IV/JG 54 info

[SteveR]

Claims of 385th FS, 364th FG on 23 Sept 44:

Time 1745 hours, location 10 miles E of Arnhem:

1/Lt. William T Housholder Fw-190
1/Lt. William T Housholder Me-109G dam

Time 1745 hours, location Emmerich:

1/Lt. Romildo Visconte Me-109G
1/Lt. Romildo Visconte Fw-190 dam

[Nokose]

Steve, thanks again. This adds on to the total claims made against the Germans. In the heat of battle everything can change quickly, so what you are focused on one second can be gone the next. I read one report of a US pilot describing the Me-109 lightning up like a Christmas tree, he found from the gun camera film that another pilot in his group had been shooting at the same Me-109. I wonder how many of these claims might have been the same aircraft that survived only to fall into another death trap in another location. I have seen on the Eastern Front that Soviet and German aircraft have escaped one attack only to fall to another attack at another altitude and location.

[SteveR]

You're very welcome!

Originally Posted by Nokose

I wonder how many of these claims might have been the same aircraft that survived only to fall into another death trap in another location. I have seen on the Eastern Front that Soviet and German aircraft have escaped one attack only to fall to another attack at another altitude and location.

I suspect that was common everywhere.

[Nokose]

John Manrho, I have a question, on your site it has on the 21 September 44 it has a Fw 190 A-8 from IV/JG 54 that crashed at Schepersweg Harfsen from being shot down by 56 FG. In Jochen Prien’s JFV 13/V it was listed as lost on the 22 September 44 as unknown place.

[John Manrho]

What we know is that IV./JG 54 lost 8 a/c and pilots on 21.9.44. I am not aware of any pure material losses, but there is still a chance.

For Bauer, Baur-Bargehr, Jung and Vogelbacher we know the exact crash location. Guse and Mieszala are still missing in the area but we have some indication where they might have crashed.

We also have several sites where the pilot FSA. However, not allways sure if this was 21.9.44. We do not exactly know where Jost, Olsen or Liebsch (III./JG 11) crashed. One definite location for a 21.9.44 crash with a FSA is the location at Harfsen. This should be one of these three, but we are not sure which one....

This has nothing to do with the loss reported in Prien for 22.09.44. I also doubt this loss as there was no 3. JD mission on 22.09.44.

John

[Nokose]

On the 25 Sep 44 the IV/JG 54 intercepted the Mitchell II bombers of the 98 Sqd RAF in the Arnhem area on a bombing raid to Schaarsbergn. I know that two were shot down but I’m needing to know how many were in the formation and how many returned home with damage from German fighters.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Nokose

On the 25 Sep 44 the IV/JG 54 intercepted the Mitchell II bombers of the 98 Sqd RAF in the Arnhem area on a bombing raid to Schaarsbergn. I know that two were shot down but I’m needing to know how many were in the formation and how many returned home with damage from German fighters.

You can download their Operations Record Book free from the UK National Archives:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8384929

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8384928

[John Manrho]

I checked those in the past. No mention of other damaged a/c. There was also a Boston lost, but I did not check that.

J.

[Nokose]

Thanks for the links John and Nick both have helped me fit the 25 -26 September 1944 into some order. The location of the recover of the two Mitchell II had verified at least one claim to one of the four pilots.

[SteveR]

Guessing you've seen this by now but just in case...

11 a/c of 98 Squadron took part, two of which FTR. The navigator of a/c "P" was wounded by flak but no mention is made of the damage to "P" nor of damage to any of the other a/c.

Source: 98 Squadron ORB

Originally Posted by Nokose

The location of the recover of the two Mitchell II had verified at least one claim to one of the four pilots.

Can you share who's claim is verified and over which Mitchell?