Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Dear all

On 25 June 1944, during a big fight against US aircraft (304th Bomber wing / 15th USAAF, B-24, P-51, P-38), Werner Bauch Bf109 (JG200) is shot down in the Southeast of France, more precisely in the South east of “le Puy Sainte Réparade” (this is approx 20 km North of Aix en Provence).

Is there any US claim corresponding to this loss ?

Thanks a lot
Gilles

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Hello,

Two other Bf 109s of JGr. 200 were lost (Bf 109 G-6/U4 W.Nr. 440267 White 15, Fw Karl Berhardt WIA, died two days later & Bf 109 G-6/U4 W.Nr. 441303 White 13, Ogfr Gerhard Klauka KIA) in this area for 3-1-0 claimed by the 31st FG for no loss.

Only other claims are 0-0-2 by the 82nd FG for one loss.

More details here: https://www.ghostbombers.com/JG200/june_2.html

Regards

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Our friend Geoffrey Sinclair offers the following
According to the 15th Air Force Target and Duty Sheets for 25 June 1944,
Avignon/West 459th BG 0-1-0 Bf109
Sete 82nd FG 0-0-2 Bf109
Avignon 31st FG 3-1-1 Bf109

Online list,
BROWN CARL H, 2LT, AO00681601, 307FTR SQ
RIDDLE ROBERT E, 1LT, AO00677013, 307FTR SQ
MCCORKLE CHARLES M, COL, O00020239, 31FTR GP


I myself am curious about where the loss of Bauch appears? I can't find his loss mentioned anywhere.

Nick's well researched article - 2 losses, nothing on Bauch
Fred's book Point Blank Band 6/II - 2 losses, nothing on Bauch
Jochen & Gerhard's Jagdfliegerverbände Teil 13/IV - 1 loss, nothing on Bauch
(They have chosen to put one of these two losses on the 28th)

In the claims list Jochen et al state that Bauch Christian name was Karlheinz instead of Werner.

So, Gilles, I am curious from where you have found the loss of Bauch?

B Rgds
Geoffrey and Stig

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Hi Stig & Geoffrey

thanks for your interest.

I have several sources.

first, as a starting point, the grand niece of Werner Bauch contacted me asking if I could help her trace the story of her grand uncle and his crash place. she knew that he had been shot down in a Bf109 on 25 June 1944 near le puy sainte réparade.

I asked Matti who replied :
"There is no NVM in the WASt. I have only his DOB 2 July 1923 and EKM 4./FAR 11, Nr. 2991. I have the location “Südöstlich Puy bei Höhe 313”"

Then, through different contacts, I received the following :

A LFK Bf109G Abstürtz nach Luftkampf
100 % x Bauch werner Unteroffizier FAR 4,/ N. 2991 de la Fliegerausbildungsregiment
2991-f-020723-Halberstadt -
150 4-mots gegen Annecy-grenoble
/ 400 4-mots St-raphael,,
darunter 130 n,Lyon/150 gegen Toulouse/ + Jabo 130 Bomb. vers Lyon 150 vers Toulouse + Chasseurs bombardiers

and :


Bauch, Werner, Unteroffizier, 2./JGr.200, Abschuss einer P-51 „Mustang“ am 25.06.1944 um 09:34 Uhr (sein erster Luftsieg) in 5.000 m (bei Marseille) im Quadrat BL-CM. Film C. 2027/II Anerkennung Nr. 1. (flog Bf 109 G-6, Auszeichnung: EK 2)
Siehe: Liste Flugzeugführer der JGr.200 ñ und Fighter-claims Safarikovi / Tony Woods.


Siehe: Akte RL 8/80, Tagesbefehle des Jafü-Süd, Ende 1943 bis Juni 1944.

Tagesbefehl Nr. 6/44 Jagdfliegerführer Süd, vom 10.07.1944:

25.06.1944 Uffz. Bauch 2./JGr.200 Abschuss eines unbekannten feindlichen Flugzeuges (sein 1. Abschuss).

Volksbund.de > Bauch, Werner, Unteroffizier, * 02.07.1923, U 25.06.1944.
Er ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Dagneux (Frankreich)
Endgrablage: Block 33, Grab 248.


and I have also the death card with the same info;

so I am confident this is a true event.
your comments /suggestions are welcome;
best regards

Gilles

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

Thanks Gilles

Odd that his loss is not in the NVM, but his death certificate is quite valid.
Thanks for sharing that

B Rgds
Stig

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

So, I understand that Werner Bauch died on his first feindflug, though he had one P-51 recognized (how possible ?): correct ?

then, who could have shot him down ?

thanks for your view on this enigma.

best regards


Gilles

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

It is not uncommon in the Luftwaffe to give credit of a victory to a falling pilot (to somehow lessen that loss?). Maybe because on return the pilots reported they saw an enemy (at least that's what they thought) plane in flame and therefor gave credit to the missing pilot.

Identifying the exact victorious pilot, even with the 31st FG combat reports, is probably impossible.

Re: Claim on 25 June 1944 near Aix en Provence
 

The sources for Bauch's death are the registration card (which can be found online at www.fold3.com), Bundsearchiv RL 2-III/1044 (which lists one JGr. 200 pilot dead on 25 June 1944) and RL 2-III/823 (one JGr. 200 pilot killed by enemy action on an operational flight on 25 June).


From the UK National Archives, ULTRA decrypt CX/MSS/R.235(C),11 says:

Report No. 954 of 2/7, from Jafü SOUTH, IA:
Ref: Jafü SOUTH IA’s No. 940 of 25/6.
Subject: Supplement to monthly report of Jafü SOUTH FRANCE for June (25–30/6).
Operated on scrambles: 59 a/c, victories 2 4-engined a/c shot out of formation: 3 4-engined a/c and 3 S.E. a/c effectively shot up.
Losses: 1 Me 109 shot down, pilot killed. 1 Me 109 made forced landing, pilot injured (battle losses over our own territory).

As far as I remember, I got my American claims information from the late Frank Olynyk's lists and the the mission reports the 82nd FG website (which is no longer live). For the 31st FG, I probalby used https://www.wwiiaircraftperformance....t-reports.html


We can only guess how Bauch was given his victory credit but it is not impossible that another pilot witnessed the event and reported it. We obviously don't know if Bauch was able to call it in on the radio during the action.


P.S. Klauka's death is recorded by the above BA sources and his registration card as accidental, at 18.00 hrs. on 28 June at Aix-les-Milles. The BA sources also record one pilot wounded in action on the 29th (which I take to be Bernhardt) but CX/MSS/T230/16 says "… Fourthly, day 29th: … (D) Jafü South total effort 18 Me 109 sorties in 6 ops. No claims or losses."