343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

I'm researching the loss of a Bf-109G pilot in 4./JG-27 on 24 April 1944 over SW Germany. Evidence points to his opponents as two pilots of the 343rd FS, 55th FG: 1st Lt. Clair D. Porter and 1st Lt. Arthur A. DeYoung. I would be most grateful to know if John Gray's "The 55th Fighter Group vs the Luftwaffe" might mention this action and whether anyone might even have the original encounter/action reports for the fight.

Thanks very much.

Best wishes,
John

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

You might find something on the Mustang Encounter Reports web page:

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

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

John, De Young isn't in there and Porter only mentioned on June 6 and 10 Sept. 1944

Nick

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

I have the book and some combat reports from the 55th, I'll look next time I have an opportunity.

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

Nothing in Double Nickel-Double Trouble or 55th FG vs the Luftwaffe for the date you seek, also nil on DeYoung and very little for Porter.:(

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

Apparently, on 24th April, Porter claimed 1 x Me109 destroyed and DeYoung 1 x Me109 damaged, both air-air and North-West of lake Constance. No details of the actual encounters though. I would think that the damaged claim would point you towards Porter in this case?

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

By the way, you will find nothing in the P-51 encounter reports as they were flying P-38s at the time!

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

Gentlemen,
Thanks for checking for me and especially for ruling out the 55th FG history as a source. I can understand why Gray might not have mentioned such a small skirmish. I did find in the WWII Aircraft Performance website an excellent analysis of the 24 April 1944 air actions around Munich itself, if not where Friedrich Heilmann's fight took place. Attached to the article was the text of the VIII Fighter Command's Narrative of Operations for that day, and that report is extremely useful.

The evidence does point to the 55th Fighter Group, with P-38s, that dived on a group of ME-109s that were attacking the rear box of the two lead B-17 combat wings from the 3rd Bomb Division heading in to bomb Friedrichshafen. The 109s "split S'ed for deck," 343rd Yellow flight making the claims of 1-1-0 air.

I still hope to find the reports for the 55 FG and 343 FS for that day and the encounter reports for Lt. Porter and Lt. DeYoung. I would much appreciate any advice as to where they might be located.

Thanks again.

Best wishes,
John

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

I would think that your only chance would be: 1 - the unit mission folders and 2 - Personal Combat Reports. Both of these are stored at Archives 2 at College Park, Maryland, and unfortunately not available on-line.

Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944
 

Peter,

Thanks. I was afraid of that. Do you know of a professional researcher familiar with these records whom I could commission to copy these particular documents for me?

Best wishes,
John