German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Hi,

I am looking for planes' losses reported by German units which were on the Bourges airfield, France at the time of a strafing carried out by several squadrons belonging to 354th Fighter Group (April 5, 1944). According to a list I have, an Arado of 3./JG 105 was lost and its pilot killed but it was not because of this attack. Several US pilots stated many Me110 destroyed on the ground. If there is a possibility to learn a little more about...


Best regards,
Frederic

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

5 April? The big raid on Bourges was on 10 April when 81 aircraft were destroyed or damaged on the ground (no Bf 110s). I have no information on a 5 April attack.

L.

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Frederic,

on 5 April the Allied fighter were active over Bavaria, at Öttingen 10 Bf 110 became damaged and at Neubiberg a further four (damaged and destroyed).

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

For the 354th Fighter Group this date, at Bourges the 353rd Squadron claimed 3 Me 110's damaged while the 356th Squadron claimed 2 Me 110's destroyed, a Me 410 destroyed, a FW 190 destroyed and a Me 110 damaged. At Chateaudun, the 356th Squadron claimed a Me 110 and Me 410 destroyed plus a Fi 156 damaged. Can not help at all on any German units involved.

Kent

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Frederic -

You probably already searched Google and have this:

http://books.google.com/books?id=1Ku...201944&f=false

I can say with certainty that there were no Bf 110 units station at Bourges on 5 April, but it is always possible that some Bf 110s might have been passing through. It is even more possible that these were not Bf 110s but rather older model He 111s or Si 204s belonging to FFS B 15. In any event, it does not appear that any of these aircraft were lost or damaged at Bourges on 5 April according to the Gen.Qu.(6.Abt.) loss reports for the schools. Perhaps none were? Perhaps the 354th's claims were just that - claims? Or perhaps these were Si 204Ds built by the Siebel Flugzeugwerke K.G. at Bourges and were never entered into the loss reports because they were the property of the factory and had not yet been delivered to the Luftwaffe? The Si 204D could be mistaken for a Bf 110 because it was twin-engined and had a similar tail configuration.

L.

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Thanks a lot for all your answers. I have a copy of the FFS B 15 war diary and there are no entries regarding losses for that day. So Larry, you are perhaps right by saying that it was Siebel 204 (yes, they have a shape close to the Bf 110) from the SNCAC factory (for Societe Nationale Aeronautique du Centre) located near the airfield. In a report, a pilot stated that he made a pass over planes lined up (…not yet delivered I assume) which might confirm your thoughts.

Best regards,
Frederic

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

The Bavarian losses on April 5 was solely 355th FG attacking Landsberg, Oberphaffenhofen, Ottingen. 8 air, 46 ground, 81 Damaged.

The 355th (354FS) hit Bourges on April 10 with claims of 5-0-10 on the ground

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Hello Bill,

Merci beaucoup for these additional details. The attack that day was carried out by 354th FG fighters and it strongly seems that all losses are planes from the nearby factory. For April 10, I have the full list...and what a list! (Bombing and strafing).

Warmest regards from France,
Frederic

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Bonjour Larry do you have the list (only number by type) of the 81 aircraft destroyed or damaged at Bourges the 10 april 1944 ?

Thank you very much

Alain

Re: German Losses after 9th AF strafing April 5, 1944 on French airdrome
 

Hi Alain,

Planes on April 10, damaged to varying extents.

JG 105:
Bf109 x 2 – Ar96 x 3 – W34 x 1 – Bf108 x 1 – Fw56 x 10 – Bu131 x 14 – Ar68 x 4 – Ar66 x 6 – Na57 x 10

FFS B15:
He111 x 10 – Ju52 x 1 – Fw58 x 12 – Si204 x 10


Regards,
Frederic