[Russell]

Other claims over Hungary
No details as to type or time, but this is what the Luftflotte 4 Tagesmeldung contained in the 6th Army records (found at Information from German Documents in Russia 500
Inventory 12472 - Army Nos. 1-10, 1937 - 1945 Case 382. Documents of the operational department of the headquarters of the 6th Army: the magazine ...
Case 382. Documents of the operations department of the headquarters of the 6th Army: military journal, Case A, vol. 29: daily reports for 05. - 12/31/1944 - reports on the situation of the operational and reconnaissance units of the Fretter-Pico army group)

summarize as what the claims were on the following days

23 Dec 44
Luftlage Frame Number 430/579
Sorties 287 of which 146 FW 190 ground attack, 26 tank attack, 6 Me 210, 91 fighter, 18 recce
Success 1 tank, 8Lkw, 36 besp Fahrzeuge,
8 aircraft shot down, 2 damaged
6 aircraft lost.
Comment
II/JG 52 a/c
Yak-9 1048
III/SG 10 IL-2 1230, 1233, 1455
3 short. Probably all II JG 52.

24 Dec 44
Luftlage 447/579
Sorties not listed
Success 14 tanks 10 Lkw, 9 besp. Fahrzeuge
8 aircraft shot down
Special Mentions. On 23 December 1944 achieved Hptm Hartmann his 328th aerial victory, OberstLtn Rudel his 2400 sortie.
Nachmeldung Luftlage 471/579
Sorties 179 ground attack, 12 tank attack, 4 Panzerschreck, 142 fighter 16 destroyer, 20 recce
Success Add 17 tanks 100 vehicles destroyed
Add 19 aircraft shot down, plus 2 with out witnesses and 7 damaged. Hptm Hartmann his 331 aerial victory. Possible total of 19 aircraft shot down
Comment Total claims, either 19 or 27 aircraft shot down, it is unclear whether the later report included the previous 8 claims in the total, or the late reports claims were in addition to the previous 8 claims.
II/JG 52 IL-2 1425
a/c 329th, 330th, 331st by Hptm Hartmann
I/JG 53 Il-2 0908, 1103, 1358, 1401, 1405, 1405,
La-5 0926, 0932, 1410
III/SG 10 IL-2 1105

5 or 13 short, also dependent on whether Barkhorn made claims on the 24th or 25th.

25 Dec 44
Luftlage 472/579
Sorties 164 assault, 99 fighter, 18 recce.
Success 2 T-34, 76Lkw destroyed
23 aircraft shot down with witnesses, 2 without witnesses, 2 damaged.
Lost 1 fighter and 2 a/c missing.
Special mention Hptm Hartmann 5 victories, 336 victory. Major Barkhorn 4 victories, 289 victory.
Comment
II/JG 52 Yak-9 1208, 1215
a/c 9 by Hartmann/Barkhorn (unless Barkhorns includes 2 supposedly on the 24th.)
I/JG 53 IL-2 1155, 1433
La-5 1346, 1347, 1433, 1435

I/SG 10 R-5 1220
IL-2 1510
Leaves 4 or 6 short.
Nothing for the rest of the year presumably bad weather hindered operations.

Regarding the 4th Feb 45

The source for Hartman's claim is Erich Somavilla who was his NO 2 on the mission. His flight log may indicate the time of the action. I have a vague memory it has been sold on E Bay

Otherwise, all I have is Tubel of I/JG 53 made two claims, a IL-2 and a La 5 at 1645 and 1650, Ewald claimed two La-5 and Elias Kuhlein of 5/JG 51 a Yak 9. What else II/JG 51 may have claimed is unknown to me. I have not looked for any Tagesmeldung for 1945 as yet.

Generally for Nov Dec 44 the daily totals mention are more than the known Luftwaffe claims, what I have yet to do is see if the difference is what the Hungarians were up to.

Regards

Russell