Luftwaffe claim 1 Jan 1945 - BE-NL border area -'Auster' type

[Leendert]

Towards noon on 1 Jan 1945 two Bf-109s shot down an L-1 Vigilant of the USAAF 125th Liaison Squadron, making a routine flight between Maastricht (NL) and Liège (BE). One occupant of the light plane was killed (S/Sgt William W. Fletcher), two more escaped more or less unscathed.

I wonder if any LW claim has survived that points to the location of this shoot down? More often than not, LW-claims of US L-types (L-4 Cub, L-5 Sentinel...) were also reported as 'Auster', so references to latter type may be useful as well.

Any leads welcome, thanks.

Leendert

[Chris Goss]

John and Ron's book acknowledges the loss and that it was probably JG 4 but no further details as to claimants

[Leendert]

Thanks. A friendly forumnite suggested the name of Oblt. Hans-Martin Markhoff of 8./JG 4 who appears to have claimed an 'Auster', but no location known or reported.

Leendert

[Chris Goss]

According to the book, four Austers/artillery spotters were shot down that day. Two by JG 53, one probably by JG 4 and one by fighters so it would appear that there was nothing definite as to who got the L-1. No doubt John Manrho will comment