JG3 AND JG51 v 355th FG 3-8-44

[David Pausey]

Hi

Looking for any info re III/JG3, IV/JG3 and I/JG51 or any other Luftwaffe units that saw combat against 8th A.F. mission to Saarbrucken, Mulhouse on the 3-8-44.

I have info on JG53 but have just the claims by JG3 and JG51, DID these units have any losses ?

Any one know a good book on the 355th?

Cheers

David

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

According to my information, the losses on this day was as follows:

III./J.G.3
1 acft Missing due to enemy action, pilot reported as MIA
1 acft Destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft on operational flight, observed by enemy, pilot reported as unhurt
1 acft Destroyed without enemy action on operational flight, pilot reported as unhurt
1 acft Damaged without enemy action on non-operational flight, pilot reported as unhurt

IV./J.G.3
No losses

I./J.G.51
1 acft Destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft on operational flight, observed by enemy, pilot reported as KIA

As You know, the full reports of 1944 are more or less missing, but the details for both aircraft and pilot for the two pilots mentioned as MIA and KIA should be available from the WASt, and thus with regards to the J.G.3 case be available from Jochen Prien's excellent work on these units.

Sorry that I do not have additional information at this time.

Regards,
Andreas

[shooshoobaby]

David- 355th Historian Bill Marshall has a post page 2 on book/ magazine forum.
DRGONDOG - contact him. He is a good guy and will help.
Cheers,
Mike

[drgondog]

mike - thank you.

david - what do you want to know, in detail, so that I can look in the right place.

regards,

bill

[David Pausey]

Thank you Andreas for your help sould be able to get the info I whant on III/JG3 BUT I/JG51 May be a problem.

Cheers Mike.

Hi Bill

I an looking for any info on two pilots that flew with the 355th FG, F/L W.B.Peglar (RCAF) who later flew Tempests with the RAF and F/L L.S.Frost (RAF) who had flown Spitfire in the MTO and over Normandy.
I have had some help from Frank Olynyk re claims made by these two pilots(all made with the 355th), so I am resurching the dates they made there claims starting with the 3-8-44. I belive the 355th were incombat with JG53 and whanted to find out if there were any other Lufwaffe losses this day and see if I can match claims to losses.
If you can help with mission reports it would be a great help(I think some 8th AF Fighter Command reports may be held at the NA at Kew in LONDON).
The 355th made the only US DAY FIGHTER claims over Germany on the 3-8-44, but the other day these two pilots made there last air claims is the 11-9-44 when the US fighters claimed 124-10-25!
Well I hope you can help.
Regards
David

[drgondog]

David - First Frost and Peglar made it to 355FG in mid July, 1944.

Peglar as you know has passed away. The last known address I have for Lionel Frost is 10 Paul Kane Pl apt 213, Victoria BC V9A 7J8, Canada.

Peglar in fact got all of 4 of his air victories (and 1 ground) while flying with my father Bert Marshall when he was 354FS CO.

Specifically Peglar's air scores were 1 Me 109 and 1 Fw 190 on August 3, 1944 - His 5th mission with the 354FS (flying WR-Q), and 2 Me 109's on September 11, 1944 (flying WR-S 44-14228 ). Peglar's last mission was on 25 September, flying wing to my father after which he returned to RCAF. Pegalr also flew with in my father's lead flight on the last Shuttle Mission - Frantic VII- over Warsaw. Interestingly enough, Warren Peglar was Yellow flight leader when my father was shot down by flak and provided cover for Priest when Priest landed and picked him up. In approximately two months Peglar had four confirmed air and one ground victory with the 355th when he had never engaged with Luftwaffe while flying RCAF.

I was very fond of Flt Lt Warren Peglar.. He retired as a Vice President from ATT in Toronto. I didn't know Frost but I did see Peglar several times as he bacame a close friend of my father.

F/O Frost also joined the 355th but was assigned to 358FS in July 1944. His one air victory was on September 11, 1944 also and he shot down an Me 109, then strafed Kirchain A/F to damage a Do 217 and another 109.

Here is what I dug up from the mission August 3, 1944 354FS mission summary ..."Escorted at 21-22,000 (feet) until sqdn bounced by 10+ Me-109s at approximately 1515, 10 miles SE of Mannheim. Sqdn approaching southbound bombers from 3 o/c. (approximately 10-12) E/A bounced from 7 o/c high. In ensuing combat, sqdn split up and F/Lt Peglar (RCAF) and Capt. Lenfest each destroyed a 109. As one flt approached bmbrs from 2 o/c to resume escort 6 Me-109s and Fw 190's obsvd making stern attack on bombers. Flt turned and engaged e/a, F/Lt Peglar destroying an FW-190..."

In this mission Marshall was leading 354FS as Red 1 Falcon Leader, Peglar was Yellow 4. Several ships from Yellow and Blue Flights did not take off and Yellow combined with Blue (Lenfest leading), including Bob Kurtz.

On the announcement of the bounce by the 109's Hoffman and Patterson broke into each other and collided, then Bob Kurtz was hit in his throttle linkage while making a head on pass with a 109, lost power and bellied in not too far from Mannheim.

This was the worst mission my father ever led in the context of losses (air to air) with 3.

The 357FS also shot down several 109's and 190s in the second combat, with Minchew and Cotter and Haviland getting score. Cotter hit a tree chasing his second 109, bellied in to become POW

Hope this helps? If you will send me your email address I will send you a photo of Peglar after 11 September mission - it is just a little too large for this forum..

Bill Marshall

[David Pausey]

Hi Bill

Many thanks for taking the time to answer my Questions.
I will contact you off board soon.
Cheers
David