|
Re: Uffz. Gustav Frey crash 22 September 1943
According to Prien, III./JG 1 was based at Leeuwarden in September 1943 with the individual Staffeln operating from different airfields as the tactical situation dictated. It's mission was to intercept Allied light bomber, fighter and fighter-bomber attacks on German-occupied airfields in northern France, Belgium and Holland. Frey's 9./JG 1 operated mostly from Woensdrecht during mid-August and early September, but may have then returned to Leeuwarden. After 7 September, the air situation quieted and III./JG 1 had no casualties due to enemy contact for the next two weeks. On 22 September, elements of 9. Staffel were probably scrambled to intercept a P-47 sweep along the North Sea coast that took place around noontime. Prien gives no details and just states that Frey's "Yellow 9" took multiple hits from German Flak and Frey was wounded. He then baled out over the Ijsselmeer. Enkhuizen is 64 km SW of Leeuwarden so this would suggest that 9. Staffel had returned there and was no longer operating from Woensdrecht.
[Source: Prien, Jochen and Peter Rodeike. Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945. 3 Teile (volumes). Eutin: Struve-Druck, c. 1993-94. Teil 1 (1939-43, ISBN: 3-923457- 21-9), page 452.]
L.
|