and area.

John it definitely is a wild one on 23rd but the 353 FG claimed 5 Me-109 s/d, 1 probable and 1 damaged. Claimed 1 Fw 190 damaged, 1 Fw 190 probable and 11 Fw 190 as s/d. Actually 5 Bf 109 shot down II/JG 27 and 6 Fw 190 s/d IV/JG 54. The Germans claimed 7 P-47 s/d. I have no idea were 83 FS/78 FG fits into the picture this day with 1 P-47 loss. The actual loss of 350 FS/353 FG had 3 P-47 loss

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

If you look at 21.09.1944 the battle is clear. Combat took place in Lochen-Laren area and dragged on further northeast. Losses of IV./JG 54 are well known and corresponding losses of 56th FG also, although there are some small discussion points.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Claims of 385th FS, 364th FG on 23 Sept 44:

Time 1745 hours, location 10 miles E of Arnhem:

1/Lt. William T Housholder Fw-190
1/Lt. William T Housholder Me-109G dam

Time 1745 hours, location Emmerich:

1/Lt. Romildo Visconte Me-109G
1/Lt. Romildo Visconte Fw-190 dam

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Steve, thanks again. This adds on to the total claims made against the Germans. In the heat of battle everything can change quickly, so what you are focused on one second can be gone the next. I read one report of a US pilot describing the Me-109 lightning up like a Christmas tree, he found from the gun camera film that another pilot in his group had been shooting at the same Me-109. I wonder how many of these claims might have been the same aircraft that survived only to fall into another death trap in another location. I have seen on the Eastern Front that Soviet and German aircraft have escaped one attack only to fall to another attack at another altitude and location.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

You're very welcome!

I suspect that was common everywhere.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

John Manrho, I have a question, on your site it has on the 21 September 44 it has a Fw 190 A-8 from IV/JG 54 that crashed at Schepersweg Harfsen from being shot down by 56 FG. In Jochen Prien’s JFV 13/V it was listed as lost on the 22 September 44 as unknown place.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

What we know is that IV./JG 54 lost 8 a/c and pilots on 21.9.44. I am not aware of any pure material losses, but there is still a chance.

For Bauer, Baur-Bargehr, Jung and Vogelbacher we know the exact crash location. Guse and Mieszala are still missing in the area but we have some indication where they might have crashed.

We also have several sites where the pilot FSA. However, not allways sure if this was 21.9.44. We do not exactly know where Jost, Olsen or Liebsch (III./JG 11) crashed. One definite location for a 21.9.44 crash with a FSA is the location at Harfsen. This should be one of these three, but we are not sure which one....

This has nothing to do with the loss reported in Prien for 22.09.44. I also doubt this loss as there was no 3. JD mission on 22.09.44.

John

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

On the 25 Sep 44 the IV/JG 54 intercepted the Mitchell II bombers of the 98 Sqd RAF in the Arnhem area on a bombing raid to Schaarsbergn. I know that two were shot down but I’m needing to know how many were in the formation and how many returned home with damage from German fighters.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

You can download their Operations Record Book free from the UK National Archives:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8384929

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8384928

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

I checked those in the past. No mention of other damaged a/c. There was also a Boston lost, but I did not check that.

J.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Thanks for the links John and Nick both have helped me fit the 25 -26 September 1944 into some order. The location of the recover of the two Mitchell II had verified at least one claim to one of the four pilots.

Re: IV/JG 54 info
 

Guessing you've seen this by now but just in case...

11 a/c of 98 Squadron took part, two of which FTR. The navigator of a/c "P" was wounded by flak but no mention is made of the damage to "P" nor of damage to any of the other a/c.

Source: 98 Squadron ORB

Can you share who's claim is verified and over which Mitchell?