[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I've examined the reference photos in the Jagdwaffe volume, and this aircraft could be either 4. or 6./JG54, but likely is 4 staffel. It is definitely the same a/c seen in the two photos in the Mombeek Volume. The things that we know is that this is in a camouflage pattern without yellow ID markings, which probably dates this prior to about the 2nd week of August, 1940, but definitely during the BoB, so July or early August, 1940. The thing that bothers me about the ID of this as "White 1," is the position of the "1" in the photo published in Mombeek. It is so far forward that it is much more likely to be "1X" in the range from 10 to 15, but is not likely to be just "1." See the example of "Yellow 10" on P. 318 of Prien's JFV #4/II for an example. Moreover, there was another 4 Staffel pilot who had a victory total by this period that could account for this a/c, Obfw. Maximilian Stotz, who got his 9th on July 8th. Since Philipp did not move up to StaKap of 4th Staffel until August 25th, when you would expect that he might have taken over "White 1," and this was photographed earlier than that due to the absence of yellow campaign markings, this could still be Philipps a/c, but carrying a "1X" a/c number, rather than "White 1."

At this point, the actual plane number is only likely to be determined by further photography showing that clearly. Even then, it could still be either Phillip or Stotz, assuming that this is a 4 Staffel a/c.

So, unless Mombeek is working from something more than interpretation of the two photos in his book, his ID of this as Philipp's a/c and "White 1" has to be highly suspect.

Regards,