Spitfire claims on 6/10/1944

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night!
I am still trying to figure out what happened to Lt Rudolf Wirtgen from 1./JG 2 on the afternoon of 6th October 1944. He seems to have been involved in a fight against Spitfire aircraft(s).
I do not possess 2nd TAF volumes ( books ). Please could someone who possess the volume that deals with the date in question check IF there was any claims submitted by Spitfire units that afternoon in Holland?
The Fw 190 A-8 seems to have crashed near Bruchem.
Yours very sincerely
Adriano Baumgartner

[VoyTech]

There were a number of claims by 402 and 442 Spitfire Squadrons and by 56 Sqn Tempests about 1500-1530, to the north, east and south-east of Nijmegen, but your place seems to be due west of Nijmegen.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello VoyTech!
I got two claims ( over Bf 109 aircraft ) by 402 Squadron:
F/L J B Lawrence ( 5 nm S of Nijmegen )
F/O W H Whittaker ( idem )
And two claims by 56 Squadron's Tempests ( against Fw 190 aircraft ):
P/O A S Miller ( N of Nijmegen )
F/Sgt L Jackson ( idem )
Please could you point me out IF the 442 claims were against Fw 190 and Bf 109 and IF there were more claims eithe by 56 or 402 Squadron?
Many thanks
Adriano

[Horst Weber]

Good morning Adriano !

You pointed out a little tricky day.

The No. 442 Squadron claims this day were against FW 190 and Me 109 in the time-frame 14:15 - 15:45 hrs East of Nijmegen.

The No. 402 Squadron claimed this day 3 Me 109 and 1 FW 190 as destroyed at about 15:20 hrs SE of Nijmegen.

The No. 403 Squadron claimed 1 Me 109 as destroyed over Nijmegen at 15:20 hrs.

There are no reports of claiming a Me 109 by No. 56 Squadron this day.

Sources:
-2nd. TAF LOG of CASUALTY CLAIMS, ASSESSEMENTS and LOSSES,
Sheet No. 107
- RAF 400 Series (RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF) Victory credits: 100644

Hope this helps,

All the best,

Horst Weber

[Leendert]

Adriano,

The Dutch loss register 1944 on nimh.nl gives as location for Wirtgen's Fw-190A-8 "in the vicinity of Den Bosch", which is the capital of Noord-Brabant province.

See http://www.nimh.nl/nl/collecties/Documentatie/ and open 1944.

Werknummmer 171572.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Adriano,

Just to get closer: Bruchem is less than 15 km N of Den Bosch, or just S of Zaltbommel.

Regards,

Leendert

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Thanks LEENDERT!
I do have the file you sent me, but at home ( I am still in Amazony ) and did want to check it before having my conclusions. But now I am quite sure that Lt Wirtgens IS the man I am looking for...
On 6th October 1944, F/L Richard Francis Christopher Garvey ( RAFO 44811 ) took off at 13:20hs aboard a Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX, serial RM637 for a recon flight over Holland and the Western part of Germany ( Koblenz ). After passes over his first targets, he was intercepted by two Fw 190, while flying at 9,000 feet. He was able to enter a spin and to recover at very low level, turning very sharply. The Fw 190 who was following him did not recover and crashed ( flying ) in some woods 8 miles to the East of Bruchem ( Bruck on the original report made by the RAF pilot ). Time recorded 14:55hs. F/L Garvey claimed this Fw 190!
I am NOW quite sure that Lt Rudolf Wirtgens was the German pilot who was chasing the Recon Spitfire.
PLEASE, could someone who have access to JG 2 diaries inform me WHO was the wingman to Lt Wirtgens on that mission? F/L Garvey reported TWO Fw 190 after him, although only one engaged combat and fired at him. The aircraft that crashed onto the florest. There is a wood near Waalwijk, to the south of Drunen.
Thanks to ALL who contributed and helped me with this thread.
Yours very sincerely
Adriano Baumgartner