[Larry]

Keith, it was the 509th FS / 405th FG that lost three P-47Ds to JG54 on 22nd June 1944.

The 509th FS was tasked with providing top cover for the rest of the Group.
During the course of the mission Captain F. B. Kinne leading ‘A’ Flight, as escort to the 511th FS, turned his Flight back towards Dreux to investigate some unidentified aircraft, which turned out to be other P-47Ds. However on their return to catch up with the 511th FS, his Flight was ‘bounced’ by two Focke-Wulf Fw190s which dived to attack from 6 o’clock high, closely followed by a further fifteen plus aircraft from the same Staffel. In the ensuing melee three of the 509th pilots were shot down; Lt E.G. Wilk became a Prisoner of War, Lt F.J. Boryczka avoided capture and returned to his unit on 26th August 1944 but Lt L.G. Zahn was killed. Only Captain Kinne returned, to report what had happened. III/JG 54, claimed these P-47Ds as downed near Dreux-Evreux-Chartes, at exactly the same time as the 509th FS were in the area. Claims were made for the three Thunderbolts by Uffz. Erwin Schleef of 9/JG 54 near Bernay at 21.12 hrs, Ofhr. Gunther Zilling of 9/JG 54 near Bernay at 21.12 and Uffz Otto Venjakob of 7/JG 54) near Evreux 21.22.

A further claim for a P-47D was made by Lt. Hans Dortenmann of 2/JG54 near Rouen at 21.20 but this was further north than the others so almost certainly relates to another action with Allied fighters.