II/JG54 23 June 1941

[Brian]

Hi guys

One for the Eastern Front experts - on 23 June 1941, a formation of Bf109s from II/JG54 twice erroneously attacked Ju88s in mistake for Russian bombers. Was visibility poor?

In the first incident a Ju88 from I/KG76 was shot down, from which the crew baled out. Soon afterwards, a formation of Ju88s from II/KG77 was attacked and four shot down plus a further two badly damaged. All told, four crewmen were killed and 11 wounded in this tragic encounter, in addition to which Uffz Walter Puregger of II/JG54 was shot down and killed by return fire.

Who was the leader of the Messerschmitts? What was his fate? Was he court-martialled? Who were the German pilots involved? Any additional information will be appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Further to the above ....

I believe that only 5 and 6 Staffels of II/JG54 (Hptm Dietrich Hrabak) were involved. 5 Staffel's Stfkapt was Oblt Hubert Mutherich but I don't know if he was involved. Other 5 Staffel pilots at this time included Ltn Wolfgagng Spate and Ltn Josef Pohs.

Cheers
Brian

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Brian,

I don't think, that any of the fighter pilots were court-martialled in this case. I know some friendly fire accidents by the Jagdwaffe and not a single 'guilty' pilot was court-martialled (among the known incindents by me). It happened everywhere and I guess, it was enough painful for the trigger-happy pilot, that he killed/wounded few comrades.

Additionally, these stories were suppressed (to keep the morale high of the pilots) That's why I was not able to find the name of a German pilot, who attacked a Hungarian plane in once case (the remained German sources at the BA-MA were very shy about the event, altough they admitted officially the error)

More in private soon;-)

Cheers,

[christian]

Hi

In Trautlofts diary from the 23. Juni 1941 are only one point. The Stab, parts of the I. and II./JG 54 had a "Alarmstart" (at 10.00 Uhr) of a group of 16 SB-2 who attact Gumbinnen. All SB-2 was shot down, but in this combat died Lt. Schreiterer (6.Staffel) and Uffz. Brock (3.Staffel) in a mid air collision over Ebenrode. At the same time crossed a formation Ju 88 the combat and was attact by three young fighterpilots. Trautloft wrote that two Bombers was shot down, some crewmann baled out. He wrote no name or Staffel of the pilots.

Uffz. Puregger (5.Staffel) was killed at the afternoon in the Kowno area. But it was not clear that he was shot down from the ground or from the Ju 88 group.

Greetings Christian

[Brian]

Hi Christian

Thanks for that. Are you able to let me have Trautloft's actual quote (in English) please? This would help - thanks.

Since seven Ju88s were shot down or shot up, it would seem that some of the SB-2s claimed were in fact Ju88s. Do we know who made claims for the 16 SB-2s?

Cheers
Brian

[Nokose]

II/JG54 23Jun41
6. Uffz Alfred Humann SB-2 10:06 (1)
5. Oblt Wolfgang Spaete SB-2 10:07 (2) NE Insterburg
6. Uffz Alfred Humann SB-2 10:07 (2) N Zustaly
5. Oblt Wolfgang Spaete SB-2 10:08 (3) NE Insterburg
Stab II Hptm Dietrich Hrabak SB-2 10:10 (17) N Schlossberg
Stab/JG54
Maj. Hannes Trauloft DB-3 10:15 (11) Kussen
Oblt Otto Kath DB-3 (3) Kussen

from J.Prien JFV teil 6/II

[Brian]

Thanks Nokose - much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[christian]

Hi

I think some SB-2 was shot down from the I./JG 54. Trautloft was in this combat und when more Ju 88 was shot down, he must see this. In his diary wrote Trautloft in the next days only that a warjudge tell questions about the two Ju 88 claims.

Greetings Christian

[Juha]

Hello
IIRC C. Bergström in one message some 6 years ago wrote that 7. and 9./JG 54 also shot down all SBs out of a 8 a/c formation in 23 June 41 but I don't recall time and place. At least some of claimants were Uffzs.

Juha