Claims Godfrey 4th FG

[mdejong]

Hi,

I am wondering if Godfrey from 4th FG got 1 or 2 claims on 01.12.1943??


Claim 01.12.43 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 109G 11.32-55: Ruhr Valley
Claim 01.12.43 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 109G 11.32-55: Ruhr Valley

I am not sure, because I have also read that it was his first and only claim.

Does anyone also know more on this combat and engagement? I believe the engagement was with JG1, but I am not sure at all...

Martin

[John Beaman]

Martin: Assuming you mean 1-December-43 here is a possibility:

Bf 109G-6, 27017, Schütte, Ltn. Gerhard 3./JG 3, 01-Dec-43, KIA due to Luftkampf with P-38s and P-47s., Lfl.3/Eins.Westen, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #12)-Vol.24; Prien, et al, Die Jagdfliegerverbände, X.4, p.522; Prien/Stemmer, Stab und I./JG 3, p.530,
7km westlich Schleiden, bei Münster.

Other 109 losses for that date were from bombing.

[ektra79]

Martin,

Godfrey claimed (and received credit for) one ME-109 kill and one ME-109 damaged on 01 DEC 43. In your notation above, 1-0-0 would be the kill (one destroyed-no probables-none damaged) and 0-0-1 would be the damaged a/c claim (none destroyed-no probables-one damaged).

The kill on 01 DEC 43 was Godfrey's first kill. And as the first kill for the squadron that month, he won his crew chief 5 pounds in the betting pool the 336 mechanics had.

The squadron history lists the mission as a ramrod - "Squadron took part in escort of Fortresses to Solingen"

John,

I'm constantly amazed at the depth of your knowledge of the Luftwaffe.

Cheers!

Tim McCann

[mdejong]

Thanks guys. Yes, I mean 1 december 1943 during the Solingen Raid.

I know that Alfred Miksch, who flew in 8./JG 1 got killed on this day near St. Trond (he crashed in the "Albert Canal" ) and his comrad (perhaps wingman) Helmut Johanning also from 8./JG 1 got injured while making a belly landing.

Therefore I thought there could be a match in this engagement between Godfrey and Miksch/Johanning.

Martin

[mdejong]

Is there perhaps more information on your side regarding the engagement between german fighters (which unit?) and the 56th FG around St. Trond ?? Most probably Miksch could be togehter with his unit involdved in this combat and shot down. His fellow 8./JG1 comrad Helmut Johanning was damaged and survived.

Cat.Em 01.12.43 1/Lt. Vance C. Ludwig: kia 56th FG 63rd Sqn. P-47D-5 42-8607 Fighters nr. St. Trond

1st Lt. Vance P. Ludwig
KIA December 1st 1943
56th Fighter Group/ 63rd Fighter Squadron
Ramrod 344 Solingen, Germany
P-47 D-5, s/n 42-8607, UN-K
MACR 1276
Cause: German fighters near St. Trond, Belgium
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery

There were on this day 3 claims from 56th FG on Bf109.....

Claim 01.12.43 Lt. D.H. Mudge 56th FG 61st Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 109G 12.12-40: Ruhr Valley
Claim 01.12.43 Lt. F.J. Christensen 56th FG 62nd Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 109G 12.12-40: S.E. Roermond
Claim 01.12.43 Capt. R.A. Johnson 56th FG 62nd Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 109G 12.12-40: S.E. Roermond

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

Uffz. Helmut Johanning (WND) seemed to have crash-landed near Mol with its Bf 109 G-6 (damaged at 75%).
1st Lt. Vance P. Ludwig's P-47 (KIA) crashed between Merdorp and Ambresin.

Best regards.

ClinA-78

[ektra79]

Martin,

You can find Godfrey's complete combat report for those encounters at the link below. Not much detail as to location, but that's more than what the squadron history had.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...rey-1dec43.jpg

[mdejong]

Thanks for that info.

I did not know the crashsite of Johanning. Do you have more specific information about Johanning and his crash??

The city of Mol is not far away from the crashsite (Albert Canal near St. Trond) of Alfred Miksch.

They most likely were involved in combat with units of 56th FG in that area.

Can someone confirm my assumption about 56th FG?

Thanks.

Martin