Rudolf Trenkel, 116th victory

[caseyjones2222]

I recently found info on the Luft Ace Trenkel concerning his downing of
a B-17 on 13 Sep 1944. Any records available for this specific day?
My father was a member of that bombers crew and disputes what happend.

[Jan Bobek]

Hi,

I guess your father´s ship was 44-6412, 483rd Bomb Group, 817th Bomb Squadron during mission against Blechhammer.

Indeed Trenkel claimed a B-17 at 11:54 German time in map grid 90425, which is aproximately in area NW of Nowy Targ in Poland (called Neumarkt during WW II). According to Bernd Barbas´ I./JG 52 history, Trenkel´s claim was witnessed by Uffz. Sattler (also from 2./JG 52).

Trenkel was commander of 2nd Staffel JG 52, which was normally employed against Soviet Air Force. His Staffel (Squadron) was based in Krakow.

One of his NCOs, Fw. Büttner claimed also a B-17 in area 90179 (in Bialsko Biala region, Poland), but claim was made earlier, at 11:35 and its evaluation was postponed.

The areas are really just for rough indication of claim places. Identifying exact places should be done more precisely.

As far as I know, no other heavy bomber claims from Axis fighters are known in this area.

Can you explain bit more about the mission and your father´s comments?

Peter Kassak describes fate of 44-6412 in his book about air war over Slovakia. As I saw, Peter contacted you in the other Thread you started.

As last but not least, I guess you are aware of this (post from Mark Dee):
http://www.merkki.com/guestbook2004page3.htm

kind regards