Jagdgruppe 200

[Nick Beale]

In a rare concession to the fighter junkies amongst us, I've just posted a new article on my website: "Jagdgruppe 200 in Provence: June–August 1944."

This is just the first instalment and more will be added over the coming weeks. No promises about exact dates though.

[Jan Bobek]

Great! + thanks!

Please check your mailbox.

[Nick Beale]

Over on Ghostbombers, the story of Jagdgruppe 200 in Provence: June–August 1944 has now reached 12 July 1944 and includes an appendix on the unit's order of battle for the period 11 June – 18 August 1944.

In addition, there are additions to the calendar and several changes to the pages covering the combat of 27 May and the events of June 1944. My particular thanks to Guy Julien and Jan Bobek for their comments and contributions in response to the original version.

[Guy JULIEN]

Thanks Nick,
The air battle occured on the 12th of July 1944 took place North of Toulon and West of Draguignan. The fight begun in Saint Maximin area and ended over the Durance river.
Lt Fawcett's B-24 fell in Saint Martin de pallière.
Lt Ray's B-24 near Seillon Source d'Argens
Lt Dunn's Ship in La Rocques d'Antheron
Captain Swanzy's plane in la Tour D'aigues.
I investigated years ago on the four crash sites
Three combat wings were dispatched to bomb marshalling yards located in Miramas and Nîmes( one for Miramas and two for Nîmes) Because a very adverse weather escorts have to abort. The 332nd FG was alone to protect the entire attack (his initial task was to escort 49th BW).
Bombers reported the red markings for the Bf-109 attacking the 461st BG and yellow markings for the others who attacked 464th BG and 465th BG.
A Veteran said to me "After Nîmes ,Ploesti some days later was a Milk run"

Guy

[Nick Beale]

I've posted updates to my website this evening: the Jagdgruppe 200 story is now up to 23 July 1944 and includes the action on 14 July in which the Gruppe fought units of the US 8th Air Force.

[kaki3152]

Nick,

Love the stuff on JGr-200. I still have some 15 year old correspondence from you on this subject.

The 332nd FG did lose a P-51 on July 12,1944 but it was not in combat.

The "July 1944 Overseas Accident Losses" has P-51C-7, s/n 42-103946, flown by Lt. George M. Rhodes as BOEF (Bailed out Engine Failure) 50 miles ENE Rome.

This is in line with the account in "The Tuskegee Airmen" by C. Francis who reports "During the takeoff several memebers of the 100th Squadron got lost in the overcast and not being able to locate their flights returned to base. One member of the 100th,Lt. George Rhodes, developed engine trouble and was forced to bail out in the vicinity of Rhodes. He was picked up by friendly natives..."

I believe the account in the latest book on the 332nd FG "332n Fighter Group - Tuskegee Airmen" by Bucholtz is incorrect. "Lt. George Rhodes was shot down during the battle,bailing out near Viterbo, but he was returned and brought back to squadron"

Carlos

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

Nick,

I believe the account in the latest book on the 332nd FG "332n Fighter Group - Tuskegee Airmen" by Bucholtz is incorrect. "Lt. George Rhodes was shot down during the battle,bailing out near Viterbo, but he was returned and brought back to squadron"

Carlos

If Rhodes did get shot down and bail out near Viterbo he had drifted a long way from Miramas! Your account makes much more sense. As far as I know, there was no combat over Viterbo that day.

[Nick Beale]

In the last couple of days, I've posted some new material to my website:

• The Jagdgruppe 200 in Provence story is now up to 31 July 1944.
• The Luftwaffe and Saint-Exupéry article now includes some more thoughts on the supposed possibility of a pilot concealing a victory on learning the name of his victim.
• Using Ultra to research the Luftwaffe: this has been updated now that I've taken a look at National Archives file AIR40/2697.
• III./SG 4 in Normandy: minor corrections.

[Nick Beale]

I've just posted some new material to my website:

• The Jagdgruppe 200 in Provence story is now up to 6 August 1944 (and I've now decided that I'll continue it right through to 20 August).
• The story of I./JG 2 in Italy now includes an American pilot's account of the combat on 24 Match 1944.
• Minor corrections to page layouts etc.

[Nick Beale]

I've just posted some new material to my website:
The Jagdgruppe 200 in Provence story is now up to 10 August 1944.