[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by Erich

It appears that two gruppen of JG 301 possibly were flying in a large Gefechstverband with all of JG 300. Reason enough for P-51 pilots to feel they had the whole of the Luftwaffe in front of them. Although it was quite overwhlming for some 14 Luftwaffe gruppen to take on over 800 US fighters.

Thank you Erich, but your reply has prompted a few other questions.

Is it true that JG 300 and JG 301 launched a total of five gruppen, and could you please identify the other nine gruppen?

Originally Posted by Erich

81 German craft were lost with 35 KIA and 14 wounded. Not too good a fare for claims of some 11 P-51's eh ? A definate height advantage for the US escort fighters in this almost one sided engagement.

You meant 81 aircraft was the total lost by all 14 gruppen or just the combined losses of JG 300 and JG 301?

Originally Posted by Erich

The area you are researching with the contact of P-51's- 352nd, 353rd and 357th fg's with the 2 Geschwaders is in the area of the Harz mountains

I believe you are correct, but not all three USAAF groups appeared at the same time. Twelve Mustangs from the 359th FG were also engaged -- the rest of their P-51s (about 40 planes) had been dispersed by heavy flak, and most had returned to base because they ejected their drop tanks earlier.