Lt. Franz Koplik 9.JG1 May 25, 1944

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Russ

I am glad that I could have been of some help. III./JG 1 made the following two claims that day:

Leutnant Franz Koplik of 9./JG 1 a P-51 fighter at 9:40 north-northwest of Stuttgart at 6,500 meters
Oberfähnrich Hubert Heckmann of 9./JG 1 a P-51 fighter at 10:05 over Heilbronn at 200 meters

The unit suffered the following two losses that day in addition to a fighter lost during a low-level attack at an unknown location:

Obergefreiter Kurt Homola of 9./JG 1 shot down and killed by P-51 fighter in Bf 109 G-6/AS "Yellow 9" (W.Nr. 440 489) while landing at Besigheim, 100%
Oberfähnrich Hubert Heckmann of 9./JG 1 rammed P-51 fighter in aerial combat in Bf 109 G-6/AS "Yellow 15" (W.Nr. 163 796), belly-landed near Botenheim

I hope this helps you sort out the details of the aerial combat that day.

Horrido!

Leo