III/JG26 history research
 

Hello,

First, sorry for my english, but ther is 25 years then I'haven't practised...

With some friends, I'm seaching all informations about the III/jg26 which was established at Chièvres in Belgium between 1942-1944.

Then, I'm searching all informations about the III/jg26 when they were on this base.

I'm looking for photography, papers, letters, or materials, for our museum:
http://www.opt.be/tourisme/descripti...V&ELTOID=47572

The story of the chièvres airbase at:
http://www.usagbenelux.eur.army.mil/...y/history1.htm

We need you and your help could be great thing for our museum. ypour help is very important.

If you have informations for the Italian 43rd Group period between 1940-1942, i'm also interrested.

Most difficult, all informations about the first use of the airport by the germans in 1917 is also researched...

Thank you for your help, thank you for our museum.

Herchuel Philippe

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Hi Herchuel,

Suggest you try and get hold of Volume I and II of "The JG 26 War Diary" by Don Caldwell, it's a day by day unit history.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Thanks for the information. Do you knows if these books are published in french?

I'm also looking for all photo's if someone have that i'll be very glad to have copies...

Thanks a lot.

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Hello Herchuel; I am stationed at Chievres currently. I have spoken with a Daniel Leleu, Same Museum perhaps? Peter Celis has a very good book covering the airfields of Belgium during WWII. Runways to Victory has a good amount of detail concerning axis and allied units stationed at Chievres. Also at a website that directed me to this website
http://www.feldgrau.com/ a member by the name of Lorenz pointed me to the following units being at Chievres at one time or another:

I./KG 6 (14.02.44 - 18.03.44)
II./KG 30 (21.07.44 - 29.07.44)
II./KG 76 (12.07.44)
II./LG 1 (14.06.44 - 16.06.44)

I am willing to help you where I can maybe with some pictures as well. Feel free to contact me if needed. kingsaltine@hotmail.com

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Hello DrunkEwok, yes, you're right, it the museum that you have spoken with Daniel Leleu.

In fact, I went to the museum there's three weeks ago, after a message of Daniel on my virtual squad forum where I spoke about the chièvres airbase.
He told me that all helps were well done for the museum. Then I try to research informations about all this time and also about the period of the WWI when germans came in 1917.

My principal investigations are only on this two periods.

Also, and more personnaly, I'm searching all informations about Lt Ben Martin T. pilot fighters of the 357th FS, 355th FG who crashed at Ath on 29/01/1944 after a fight over Koblenz. He was hid by my father-in-law and his brother in the attic of their house. My father-in-law always has its jacket of pilot and its whistle.

I'm open to all documents to help the museum.

(I hope that my english is clear...)

Best regards

Herchuel Philippe

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

I will see what I can find out to help.

Your story sounds like the one of the Royal Flush crew near the base. The communities were very helpful during those times we needed them.

And your English is doing just fine.

Regards,

Jarrod

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Thanks a lot for your help.

I live near the Shape, approximately 7 miles from Chièvres, and during May to september, I go to the market at Maisières, perhaps we could have a meet at this occasion.

Also, I forget to relate that my grandfather was a "resistant", member ou the "Groupe G". He was captured on 7/06/1944 after a denonciation. He was transfered in Germany and was liberated by american forces on 1945. He came back in 1946. He always said that when he saw the first G.I he wanted to kiss him...

See you soon...

Best regards

Herchuel Philippe

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Ben returned to England in late May 1944 and returned to States in accordance with practice to protect the Underground in case downed again.

Attached is a picture. I added the names of your father-in-law and his brother to my combat diary for the 355th FG. You may use the picture as you wish.

Regards,

Bill Marshall

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Thanks a lot drgondog, I'll gonna print it for my father-in-law, I think it could be a good souvenir for him....

It's fantastic... thanks again...

Do you have a website relating the story of the 355th?

Bests regards

Herchuel Phlippe.

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Here are two links that can help you get more information on the the 355th. Both sites have a great bunch of helpful people like here.

http://www.8thafhs.org/forums.htm

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=355

Regards,

Jarrod

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Thanks Jarod, I'm happy to have information about 1st Lt Martin. B. Truman.

I've talking to my mother-in-law about my research, because my father-in-law is hospitalized and is too illness to understand what I'm talking about. I hope he restablished soon for more informations having about the real crashzone, because all informations are not so precise.

I hope having a lot af informations like these about the story of Chièvres Airfield between 1940 and 1944 by other members of the forum.

Your Truly,

Spitfire220

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Hello everyone

drgondog, I've sent you a message with new elements about Lt Ben Martin T.

Well, does anyone whom could say if Martin is still alive? I've his last adress but his letter was sent to my father-in-law in 1994... I don't know if he always living at this adress...

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Hello, after more and more research, and with the death of my father-in-law on last 10th of august, I had to make order in all paper at his home.

So I found a little book that Lt Ben Martin T send to him in 1994. This is an autobiography were he relate all his story from the moment he decided to join the airforces to the moment he came back to USA.

This dedicated book is very precious and have a lot of informations.

I try now to find more pictures of him, its plane, for more illustrate its novel.
I found that the name of its plane was "REDDY FOR ACTION" and no "READY FOR ACTION" like i found on a lot of forum. it was in relation to the red hair's lady painted oon the nose of the plane. She was painted by the sergeant who was charged to survey it's plane.

I read too that a bomber pilot of B17 took some pictures of B.T. Martin during a fly. Lt. Roland McRae who arrived at Steeple Morden. I know, by reading this one that Lt Martin had these photo's in its collection...

If I could have more informations about Lt. Roland McRae, perhaps could I have a copy of these photos.

A friend gave me a replica of the Martin's P47. But I'm sure that the painting is not correct. Also, he do the mistake with the name and called it "Ready For Action"...


http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3...lanedj5.th.gif

Bests regards,

Spitfire220,

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

There's anybody who have pictures of planes used by the the 357th FS, 355th FG, eventually for repainting this kit plane...?

B.R,

Spitfire220

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Evidently Major Klaus Mietusch was shot down by two 8th AF aces: 352nd's Virgil Meroney (8 Mar 44, No. 8 immediately after Mietusch's 60th) and 361st's Wm Beyer (17 Sep 44, No. 6?) Beyer became an ace in a day with claims for five 190s. Mietusch's previous nine defeats resulted in some wounds but after 75 Abschusse the III/JG26 Kommandeur was KIA.

http://aviationlandscapes.blogspot.com/2007/07/virgil-meroney-downs-klaus-mietusch.html

Incidentally, 44 of Mietusch's victories have been identified, including two of his 16 Russians.

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/mietusch.html

I don't know how his victors were idenfied among the other combatants, but wonder how many other aces have been shot down by two or more aces.

Re: III/JG26 history research
 

Thanks Gunther, I suppose that these planes were dark green painted... Was it the same at the 357th FS, 355th FG, because the reference you give are from aces of the 352nd and 361st...