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

[Leendert]

From own notes: 2 x L-4 (crews Emberts/Anspach and Manley/Arnett) of US Army Field Artillery units by JG53 (LX-FR area?), another L-4 in (likely) Maastricht area (LaRue/Stephens) and the 125th LS L-1 (BE-NL border).

Leendert

[John Manrho]

I cannot really add much detail to what is listed in the book. We lack details on the claims of 1.1.45. Anyway, there is one German document from 3.1.45 (see page 287) that says that 7 Austers were claimed on 1.1.45. We know that Oblt. Markhoff (8./JG 4), Uffz. Krüger (13./JG 27) and Ofw. Isken (13./JG 53) claimed Austers. One might also consider the 1-mot claimed by Fw. Job (10./JG 11) as possible candidate.

Perhaps we can combine claims and losses when we know the exact locations of the losses.