Quote:
Originally Posted by Karoband
Hi Nick,
I concur that III./EJG 2 was assimilated without authorization by JV 44 and that Bär considered himself as directly subordinate to Galland.
best regards,
Jim
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None of the surviving General Quartiermeister documents I've seen records the disbandment of III./EJG 2 but a tentative timeline can be pieced together from other sources:
23 April:
Luftflotte 6 reports separate strength figures for "J.G. Baer" and "J.G. 44".
24 April:
During the afternoon, Ofw. Nitschke of 1.(F)/100 flies an operation from Lechfeld (III./EJG 2's base) but lands at Riem.
Also that afternoon, workshop staff are ordered to leave Lechfeld for Erding after Me 262s and jet engines are evacuated.
That evening Luftflotte 6 reports a combined strength for "J.G. Baer" and "J.G. 44", including 35 pupils.
25 April:
Luftflotte 6 gives an evening strength figure for "J.G. 44" only.
26 April:
Luftflotte 6 asks Luftwaffenkommando West for an immediate report on who authorised III./EJG 2's disbandment.
US 12th Armored Division seizes bridge over the River Wertach at Hiltenfingen during the evening (just over 10 km from Lechfeld).
27 April:
At 0430 (GMT+2) US units ordered to reconnoitre crossing points over the River Lech, arriving about 0830.
Since Lechfeld airfield was west of the river, presumably it was captured that morning.