[David E. Brown]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the information.

I found Birtciel on the 55th FG website - www.55th.org and it indicates that regarding the Me 262 he has a single shared claim (air) and a damaged (air) regarding the Me 262:

25 February 1945 (.5) Me-262 destroyed (air)Geibelstadt
22 March 1945 Me-262 damaged (air) Schwabisch-Hall

I could not match the Schwabisch-Hall encounter with any Luftwaffe records that might identify the aircraft and pilot. Assuming that the guncam images are from his shared claim, then this took place on February 25, not March 22. If so, the aircraft might be this one:

Me 262 A-1a, WNr.110947, 'B3+DP', 6./KG(J) 54: Fw. Heinz Clausner was KIA on 25 February 1945 while on a training flight from Kitzingen, shot down by a P-51 possibly of the 55th FG, southeast of Giebelstadt at Giebelstadthofen. 'B3+DP'. (W.Nr. originally given as 111641, of 5./KG(J) 54 but corrected in an amendment dated 25 March 1945).

I could not match the other half of the 25 February event shared claim with any other 55th FG pilots. Based on narratives in Hess’ book (p.78), Birtciel appears to have finished off an Me 262 just prior to it crashing and exploding (no bail-out or chute) that was initially attacked and later claimed by Lt. John F. O’Neil. They note that Birtciel did not make a claim and it would appear that the claim was later determined to be shared.

Cheers,

David