Nijmegen Bridge Attack

[Chris Goss]

Bit of a long shot but I have been contacted by a chap who witnessed a sneak attack by FW 190 jabos on the bridge on what he thought was 26 Sep 44-bridge damaged as were a number of vehicles (possibly destroyed). Can anyone (John Manhro??) confirm the date/attack/unit for him?

[John Manrho]

Hi Chris,

Does he know the approx. time of the attack?

Cheers,

John

[Nick Beale]

III./KG 51 bombed on the night of the 27/28th, Sonderverband Einhorn attacked early on the 28th. There were a lot of other raids though.

III./JG 1 and IV./JG 54 bombed the bridges early on the 24th, for instance. It could be worth checking the "defending Arnhem" website as well.

[karl lusink]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Bit of a long shot but I have been contacted by a chap who witnessed a sneak attack by FW 190 jabos on the bridge on what he thought was 26 Sep 44-bridge damaged as were a number of vehicles (possibly destroyed). Can anyone (John Manhro??) confirm the date/attack/unit for him?

Hello,
Probably 28-09-1944
411 Squadron claimed 2 Fw 190's shot down.
Fw-190's with bombs reported diving on bridge!
Fw 190 of KG 200 shot down near Gendt (NE Nijmegen)
Regards
Karl Lusink

[Chris Goss]

As to a time, I will ask but he did say that later the same day he was involved in an attack on Bremil (I think he means Bemmel which would make it 24 or 25 September)?

[Tony Kearns]

Or possibly 27 September 1944 ? 411 Sqn. airborne 08.30-09.20 encountered 15 FW190's attempting to attack Nijmegen. Claimed 7 destroyed and 3 damaged without loss.

[Chris Goss]

Good point Tony but this chap left the bridge to attack Bemmel which makes it 24/25 Sep?

[Brian Bines]

According to the 'K' report for a pilot of I/JG76 on his fifth (undated) mission his unit was supposed to give cover for Fw190 Jabo's but these 190's did not operate that day due to bad weather. This would have been after his third mission on 24th Sept. attacking infantry postions and troops on the northern end of the Arnhem bridge. If this bad weather day is known it might eliminate one of the possibe dates. His fourth mission was attacking 'Ducks' on the south bank of the river to the west of the Arnhem bridge. The pilot also says on his ninth mission (27th or 28th ?) cover was supposed to be given to another Fw190 Jabo mission but the units did not meet up and the Jabo's were seen returning from target while I/JG76 pressed on and encountered heavy fighter opposition. This pilot was attacked by a Spitfire made a belly landing and was taken POW on the 29th his tenth mission.
I don't know if this provides any clues but one never knows,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

The attack was in the morning and by at least 6 FW 190s so I wonder if it is 24 Sep 44? They hit the northern end of the bridge with great accuracy and he did not see any fighters trying to intercept

[Peter Kassak]

what I have bits and pieces intersted in I.JG 76:
Then weather improved and flying was again possible. On September 24, 1944 twenty-six Bf 109s of I./JG 76 took off as a part of Gefechtsverband Späthe (composed of III./JG 11 and IV./JG 54) and flew to fight enemy fighters in the area of Nijmegen. Action ended without any success, however one plane was damaged.

Two more losses were recorded on September 26, 1944 when 23 Bf 109s took off at 13:07 hours for Jabo attack to the Driel area.
Few hours later another Jabo attack was ordered at 17:30 hours to the area of new landing position of paratroopers south of Driel. Nineteen Messerschmitts took off for this mission, which ended with no losses and no claims. Result of the attack on the ground is not known.
John M. is possibly source of this info...If I am correct