Auster(?) 24 December 1944

[Nokose]

I believe that artillery spotter aircraft belonged to the U.S. Army. Does anyone know of an Auster that was shot down by German fighters during the Battle of the Bulge on the 24 December 1944.

[RSwank]

There was an Auster "claimed" on 24 December 1944 but it was apparently an L-5 from the 153rd Liaison Sq.

https://www.google.com/books/edition...sec=frontcover

[Nokose]

Thanks RSwank but is there another one carried in losses for this day?

[Alex Smart]

From The JG26 War Diary vol 2, Pages 393 and 523.
24-12-44
Fw, Seidl
Unit 2
claimed 2 ( Ist claim was a 357FG P51on the 9th May 44. His 2nd Claim this "Auster").
Auster at Bastogne (QM2.6).
Time 11.30
opponent L-5 confirmed unknown.

This was Fw.Norbert SEIDL who claimed an Auster which was actually an American L-5 from the 153rd Liaison SqdnTwo days later Seidl crashlanded and was slightly burned when his a/caught fire on a training flight.

[Nokose]

Still not the one that I am looking for this day. Lt. Kurt Bell of 15/JG 54 claimed an Auster (7) at 12:50 with no location. I might have to buy the book “To Win the Winter Sky: The Ardennes Air War 1944-45 by Danny Parker”. Does anyone have thoughts on this book?

[Alex Smart]

Don't know of the book you mention. But Kracker Luftwaffe Achive has the following -

Kurt Bell.
Shot down with wounds in his G-2 by Mont de Marsan on 5 March, 1944. Was injured in a crash landing in his A-8 after taking a flak hit near Düsseldorf on 24 December, 1944. One known victory, a P-38 at Hohe Venn on 17 December, 1944. One known Me 262 victory, a P-38 on 21 March, 1945. Deceased 10 April, 2002.

See -

http://www.aircrewremembered.com/Kra...C3%A4f%2C+kurt

[Leendert]

Claims for an 'Auster' (almost) invariably included L-4 and L-5 types. Such claims even in areas far outside British zones.

Next to the already mentioned L-5 of 153rd Liaison Squadron with S/Sgt Bernard B. Brown at Romsée, 5 mls/8 kms SE of Liège, another loss further south at/near Ettelbrück, LX.
This was L-5 42-99065 of 14th LS with pilot T/Sgt Charles Leipersock (POW) and passenger Major Randolph M. Jordan (HQ 10th Amd Div, KIA).
But may have been shot down by German flak...

Ken Wakefield's 'The Other Ninth Air Force' also has loss of a 78th Div Arty L-4 44-80298 'due to enemy action', but apparently at own airstrip.
78th Inf Div operated in the BE-GE border area at that time.

The 153rd LS L-5 most likely match.

Regards,
Leendert