JG51 Losses on July 19 1940
 

I am trying to identify the timing of the loss of III/JG 51 Bf 109s on 19 July 1940. Hptm Hans Trautloft and Oblt Otto Kath of the Stab Staffel returned with damaged aircraft from the well known engagement at approximately 12.45 with the Defiants of 141 Squadron, aided by 111 Squadron Hurricanes. Trautloft's own account, published in The Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain by Armand van Ishoven, describes how he and Kath returned with damaged aircraft. Artur Dau also flew on this sortie and in Alarmstart by Patrick Eriksson he states that "Our own losses in this mission amounted to two damaged aircraft without any pilot casualties". However, two pilots of 9/JG51 also returned with damaged aircraft on this date, Uffz Walter Miesala crash landed, wounded; Fw Karl Heilmann also crash landed and died the next day. Does anyone know if Miesala and Heilmann's combat damage was caused during the engagement with 141 and 111 Squadrons, or during a later combat at approximately 16.00 with aircraft from 32, 64, and 74 Squadrons?

Re: JG51 Losses on July 19 1940
 

The Defiant (and one Spitfire and a Hurricane) claims were 1342-1355 hrs but Kolbow and Lignitz's claims for 9./JG 51were 1650 & 1705 hrs so maybe that is a starter without FB support

Re: JG51 Losses on July 19 1940
 

Thanks Chris, the combat reports for the second JG51 combat at approx 1600 [1700 EST] describe 12 aircraft, so it is likely that just 9/JG51 were involved, hence the two claims that you describe and the two losses, all from the same Staffel.