[John Manrho]

Matti,

Just saw your response....my answer is yes and no....

First, the crash was reported and also the body recovered by Fl.H.Kdtr.E(v) 204/XI which is Fliegerhorst Twente. They reported it with an NVM. That is the only NVM I know of this loss, I never could find anything from JGr West. I assume this is your source too. The original NVM of 10.10.1944 says;

26.09.1944, 14.45-15.00 Uhr, Fw 190, nördlich Strasse Neede-Rietmolen. Pilot an Uffz. was killed. EM 68455/468. Buried at Friedhof Rietmolen, Grave Nr. 1.

This was reported to proper channels and on 13.2.1945 Flh. Twenthe got info back that the EM belonged to Uffz. Wilhelm Roitinger, born. 15.2.1921.

As the EM number is an 4./JGr West number the name and this unit were added to the NVM and probably the next of kind were informed.

However, it is clear that the pilot must have belonged to an operational unit. 4./JGr West was a training unit and stationed at Märkisch Friedland at that time.

The only units that were flying on that time in that area and which were equipped with the Fw 190 were IV./JG 54 and III./JG 11. In the KTB 3. JD it is mentioned that these units flew operations between 13.45-14.40 and 13.35-14.39 (so times match) and reported following losses;

IV./JG 54: 1 missing (which is Uffz. Altendorf)
III./JG 11: 1 wounded and 3 missing

From III./JG 11 we know of only two losses (Hptm. Funck and Uffz. Barion, both wounded). So, as there are no other units with a possible match, it is 99% sure that Roitinger must have been part of III./JG 11.

Cheers,

John