[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Adriano,

It seems that Kuffner, Nossek and Bromen were all shot down by 350 (Belgian) Squadron. This is what Christopher Shores and Chris Thomas have written in their excellent 2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3, page p. 519:

"...An hour or so later three pilots from 350 Squadron saw 20 Fw 190s trying to land on a strip south of the Schweriner See. Plt Off D.J. Watkins claimed two shot down, as did Flt Lt P.M. Bangerter, while Flt Sgt G. Gigot claimed a fifth; one more was then shot down by these three pilots jointly, while Watkins attacked another which was taxiing, claiming damage to this also.

It seems very likely that they had caught the Fw 190Fs of I(Pz)./SG 9 returning from a rocket attack on Allied armoured vehicles, and as they were going in to land, they lost six of their number. Amongst those shot down and killed were Ritterkreuzträger Hptm Andreas Kuffner, the Kommandeur of the Gruppe, who had also recently received the Eichenlaub after claiming 60 tanks destroyed, and the 3. Staffelkapitän, Oblt Rainer Nossek. A third holder of this decoration, Oblt Wilhelm Bromen, Kapitän of 1. Staffel, was seriously wounded, but claimed to have shot down one of the attacking Spitfires. Fw Gottfried Wagner and Obfr Wilhelm Morsch also lost their lives."

Shores and Thomas also add that all these 350 Squadron´s claims were made at Schwerin Lake area at 10:45 hrs.

Hope this helps a little,

Ota