Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

I came across this interesting story, and I thought someone might know more about it:
On August 4th 1944 the 8th AF went after targets in Hamburg and Bremen areas. The escorting fighters - 353rd, 356th and 339th FGs - all scored heavily, but against Bf 109s.
One victory credit was different and it caught my attention. One Mustang of 359th FG with engine malfunction turned for Sweden. It was escorted by two more of the same unit. On their way the three P-51s were engaged by a "Me 110", and Lt. Wilson Baker shot it down. The Mustangs were desperately short of fuel by then and all three landed in Sweden.
Now, for the other side (?) of the story:
On that day three He 219s of Stab NJG 1 were scrambled from Aalborg-West on a daylight mission against the USAAF raid. One aborted shortly after takeoff. The other two apparently ran into U.S. fighters and were lost. All four German airmen, Maj. Fritz von Buchholz, Hptm. Walter Prues and their radio operators, were killed.
I have a feeling that these two stories are somehow intertwined. If you look at the map, the three Mustangs going to Sweden must have flown in the vicinity of Aalborg. Could anyone contribute any more info?

Tom

Re: Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

Check http://www.flensted.eu.com/g1944107.shtml


The aircraft belonged to Schul. St./ NJG 1and was coded G9+HX.
T/o Grove. Op: Interception of American bombers.

The Bf 110 piloted by Hauptman Fritz von Buchholtz was by radar vectored towards what was believed to be a single American bomber heading for Sweden.
It turned out to be two American Mustangs flying close together.

Mustang P 51D serial number 44-13939 coded CS-W piloted by Captain Raymond B. Lancaster of the 370 Fighter Squadron suffered from low oil pressure and headed by for Sweden escorted closely by P 51B serial number 43-6461 coded CS-Q and nicknamed „Hot Pants“. It was piloted by Lt. Wilson K. Baker. Also escorting it was P 51B serial number 43-12463 coded CS-F and piloted by Lt. Richard O. Rabb of 370 Fighter Squadron.

When the Bf 110 was sighted by the Mustangs, Rabb and Baker attacked and Baker shot it down.
At 16:08 it crashed in Giesegaard forrest near Slimminge.

Before the crash Wop Unteroffizier Rudi Freund and the Engineer had been ordered by von Buchholtz to bail out and thus saved their life by parachute while von Buchholtz died in the crash.
One of the crew landed safely in a field belonging to „Kaabæk“ gaard farm while the other landed in a field belonging to „Korsgaarde“ farm. They were shortly picked up by members of the Wehrmacht.
Hauptman Fritz von Buchholtz`s body was retrieved from the wreckage when the fire had burned down and was laid to rest in Vestre cemetery in København on 10/8 at 15:00 hrs. The ceremony took place by the grave.

Re: Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

Excellent info, thank you

Re: Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

Tom, the only credit for a twin engine fighter was the "Me 110" by Baker over "Denmark"..

MACR 7432 states "Do 217" on page two.. witness report on pg 4 states heard "two Do 217s" so you may be right Tom - chalk it up to poor a/c ID as these may have been the two He 219s you are speculating about.

Re: Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

Hello
IMHO Both Oblt Walter Prues and his WOP Fw Josef Peters were killed at 2 km south east Maribo (Denmark). Air gunner Unteroffizier Heinz Aleit managed to get out of the aircraft and saved his life by parachute and landed near a German post.

Their Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 WNr 140317 G9+SR was shot down during a daytime combat with a Boeing B-17.

See: http://www.flensted.eu.com/g1944106.shtml and http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...?f=49&t=104448

Juha

Re: Mustangs of 359th FG vs. He 219?
 

Thank you all for your input, very informative indeed. A Happy New Year to you all :)