22 Aug 44 P-47 near Tours sur Marne (nr Athis)

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello Chris, Larry and all others,

Interesting thread -

My source is a German combat report stating that ground crew member Obergefreiter Dorn of Stabskompanie II./JG 3 claimed a Thunderbolt on 22 Aug 44 at 14.20 hours "4km ostwärts des Feldflugplatzes Tours sur Marne". On this day Mustangs and Thunderbolts attacked this airfield at 14.15 hours - at the very same time when "unsere Gruppe " (II./JG 3) was taking off.

II./JG 3 was operating from Nogent le Roi from 27 July 44 - 10 Aug 44
From Athis from 10 Aug 44 - 21 Aug 44.

Interesting is that sources also state that II./JG 3 left Athis on 21 Aug 44. And that on 20 Aug 44 III./JG 76 arrived at Athis to replace II./JG 3 (Prien, Stemmer, II./JG 3, page 359). Part of ground crew had to stay at Athis in order to look after the aircraft of III./JG 76; obviously a small Kommando of pilots of II./JG 3 was attached to III./JG 76.

Might Athis, Tours sur Marne and d'Epernay-Plivot all be the very same airfield..?

Ultra stated on 13 Aug 44:
II./JG 3 on A/F 139A (Plivot); this provides confirmation that II./JG 3 is to remain in France and not transferring to Reich to rest and refit as envisaged. For a/c of II./JG 27 being taken over by II./JG 3.

Best regards,
Rob