Bf 109 G-6, WerkNr. 441 744

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

Bf 109 G-6, WerkNr. 441 744, "black 9" of 11./JG27, has been the subject of quite a number of photos taken by GIs after it came down over allied territory in France presumably in July 1944. Most of the known shots show the aircraft while it was retrieved by US troops near St. Lô .

For some unknown reason I have this loss recorded under 31 July 1944; I cannot remember however where this date originally came from. IV./JG 27 recorded no loss on this day, neither a pilot nor an a/c according to the WASt. and the GQM Summary Loss Returns.

On the verso of one of the images I have it says that the a/c was shot down after it had tried to strafe an airfield in the vicinity of St. Lô between 15 July and 5 August 1944. Neither the cause of the loss not the fate - let alone the name - of the pilot are mentioned there.

My question therefore is: Has anybody got the details of this loss, i.e. the exact date, the cause of the loss, the name and fate of the pilot ?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

KR

Jochen Prien

[Frans A]

Mr. Prien
All I could find was the date of the crash viz. 44-07-31
I hope it can help you a little.
Frans A

[Jochen Prien]

Dear Frans,

thank you for taking the time to respond to my request. As I mentioned in my earlier post, according to the available primary sources IV./JG 27 did not suffer any losses on 31 July 1944. I too had this photo labelled as 31 July 1944 so far, but I need a document-based confirmation of that or any other date. The GQM Summary Loss Reports are far from free of errors and omissions so that 31 July is not ruled out simply by the fact that the GQM and the WASt. don't show a loss on that date. But to quote the date as certain contrary to these two sources, it requires some sort of hard proof.

What also puzzles me is that the pilot apparently came down over allied territory so that he should be either KIA or, looking at the condition of the a/c, have been taken POW - yet, again nothing in the sources that would fit.

KR

Jochen Prien

[Heuser]

Good evening,

according to Technical Intellicence Report A-30 this 109 was inspected on 31.07.1944 SE of Saint-Germain-d’Elle (Grid: French Lambert Zone 1, VT627627) and "...propably crashed two weeks ago in front of our lines..."

The reason is give with "...propably to AA fire. Since this aircraft belly landed between the Alliied front lines and the enemy lines, it was literally peppered with holes from .30 caliber and shell fragments."

Hope this helps,

Heuser

[Jochen Prien]

Thank you, this is what I thought about both the date and the fact that we have no missing pilot corresponding with this loss.

KR

Jochen Prien

[Andreas Brekken]

Hello, Jochen.

Saw this thread and tried to pinpoint the loss date, and I am curious about what you have come up with.

According to my notes the only possible dates where an aircraft were lost - but no pilot information is known - on an operational flight - was the following:

1 aircraft lost in aerial combat on July 26th (the other two listed as missing should have an NVM)

1 aircraft listed as missing on July 23rd - but no personnel loss filed (returned to unit before NVM generated??)

1 aircraft listed as lost due to aerial combat on July 14th.

1 aircraft (my main contender) listed as destroyed by AA on July 12th. 3 aircraft listed as lost this day - only 2 personnel listed as missing.

There are also 3 aircraft (out of 5 total on this day) listed as lost on July 9th - with only one crew member listed as WIA - so there are two losses with no NVM here.

So a few to choose between - but not that many.

Regards,
Andreas B

[Jochen Prien]

Andreas,

many thanks for your input. I'm afraid though that none of the losses you quoted would match with "black 9".

Both total losses on 12 July are accounted for - the two total losses, one through Flak, one in aerial combat, are Hptm. Meyer and Uffz. Fischer, both down near Caen, while the third was a Bf 109 damaged in aerial combat.

On 14 July IV./JG27 reported one Bf 109 damaged in aerial combat and one a total loss not due to enemy action.

The total loss on 23 July was Uffz. Mellmann of 12./JG27, also down around Caen.

The three losses on 26 July are also accounted for - one near St. Malo and the other two around Caen. All pilots known.

IV./JG 27 reported just one loss due to Flak in July 1944 - either Meyer or Fischer on 12 July.

There is one loss on 7 July - Uffz. Schlesinger of 11./JG27 was wounded in aerial combat over the "Invasion Area", his Bf 109 becoming a total loss with no WerkNr. recorded. That would, for the time being, my favourite.

Over to you or any other member who can help to solve this mystey.

KR

Jochen

[Heuser]

Dear all,
maybe helpful to narrow the time of this loss: it would be interesting to know when the area of Saint-Germain-d’Elle was finally taken by American troops. IMHO the date of this los should be rather early to mid of July 1944.

Regards,

Heuser

[ouidjat]

Originally Posted by Jochen Prien

There is one loss on 7 July - Uffz. Schlesinger of 11./JG27 was wounded in aerial combat over the "Invasion Area", his Bf 109 becoming a total loss with no WerkNr. recorded. That would, for the time being, my favourite.

Good morning,

Mine too, though doesn't match pretty well with the TIR A-30 Heuser is talking about.
Anyway, it's the more obvious in the list as far I know. But just a guess you can't use I'm afraid.

BR, Franck.

[David E. Brown]

Jochen,

I went through some photos from Jim Crow’s collection and note below the identity of each and what he states on the back of each, presumably information / recollections from the American veterans from whom he obtained the photos:


Francella – 8728
Bf 109 G-6/U4, WNr.441744 “Black 9” of 11./IV.JG 27. Shot down in air combat on 31 July 1944 near St. Lo, Normandy, France. Note orange “92” on tail.
IMAGE: Aircraft fuselage on the back of a large truck in farmyard with troops.

Hertz – 9850
Bf 109 G-6/U4, WNr.441744 “Black 9” of 11./IV.JG 27. Shot down by ground fire while strafing in Normandy, France in late July, 1944. Was disassembled and moved to this location.
IMAGE: Aircraft in farmyard disassembled in pieces and components hacked off or opened.

Edwards – 9474
Bf 109 G-6/U4, WNr.441744 “Black 9” of 11./IV.JG 27. Shot down while trying to strafe an airstrip (A9) at Le Mozy, in Normandy, between 5 July and 11 August 1944. Note the “92” on the rudder.
IMAGE: Aircraft fuselage on the back of a large truck in farmyard with troops.

Boussum – 10817
109 G-6/U4, WNr.441744 “Black 9” of 11./IV.JG 27. Shot down around 31 July 1944 in Normandy, France. Note the orange “92” on the rudder.
IMAGE: Aircraft in farmyard disassembled in pieces and components prior to being opened up.

Thompson – 12888
109 G-6/U4, WNr.441744 “Black 9” of 11./IV.JG 27. Shot down while strafing in Normandy, France, on or about 31 July 1944.
IMAGE: Aircraft in farmyard disassembled in pieces and components prior to being opened up and being examined by troops.


For these data it would appear that 31 July could be the date and that Black 9 was shot down whilst strafing Allied ground assets (at A-9?). Note that airfield A-9 is in fact Le Molay not Le Mozy as quoted above, and is located near the town of Le Molay-Littry that is about 10 km north-northeast of Saint-Germain-d'Elle. So, both locations are reasonably close to each other.

The main US unit there was the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Perhaps this event may be mentioned in a history of one of its subordinate units. At this time US forces were just starting their break-out at St. Lo. Perhaps the pilot of Black 9 actions may have been to put pressure on Allied rear facilities in support of German ground troops desperate attempts to contain the break-out.

Best of luck,

David