[Eagle0025]

I too am seeking detailed information about JG76, in particular III./JG76, because of a large dogfight they were in with P-38s of the 474th FG on 25 Aug 44. III./JG 76 was a very short-lived outfit. The group was created in May 1944 by retraining ex-RVT Bf110 pilots to become Bf109 pilots to supplement rapidly depleting fighter forces in Northern France. The group did not have much success, suffered terrible losses (at least 21 losses in the aforementioned 25 Aug 44 fight) and were eventually absorbed into JG53 as IV./JG53 on 25 Oct 44. There is an excellent article about the group in a magazine called Jet & Prop, May 1991 issue. There is also some information on them in the excellent book on the history of JG53 by Jochen Prien. Unfortunately, these are the only two pieces of documentation that I have been able to locate.

I checked on Buchberger, Barcer, and Marz. I did find a reference to a Obfw. Buchberger in Prien's book. It shows he was a member of II./JG53 and later IV.JG53. He could have been one of the few surviving pilots that transferred from JG76. It shows Buchberger was lost in a morning dogfight with P-51s shortly after taking off from Stuttgart-Echterdingen on 23 March 45. Buchberger was a Schwarmfuhrer at that time. I could find nothing on Barcer or Marz. Hope this helps.

Cheers, Gary Koch (474th FG Association Historian)