September 8th, 1943

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

on September 8th, 1943, III./JG 26 reported the loss of Fw. Edgar Dörre of 9th Staffel, who, according to the loss report - WASt. - was shot down and killed in aerial combat with 20 P-47 near Lens at around 16.00 hrs. German time.

From what I can gather from US records, P-47 flew fighter sweeps in the Courtrai / Ghent area but reported neither claims nor losses.

At around the same time Venturas of 21 Sqn. were engaged on Circus S.1 against Abbeville railyard, covered by numerous Spitfire Squadrons, the latter claiming to have damaged three German fighters in the Merville area.

Can anybody enlighten me as to the whereabouts of the action in which III./JG 26 took part - did the US fighters come in touch with the Bf 109 of III./JG 26 or were it the Spitfires of the Circus S.1 escort who were responsible for the loss of Fw. Dörre ?

Any help is appreciated.

Regards

Jochen Prien

[Franek Grabowski]

I think by the time Americans flew in 'their' sectors further East, that strongly suggesting those were Spitfires encountered. What is the possibility the time was wrongly recorded? There were fierce dogfights in the morning at the exact area.