American intruder claims 29-30 December 1944?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

I have documented several German night fighters that were shot down by Allied night fighters on 29-30 December 1944:

I./NJG4 lost a Ju88 of the 2nd Staffel in a surprise intruder attack near Lesse, Belgium, at 22.20 hrs, which set its starboard wing tank on fire and killed one of the crew.
NJG6 lost two Bf110 G-4s during Nachtschlacht (ground attack sorties) to night fighters, of the 3rd and 11th Staffeln, which impacted at Gensingen near Bad Kreuznach at 20.40 hrs, and near Bastogne.

It appears that no RAF Mosquito claims were made that could be tied to any of these losses, so perhaps American night fighters were responsible for these losses. Who has details of any American NF claims that could be matched against these losses?

Cheers, Theo

[Frank Olynyk]

Dr. Boiten,
Here are a series of American claims around this time-frame, from my files.

Dec 27, 2015 hours, Me-110 dest, F-3213, St Vith & Monschau area, 422nd NFS, P-61A 42-5540, Capt Tadas J Spelis + 2nd Lt Eleutherios Eleftherion.

Dec 27, 2115 hours, Ju-188 dest, P-4952, St Vith-Monschau area, 422nd NFS, P-61A 42-5558, LtCol Oris B Johnson + Capt James A Montgomery.

Dec 28, 0005 hours, Ju-88 dam, K-6530, St Vith-Monschau area, 422nd NFS, P-61A 42-5577, 1st Lt Herman E Ernst + 2nd Lt Edward H Kopsel.

Dec 29, 1714-1926 hours, Ju-88 dam, 20 m NE of Trier, 425th NFS, P-61A 42-5570, 2nd Lt Cletus T Ormsby + 2nd Lt David M Howerton, Jr.

Dec 29, 1847-2130 hours, Ju-188 dest, few m S of Bingen, 425th NFS, P-61A 42-5570, 1st Lt Richard R Gray + 1st Lt Jack W Robinson.

Dec 29, 2030-2305 hours, He-111 dest, V-6176, 415th NFS, Beaufighter, 1st Lt Edward A Schlueter + 2nd Lt Donald J Meiers.

Dec 29, 2030-2305 hours, Ju-88 dest, Q-1568, 415th NFS, Beaufighter, Schlueter + Meiers.

Dec 29, 2128-2335 hours, Ju-188 dam, between Trier and Coblenz, 425th NFS, P-61A 42-5570, 1st Lt Francis V Sartanowicz + 2nd Lt Edward M Van Sickels.

Dec 29, 2241-0007 hours, Ju-188 prob, near St Vith, 425th NFS, P-61A 42-5574, Capt Russell Glasser + 1st Lt Tripp.

Dec 30, 0105-0320 hours, Ju-188 dest, E of Libramont (P3548), 425th NFS, P-61A 42-5574, Ormsby + Howerton.

I don't have maps to convert the coordinates to actual locations.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Theo Boiten]

Dear Frank,

Many thanks for posting these details, very helpful!

Cheers, Theo