Ofhr. Rudolf Josef Sauer of 4./JG 51, KIA on 9 July 1944

[Dénes Bernád]

Does someone know the circumstances of the death in combat of Ofhr. Rudolf Josef Sauer of 4./JG 51 on 9 July 1944? Reportedly, he was killed by P-38s while hanging on his chute.

Thank you, in advance.

[John Manrho]

From an old list;
9.7.1944, Widin, Bf 109G-6, wnr. 760288, weisse 8, 4./JG 51, Ofhr. Rudolf Sauer, gefallen. LK mit 2 P-38, FSA zu niedrig.

[Boris Ciglic]

Actually shot down by 52nd FG Mustangs, crashed near Oreshets, Bulgaria.

[Dénes Bernád]

Thank you, John and Boris, for the details.
Boris, Oreshets is almost 500 km from Vidin. Is the location, in Southern Bulgaria, confirmed? I have Belogradchik as the crash location, which is much closer to Vidin.
Who could be the US pilot who shot down Sauer? The closest location for a victory over a Bf 109 that day is 30 miles East of Nish!
Connected to the story, Bulgarian records mention that the German fighter unit was stationed at Vârba. Is it the same with Vrba, in Serbia? Which unit was it?

P.S. Boris, I recalled that I owe you an answer...

[Larry deZeng]

Not much information on this dispersal field.................

Radomir (BULG) (a.k.a. Radomir-Vrba, Vrba, Varba, Sofia-Vrba, Sofia-Varba) (42 30 25 N – 22 57 05 E) (AFHRA)
General: landing ground in W Bulgaria 33 km WSW of Sofia and possibly 3.5 km SE of Radomir or just S of Varba. History: no information found regarding the history of the landing ground. Surface and Dimensions: no information. Infrastructure: no information.
Operational Units: I.(Jagd)/LG 2 (Apr 41); II./JG 51 (Jun-Jul 44).
Station Commands: none identified.
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): Sanitätsbereitschaft (mot) d.Lw. 4/I (Apr 41).
[Sources: AFHRA A5258 p.1597 (1943-44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

L.

[Boris Ciglic]

The Oreshets in question is village located 4 km east of Belogradchik. The only USAAF claim fitting with this loss was submitted by 1/Lt Ralph Peterson of 52nd FG. All other claims were submitted over and around Ploiesti. Although he identified that the combat occurred near Bela Palanka in Serbia, which is some 50 km southwest of Oreshets, this isn't much keeping in mind the length of flights from Italy and back and I've seen even greater omissions in orientation by USAAF airmen in many instances. The Varba is the Vrba/Radomir airfield mentioned by Larry. Bulk of II./JG 51 was stationed there at the time and scrambled at 10.10 to intercept the bombers.

Cheers,
Boris

PS still waiting for the reply

[Dénes Bernád]

Thanks, Boris, for the further details. Google map did not show that Oreshets, only the other one in the south of the country.
In the meantime, I found Sauer's loss also in the book by Aders, Gebhard & Held, Werner. Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik, 1993.

P.S. I will try to reply today, although it might be disappointing, as details of the activity you have asked me about are lacking.