Ofw. Adolf Glunz - 5./JG 26 - 31.12.1943

[Henofred]

Bonjour,

For several years now, a memorial service has been held near Bannalec in Brittany at the crash site of a B-17 that was shot down on 31 December 1943 (91st BG/324th BS, serial number 42-29895 ‘The Black Swan’). This bomber was shot down by Ofw. Adolf Glunz (5./JG 26).

A book is currently being written about this day, this loss and its consequences, but the author Yves Carnot lacks information and documents about the German pilot. For example, at the last memorial service three days ago, he asked me, among other things, whether there was any reference to this shooting down in the pilot's logbook (...an excerpt/page of Flugbuch would be very helpful – e.g. where the aircraft took off/landed).

Various pieces of information gathered from the internet are already a great help. Higher resolution already published pictures would be welcome - sources will be quoted in the book.

Greetings from Brittany,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

Took off from Tours 1405hrs in Fw 190 9+ and landed 1540hrs at Vannes. FB just says 1 Boeing abgeschossen. They had moved from Grevillers earlier in the morning

[Henofred]

Merci Chris, very useful answer.

Then, is Ofw. Glunz staying on Vannes airdrome for a while? Or is he leaving again the same day? (...for which place?) Now, what was the purpose of the Staffel's move to Tours? For a one-off deployment to Brittany afterwards? This is the kind of information that is useful for the book in progress. I know that sometimes elements of JG 26 came to support the 7. and 9. Staffeln of JG 2 in Vannes (e.g. January 1943, 9./JG 26). Without wishing to be impolite and if you have a copy of it, do you have a copy of the logbook page? At least the relevant line in the latter?

Best regards,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

Frederic-they left Vannes that afternoon no doubt after refuelling returning to Grevillers. Nothing else in the FB

[Henofred]

Bonjour Chris,

Thanks for that additional detail but quite surprising such a so long travel in a single day... A paying stay in Brittany for Ofw. Glunz!

Best regards,
Frederic

[Laurent Rizzotti]

At this time of the war, it was fairly common for JG 26 to fly away from his main bases, refuel somewhere and fight hundred of km of their usual operation zone. Usually they will rather fly north to Belgium/Netherlands or towards Germany, but that day USAAF bombers attacked SW France and II./JG 26 moved to intercept them on the return leg.

[Henofred]

Hi Laurent,

Thank you for these clarifications, which confirm what I read on the pages dedicated to 31 December 1943 in Donald Caldwell's book "JG 26 war diary", Vol. 2.

Best regards,
Frederic