[Jochen Prien]

There is indeed some confusion around Jürgen Harder's activities on September 25th, 1941; the following - somewhat contradicting - facts can be derived from the existing sources:

Flugbuch: September 25th, only one flight - take off from Konotop at 10.25 hrs, belly landing near Gremjatsch 12.25 hrs. Remarks: Emergency landing since poor visibility lead to complete loss of orientation. Aerial combat with six Vultee and 1 Pe 2, shot down one Vultee. Aircraft Bf 109 F-2, WNr. 9212, marking < o + I, the "o" with a vertical bar.

No flight at all on September 26th.

RLM claims list: 1 V-11 near Klimowka on September 26th, 11.40 hrs.

GQM loss list: Bf 109 F-2, WNr. 9212, belly landed owing to enemy fire ( Feindbeschuss ), damage 35%

The remark referring to Flak damage came from the notes of a former member of the ground personnel of III./JG 53; in the light of the remarks in the Flugbuch this seems to be incorrect.

It's up to everybody to draw his conclusions; I tend to believe that the date in the claims list is incorrect - probably a typo error - and that the remarks in the Flugbuch do actually give the complete and correct account of this sortie on September 25th, 1941.

Hope this helps

Jochen Prien