[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

The information posted regarding the alleged action on 5 August 1944 is in agreement with what I have read previously in that it is based mainly on the testimony of a B-17 crewman but not much else. It should be noted that even before this date there were reports of encounters with the Me 163, including on 28 July 1944 when eight P-51 fighters of the 359th FG, USAAF had contact with five aircraft of 1./JG 400, 29 July 1944 when Capt Arthur Jeffery of the 479th FG, USAAF claimed to have shot down a Me 163 but apparently only damaged it and 2 August 1944 when a F-5 reconnaissance aircraft was attacked but no known claims were made by the pilots of the rocket fighters on any of these dates. I honestly wonder how accurate is the information by Späte that Ryll claimed a B-17 in the first week of August 1944. I have found only the following claims for this pilot in Wood which is in agreement with most lists which credit this pilot with eight victories:

14 January 1943: Unteroffizier Hartmut Ryll of 1./JG 77 claims a P-40E
24 March 1943: Unteroffizier Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a Hurricane II
7 April 1943: Feldwebel Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a Spitfire at 9:02
2 July 1943: Feldwebel Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a Spitfire at 12:50
5 July 1943: Feldwebel Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a B-17 at 11:45
3 August 1943: Feldwebel Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a Spitfire V at 17:05 over 48 293 at 3,500 meters
30 August 1943: Feldwebel Hartmut Ryll of 2./JG 77 claims a P-38 at 12:30 over the Ischia area at 10 meters
16 August 1944: Leutnant Hartmut Ryll of 1./JG 400 claims a B-17 HSS at 10:52 north of Brandis at 6,000-7,000 meters

Perhaps Späte simply got the date wrong?

Horrido!

Leo