SG4 losses 26-12-1944

[Brian Bines]

The book 'To Win the Winter Sky' states 7 Fw190F-8s of SG4 took off to attack US positions near Bastogne this day. On the return flight they were engaged by two Typhoons and two P-47s losing Hpt. Jungellausen, Hpt Schurmer, Ofw Weinrich and Ofw Zumkeller, the loss of an Oblt Eissele is also noted in this period. Are any further details of these losses available please,

Regards

Brian Bines

[G.R.Morrison]

Fw 190F-8 WNr. 582293 “gelbe 2” Hptm. Heinz JUNGCLAUSEN, 3./SG 4 Staffelkapitän. KIA in Luftkampf with RAF fighters. Salbing bei Borbach nördlich Soon Woods. Jungclausen was a very experienced ground-attack pilot who had flown over 1,000 ops.

Fw 190F-8 WNr.581016 “weiße 11” Hptm. Erich Schümer, 1./SG 4 Staffelführer. KIA in Luftkampf. 1km S. of Aßmannshausen

Fw 190F-8 WNr.683600 Ofw. Heinrich Weinreich, 6./SG 4 MIA after Luftkampf. Bastogne

Fw 190F-8 WNr.933475 “gelbe 16” Ofw. Karl Zunkeller, 7./SG 4 MIA after Luftkampf. Raum Bastogne

Hope this helps, GRM

[Brian Bines]

Thank you very much, that answers my questions,

Regards

Brian Bines

[G.R.Morrison]

You're welcome. I didn't seem to have anything on Eissele, but perhaps if you can supply any further details something might match up.

GRM

[Brian Bines]

Thanks, the same book mentions the loss of Oblt Eissele on 24th Dec. in combat with P47s, along with Ofw. Zotloterrer POW. On a previous thread I was given the loss details for Vogel, Kobuhs, Paschke and Bohrmann of SG4 on the 24th but no mention of Eissele, so I assume he may have been lost in the period but not on the 24th.

[RT]

On 24.th 3 more planes were lost + one damaged to wich extand ??? Probably the one of Oblt Eissele after an encounter with P51, pilot unwounded plane ??? S 09H20 L 10H20 prob. at unit flying-place
all details coming from KTB SG4

O

[RT]

On 25. a Bohrmann was killed during a "Verlegungflug" so flight to reach action-departure place
On 26. 4 pilots lost, + 1 making a non-damageproof landing + one return to his base without his mount a time considered as lost

Rémi

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Remi, looked up in the John Manrho/Ron Putz Bodenplatte book page 47 and it states on the 24th Dec. 'Oblt Herbert Eissele St.Kap. of 7/SG4 received numerous hits in the fuslage and wings but he managed to reach German lines'. So as your KTB document says his was the reported damaged aircraft,

Regards

Brian Bines

[RT]

Eissele probably an "alten Fuchs" sta.ka. by SKG10 on 1943, by Bodenplatte returned quite soon to base due to Tech. problems, still activ on 7 Jan. seems to hv seen the first day after the ne ending the war

Rémi

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

Leutnant Herbert Eissele joined 9./S.K.G. 10 on 11 May 1943 from the Schlacht-Ergänzungsgruppe. His first mission was on 21 May 1943, to Malta. On 5 July 1943 he claimed a Spitfire damaged in aerial combat. He flew at least seventeen missions in the Mediterranean theatre in 1943 with 9./S.K.G. 10. In 1944 Oberleutnant Eissele led the Staffel after it was re-designated 7./S.G. 4. On 23 September 1944 he shot down an Il-2 over Latvia. He was posted missing as an Oberleutnant on 24 March 1945, still in command of 7./S.G. 4.


Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com