Claimed Ju-87s on April 8th 1945

[Michal]

Hello,

did some US pilots or P-51 Unit claim some Ju-87s in Air Combat or on Ground on April 8 1945? Area should be Saxony or northern Böhmen.

Thanks for help

Michal

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Michal,

According to Fighter Units and Pilots of the 8th Air Force, Volume I, by Kent D. Miller there were no claims of 8th USAAF P-51 units for Ju 87s, neither in the air nor on the ground, on this date. Actually, the only unit that made claims was the 355th Fighter Group which claimed 3-0-0 in the air and 1-1 on the ground, but all these claims were for Bf 109s. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any data about the 9th USAAF...

Hope this helps a little,

Ota

[Michal]

Díky Oto,

I have got little and strange info that it was happened. But I am in doubt. So, I am able to look for some proofer indication.

Best

Michal

[Nick Beale]

I have four Ju 87s claimed by Tac Recon F-6s of the 9th AF (no location).

IIRC my source was Kenn C. Rust's "The Ninth Air force in World War II".

[Michal]

It is great! Thanks

Michal

[Michal]

One more question: is it known who claimed this Stukas and from which TRS or PRS they were?

Thanks once again

Michal

[Laurent Rizzotti]

tactical recon squadrons claimed 11 victories these days, I have the names of the pilots but not what they claimed or where.
CPT EAST CLYDE B 15RCN Sqn 3,5 kills Score in the evening:12
2LT ERMATINGER HENRY L 12RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:1
CPT HOEFKER JOHN H 15RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:7,5
1LT JOHNSTON PHILIP A JR 160RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:2
2LT LARSON LELAND A 15RCN Sqn 1,5 kills Score in the evening:5
1LT RHOADS JOHN K 12RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:1
1LT ROWLAND CHARLES R 15RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:1
1LT THOMAS NORBOUNE A 15RCN Sqn 1 kill Score in the evening:2,5

Edited for awful display of above lines

[Ota Jirovec]

Ahoj Michale,

I have only now noticed that two of the pilots mentioned by Laurent were aces and their claims are thus covered in Frank Olynyk´s Stars and Bars. The claims are as follows:

Capt Clyde B. East 2 Ju 87 destroyed at 0800 hrs 5 m NW of Dresden
2/Lt Leland A. Larson 1 Ju 87 destroyed at the same time and location

Both were members of 15 TRS and were flying F-6Ds on this occassion.

Hope this helps a little,

Ota

[Michal]

Superb! Thanks for help. It looks to be "my planes", Stukas of III./SG 2 destroyed during encounter with "Mustangs" on April 8 1945.

Best

Michal