[RodM]

Hi,

with regards to the supposed claim on 18-19 Feb 1945, the data from the Foreman/Parry claims book originates from the list prepared by the late Emil Nonnenmacher (with much of that also compiled by Hans Ring). Unfortunately, the supporting information for the Nonnenmacher lists became scattered to the wind when the collection was sold off after his death.

In this case, there are two claims for the 18-19 Feb 1945 in the Nonnenmacher list (and hence in the Foreman/Parry book) - by Oblt. Reuter and Hptm. Dreher, both of 12./NJG3. I have certainly seen no provenance to confirm the validity of these two reputed claims, but can state that according to a Luftlagemeldung by OKL FüSt Ic, only one Abschuss was claimed by the Nachtjagd on this night.

To further cloud the issue, it can be proven that the Nonnenmacher listing has many erroneous entries, and I have heard that there were many deliberately false entries inserted by Nonnenmacher himself as an 'anti-theft' device against other researchers publishing his lists (I've found quite a few such entries for the 1945 period).


With regards to the claim on 15-16 Jan 1945, I suspect that it could have been made the following night, but, again, no documentary source has been cited to confirm a claim by Dreher on either night.

Thus, in the absence of any solid documentary info, the specific published details of Dreher's alledged 1945 claims should be taken with a grain of salt...

Cheers

RodM