Oblt Max Groth 1./JG 26

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello, I have two questions about this pilot:

1) according to the JG 26 War Diary book by Donald Caldwell, he was a decorated bomber pilot that underwent fighter conversion training. Has anyone a trace of his service as a bomber pilot ?

2) the same source had two accidents for him on 7 April and 7 May 1944: in both cases he bailed out from his Fw 190 A-6 "white 6" due to engine fire in Soissons area. Only the WNr changed, the one on 7 April being given as 530 918 and the one on 7 May as 550 913.
Two such incidents being so close in details at exactly one month interval seem dubious to me, I suspect a typo, in which case only one date and WNr is correct.
I will be interested to see what our Luftwaffe losses experts here have for this pilot for the two above dates.

Thanks in advance

[Matti Salonen]

I have from NVM only 7 May and Werk.-Nr. 550913. 530918 of I/JG 2 was lost 21 Dec 1943 at Fl.Pl. Nancy-Essey (Zusammenstoß beim Rollen mit Fw 190 A-6, Werk-.Nr. 550569. Bruch 70 %).

Matti

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Matti, so seems that the paragraph in the JG 26 war diary for 7 April 1944 can be ignored.

Best regards