Viterbo 19 February 1944

[Guy JULIEN]

I'm looking for losses suffered by JG 51, JG 53 and JG 77 in the vicinity of Viterbo Italy.on the 19th of February 1944. 52nd FG claimed 8 but lost 6 Spitfires, German claimed 9...
Thanks for your answer.

Guy JULIEN

[Nick Beale]

Hallo Guy,

Jochen Prien's JG 77 and JG 53 histories cover these actions at some length but here is what ULTRA has to say (all times are GMT):

CX/MSS/R. 102 (B)
41. From Battle HQ (Roman) I JG. 77 on 19/2:
Serviceable aircraft 2
Pilots ready 17.

42. Signed IA, stamped 1700/19/2:-
10 Fw. 190 broke off, damaged undercarriage. 12 Spitfires south of Rome, air combat. All bombs jettisoned over our own territory. losses: one Fw. 190, pilot seen to bale out.

NOTE: Source is almost certain this report came from SG. 4.

43. From IA, issued 19/2:-
At 0935 hours 11 Fw 190 dropped 11 bombs in +RIB6 -- 10 ((F8025)) -- 3D right ((F8524)) on M/T. Effect not observed. Air combat with 24 Spitfires, 1 Spitfire effectively shot up. 1 Fw 190 missing east of Rome. 1 Fw 190 crash landing on own airfield, shot up.

NOTE: 1) + as given. Obvious error. probably RI6B. If so position = ((F8423)), which seems probable in this context.
2) Cf. CX/MSS/T.99/136 for this operation.

44. Part of communication issued on afternoon of 19/2:-
1150 to 1301 hrs, 23 Bf 109s scrambled. Air battle with about 20 Spitfires over ORVIETO at 2000 m. to low level.

Success: Uffz. Mueller, 123(C%2) hrs, 1 Spitfire V shot down at 800 m. aircraft crashed in flames (B% 10 km.)W.S.W. of orvieto airfield, 9th victory. Witness: Uffz. Zacher, Staff M.O. Dr. Thieler.

Uffz. Mueller, 1243 hrs, 1 Spitfire V shot down at 8000m. Aircraft crashed in flames 20 km. S.W. of Orvieto airfiled … (remainder missing) …

NOTE: Source believes communication was from III/JG. 53.

54. Signed III/53 on 19/2:-
1515 - 1615 hrs: 16 Bf. 109 on free-lance patrol. No contact with enemy. No incidents.

55. Signed III/53 dated 19/2:-
Obltn. KLIPPGEN shot down by a Spitfire at 1257 hours 19/2 and found 10 km. west of Lake Bolsena.

CX/MSS/T99/135
Signed IC, dated 19/2:-
0620 hrs. attack by 17 Fw 190 g/a/ a/c on Batterien firing in RI3A ((F 8426)), 3C ((F8425)) and 2D ((F 8325)). After dropping bombs in RI2D a large fire observed. Effect not noted owing to air battle immediately afterwards.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to the summary of Luftwaffe losses:

II/JG 51: 1 a/c destroyed and 1 damaged without enemy action in operational flight.

III/JG 53: 1 a/c shot down and 1 damaged in an air battle, 2 a/c destroyed and 1 damaged without enemy action in operational flight.

II/JG 77: 1 a/c missing due to enemy action, 5 a/c shot down (including two not observed by enemy, meaning damaged beyond repair in forced landings away from the air battle) and 1 damaged in an air battle, 1 a/c destroyed on the ground by strafing

III/JG 77: 1 a/c destroyed without enemy action in operational flight.

II/SG 4: 2 a/c shot down (including one not observed by enemy) and 1 damaged in air battle, 1 a/c shot down by AA fire

"Air War Europa" book says that 52nd FG Spitfire pilots claimed 12 Bf 109s in a running fight over Italy between 1310 and 1355 hrs, and other 12th Air Force fighters pilots dwn six other Luftwaffe fighters during the day.

The official USAAF list shows 11 victories for 52nd FG, 2 for 31st FG, 1 for 79th FG and 1 for 324th FG this day.

So you can't link all German losses to the claims of 52nd FG.

The book "Spitfires and Yellow Tail Mustangs" describes this battle on pages 79, 81 and 82 (80 being an a/c profile). It is said that 2nd FS claimed 4 victories in 3 separate engagements, one of them the Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 53, Oblt Rolf Klippgen, while the low flight of 2th FS strafed Viterbo before being bounced and losing two pilots shot down and captured. 5th FS then engaged the German fighters near the airfield and claimed 8 for 4 losses (3 killed and 1 evader).

From this narrative and the above loss, it is probable that most of the battle saw 5th FS oppose II./JG 77.

By the way the German pilots claimed 10 Spitfires between 1327 hrs and 1405 hrs, not 9. Uffz. Mueller in the Ultra above should be Uffz. Fritz R.G. Müller who claimed3 Spitfires this day for his 9th (1338 hrs), 10th (1341 hrs) and 11th victories (1345 hrs). These hours are those listed in Tony Wood lists, and are one hour later than the Ultra intercept... Maybe someone converted them in one source or the other.

Edited: to add II./SG 4 and victories after reading Nick posts

[Guy JULIEN]

Hi Nick and Laurent,
Thanks for your very accurate answers as usual.
The following list of claims is extracted from Tony Wood's compiltation .

19.02.44 Hptm. Emil Omert: 65 Stab II./JG 77 Spitfire IX  15 km. N.E. Nettuno: 20 m. 13.27 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.244

19.02.44 Uffz. Fritz R.G. Müller: 9 7./JG 53 Spitfire Vc  E.S.E. Pomezia: 800 m. 13.38 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.244

19.02.44 Uffz. Fritz R.G. Müller: 10 7./JG 53 Spitfire Vc  S.W. Pomezia: 800 m. 13.43 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.245

19.02.44 Ofw. Fritz Liebelt 6./JG 51 Spitfire  GD-53: no height [N. Civitavecchia] 13.44 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.37

19.02.44 Uffz. Fritz R.G. Müller: 11 7./JG 53 Spitfire Vc  S.W. Pomezia: 800 m. 13.45 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.246

19.02.44 Ltn. Günther Stedtfeld 5./JG 51 Spitfire  14 Ost S/GC-6: no height [W. Marta] 13.50 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.1

19.02.44 Hptm. Emil Omert: 66 Stab II./JG 77 Spitfire IX  14 Ost S/GD-5: no height [Marta]: 200 m. 13.57 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.4

19.02.44 Ltn. Erich Mühliese: 1 6./JG 77 Spitfire IX  13/68/2 at 100 m. 13.58 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.4

19.02.44 Uffz. Siegmund: 1 5./JG 77 Spitfire IX  3 km. S.E. Canino: 700 m. 14.01 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.4

19.02.44 Fw. Menge: 1 4./JG 77 Spitfire IX  13/48/3 at 50 m. 14.05 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.2

Orvieto, Viterbo, Marta and Canino and N. Civitavecchia are in the same area but Pomezia is far in the south of Rome maybe an other combat occured there ?

Cheers
Guy

[Laurent Rizzotti]

To have a more complete view of this day. II/JG 77 claimed three B-25s shot down in the morning (between 0942-0950 hrs). They intercepted 321st BG that lost at this time 3 B-25s (1 missing, 1 to Flak and 1 to Flak and fighters) and reported being intercepted by 15-20 fighters, claiming 7 Bf 109 and 2 Fw 190 shot down by return fire.

Gunner claims are often exagerated but it is fairly possible that some German losses this day were during this battle.

Check http://57thbombwing.com/321stHistory/321_BG_1944-02.pdf for details.