Quote:
Originally Posted by Nokose
I have Eric Mombeek’s English version of the JG 4, which has no mention of the 29 September 1944 except in the loss list.
Hptm B. Hasenberg 10/JG Bf 109 1 km SW of Doetichem Survived
Fhr D. Fricke 10/JG 54 Bf 09 G-6 (441909) Crashed near Nijmegan MIA
Uffz H. Rüther 11/JG 4 Bf 109 G-1 (461477) Arnhem
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Hello I have the French version of Eric Mombeek’s JG 4 book, and 29 September 1944 is described at the end of Chapter 8 "Stab and III./JG 4 dans la bataille d'Arnhem" (Stab and III./JG 4 in the Arnhem battle). Book describes two known missions:
1) Gefechtsverband 1 (grouping III./JG 4, II./JG 27 and I./JG 76 - 63 fighters in all) took off at 10h30 to intercept Jabos in Arnhem area. Result: 16 losses (aircraft and pilots, 3 KIA/MIA for III./JG 4, 8 human losses for I./JG 76... so 5 losses for II./JG 27 but that is my deduction, the book says nothing about these) for 8 victories (5 Spitfires, 1 P-51, 1 P-47, 1 typhoon) and 2 probables (1 Spitfire)
2) Lt Hans Klaffenbach flew a ground attack mission between 15h15 and 16h30, but no other detail is known, and it may have involved only some pilots of III./JG 4.
Description of 29 Sep 1944 ends with a citation of Ofw Helmut Maul, of Stab III./JG 4, who says he flew twice that day as wingman of Kommandeur Eberle to lead III./JG 4. In one of these the formation was involved in an air battle but Eberle and Maul flying ahead of the formation only heard it on the radio and could not locate it.
Edited: the number of fighters for Gefechtsverband 1 is given as 63 but it is not clear in the text if this is the total strength of the unit or the numbers of fighters who flew this mission.