III./JG 1 - 17 August 1944

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

on 17 August 1944 according to Heinz Knoke III./JG 1 downed 4 B-26 from a formation that had just attacked Brétigny airfield in the early evening. In the RLM claims microfilms no such claim can be found nor did 9th USAAF lose any B-26s on this date.

Since dates and figures in Knoke's publication must be handled with caution I have my reservations concerning this account. Therefore my question is:

Was the airfield of Brétigny attacked by a B-26 Group in the early evening of 17 August 1944 ? And if so, did the B-26s encounter any Germann fighters over the target area ?

As usual, any founded information would be gratefully appreciated.

KR

Jochen Prien