Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurent Chambon
Konrad Bauer claims were located :
[15 Ost S/MU] Lichtenau/Rotenburg a.d. Fulda 7000m (Homologated)
[15 Ost S/MU] Lichtenau/Rotenburg a.d. Fulda 3500m (Homologated)
[NT] Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain 50m (ASM)
|
I have slightly different data on Konrad Bauer's last claim: Schwalmstadt-Alsfeld. 10 Miles south of Alsfeld there is the town of Meiches. Around noon 2nd Lt. Frank W. Holliday of the 369th FS/359th FG was killed and his P-51D 44-14307 IV-P crashed, 1km north of Meiches.
Bauer claims this victory at 11:58 at 50m altitude, which matches closely enough (eye witnesses from the Meiches area report a battle low overhead).
Also at the same time another aircraft came down here, shot down by enemy aircraft: an Fw 190 A-8, flown by Gerhard Piel of 5./JG 300 - the same unit as Bauer! Piel crashed near the village of Windhausen, 4 km northeast of Holliday's crash site. It seems likely that Holliday, having lost his flight, found himself in combat with this Fw 190 and managed to bring it down, only to fall victim to Bauer next. (
source)
And there's yet another crash site here on this date: an Me 109 which came down at Helpershain, just 4 km southeast of Holliday's crash site. I have no data on the pilot or unit for this crash. (
source)
Is it possible that Frank Holliday, who appears to have been on his own at this time, shot down both these aircraft before being killed by Bauer?
Holliday died of a strike to the head, likely being killed by a bullet before crashing. The MACR states for cause of death:
"Death probably by shot in the head. The other injuries by crash."
How was Piel related to Bauer? Was he his wingman by any chance? Both pilots were, or became, aces.
I understand Bauer came down in Nordhausen, a good while away to the northeast, so his crash is probably unrelated to this particular combat. For the record he flew Fw 190 A-8/R2 WNr.681469 "Red 21" - cause also enemy aircraft. (
source)
I've compiled and uploaded the MACR for Frank Holliday:
http://www.digitalaviationart.com/fo...2044-14307.pdf
The first page is all fuzzy, but the rest is clear.
(source: Fold3.com)
NB. 20 minutes earlier, Frank Holliday was flying wing to Lt. John H. Keur and involved in combat with Me 109s north of Erfurt, one of which he is credited shooting down before last seen. Keur, who also destroyed a 109, joined up with some 357th FG Mustangs and together they flew back to England