1/JG77 Gustav-Wilhelm Ohmert shootdowns 11 Nov 43/19 Dec 43

[Siko54]

Chaps,

As ever any help is appreciated. I'm just researching Gustav-Wilhelm Ohmert of 1/JG77, 1/JG200 and possibly JG11 aswell (can't read the last feldpost number in his March 1945 Flugbuch summary flying out of Strausberg!).

This is one of the most interesting Flugbuch I've found and I'm having a blast researching this 9 kill BF109 pilot.

As a starter for ten, his entries for the above dates whilst with JG77 list him being shot down by Spitfires with the same entry each time: "Von Spitfire abgeschossen Fallschirmabsprung". Flight 1675 on the 11 Nov 43 has him taking off in BF109G6 Yellow 2 from Rome-Centocelle at 0906 and I believe he may have been shot down by said Spitfire near Cassino? Although, a friend has checked Prien's history of JG77 and he mentions him being lost SW of Amesano, which is a good 10-15miles west of Cassino.

Flight 1711 on 19 Dec 43 has the same result, this time flying BF109 G6 Yellow 14 again from Rome-Centocello at 1505, but I have no further details on accident location. I do note he didn't fly for 11 days after the first shootdown but after the second he didn't fly for nearly 3 months, so I assume he was seriously wounded.

Any help is gratefully received.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Simon,

11 November 1943
31 Bf 109s of I./J.G. 53 and I./J.G. 77 were on a sweep from Rome to the Cassino area between 09:05 and 10:10. They ran into the 31st FG, which reported encounters with two German formations. The Americans claimed 2-0-3 FW 190s, and 0-0-1 Bf 109s between 08:45 and 10:45. This was a case of misidentification, because the only FW 190 mission was in the afternoon. A I./J.G. 77 pilot was initially posted missing, but returned the next day. The Germans reported one Spitfire damaged and trailing smoke after the combat. Lt. Fardella of the 308th FS/31st FG failed to return.

19 December 1943
I./J.G. 77 was escorting II./S.G. 4 on a mission. The Germans reported combat with twenty Spitfires, and three Bf 109s were downed, with the pilots all bailing out and being rescued. No. 111 Squadron encountered eighteen Bf 109s, and claimed 2-1-1 Bf 109s, losing one Spitfire Mk. IX in return. No. 72 Squadron encountered fourteen or more Bf 109s, claiming 1-0-1 Bf 109s (although one source says one FW 190 destroyed, one Bf 109 damaged). They also lost a Spitfire Mk. IX. I./J.G. 77 claimed two victories in this combat. No details on Ohmert's crash location, unfortunately.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Siko54]

Andrew, many thanks....that is extremely helpful and fills a lot of gaps....thank you for taking the time to research and post that

I've also had some help from our mutual friend DL and a friend of mine at the 72 Sqn association.

11 Nov 43 shootdown: BF109G6 wr160071 made at Messerschmitt Regensburg in Aug 43 coded White 2+ (my mistake earlier saying yellow!).

19 Dec 43 shootdown: BF109G6 wr140032 made by WNF, coded White 14+ and Ohmert confirmed as WIA near Frosinone. On the 19th in the afternoon, 72 Sqn pilot Flt Lt Hussey in JL384 RN:B shot down one FW190 and damaged another on a bomber escort to Acre (surely not?). Sgt Pullan in MA444 RN:B damaged another.

Anyway, hope that is of interest to someone, if not then just me! I'm investigating the 111 Sqn claims as I suspect they are the likelier of the two. Thanks again for your input chaps, much appreciated.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Acre could be a typo for Arce, a village in Latium. Or a codename.

[Siko54]

Grazia Laurent!

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Simon,

For 19 December 1943, No. 72 and No. 111 Squadrons were on a joint patrol, definitely not bomber escort, and they were involved in the same combat. Hussey's combat report notes No. 72 Squadron's task as "Patrol Terracina-Frosinone". No. 72 Squadron did escort bombers on another mission shortly after midday (Mitchells and Mustangs).

The No. 72 Squadron combat reports for the mid-afternoon engagement contradict each other, with Hussey saying they attacked FW 190s, and Pullen saying Bf 109s. The II./S.G. 4 FW 190 lost on this day fell victim to No. 72 Squadron during their midday mission, so Hussey was actually attacking Bf 109s on the mid-afternoon mission.

On another note, Laurie McIntosh, the successful No. 111 Squadron pilot (who saw both his victims bail out in this combat) was still alive in a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, in 2013. Not sure if he's still with us though.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Siko54]

Thanks again Andrew and good to hear at least one of the pilots had a long and obviously healthy life! It's certainly not easy working out exactly what happened, if at all possible......but I guess I'm preaching to the converted there Many thanks.