II./JG 51 losses in January 1943?

[Tomas Brezina]

Hello
Can anyone provide more info on the losses of II./JG 51 in January 1943?
They should be 2 pilots KIA (Hans-Werner Oblt. Heidrich, Lt.. Ralph Furch) and 1 POW (Fw. Günther Allmenröder).
Thanks.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Tomas

II./JG 51 suffered the following pilots killed or prisoner in January 1943:

12 January 1943: Oberleutnant Hans Heidrich, Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 51, killed in aerial combat in Bf 109 G-2/Trop "Yellow 1" (W.Nr. 14 543) near Thelepte airfield, 100%
17 January 1943: Feldwebel Günther Almenröder of 6./JG 51 prisoner after shot down by Flak in Bf 109 G-2/Trop "Yellow 7" (W.Nr. 10 809) at El Guettar, 100%
22 January 1943: Leutnant Ralph Furch, Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 51, killed by German Flak in Bf 109 G-2/Trop (W.Nr. 14 553) near Medine airfield, 100%
30 January 1943: Gefreiter Ludwig Weiler of 4./JG 51 killed while performing an emergency landing following aerial combat with enemy fighters in Bf 109 G-2/Trop (W.Nr. 10 643) northwest of El Hamma, 50%

Six other pilots were wounded or injured to varying degrees due to various causes during that time as well. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[Tomas Brezina]

Thanks for your help.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Tomas

I am glad that I could be of some help. I just noticed that according to Prein the werknummer of the fighter flown by Furch was (W.Nr. 14 533) as per the WASt and not (W.Nr. 14 553) as per the QM 6. He also lists that Heidrich was lost in aerial combat with P-40 fighters and that the fighter of Weiler crashed west of El Hamma with 100% damage. I hope that this further information is of use to you.

Horrido!

Leo

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

Here is some information about the circumstances of one of the losses:

12 January 1943
II./J.G. 51 was escorting some Ju 88s of I./K.G. 76 on a bombing mission to Thelepte airfield when the German formation was intercepted at 14:28 by a patrolling pair of P-40Fs of the 59th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group. Oblt. Hans Heidrich probably fell victim to 2nd Lieutenant Walter Scholl, Jr., who claimed a Bf 109 destroyed at Thelepte airfield on a mission between 14:10 and 15:10.

Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Tomas Brezina]

Leo and Arthy, thanks for your detailed info! I appreciate that.

I found in DEFE files: a/f Gabes strength return evening 12.1.43: II./JG 51 strength 20(14), II./St.G 3 5(2).
source: DEFE 3/794, VM 1104

T.