Missing Lufwaffe Pilots

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Christmas Eve over Eindhoven

On Christmas Eve 1944, Tempests from 274 Squadron were returning from a Patrol over Aachen. They ran into FW 190s that had just downed two Canadian Typhoons over the Malmedy area. Evan "Rosie" Mackie, later to become Wing Commander (DFC, DFC (US), DSO), filed the following report:
"I was flying No.2 to Talbot Leader in Red Section on a patrol Julich-Malmedy and while we were returning to base and approaching Eindhoven, I noticed approx. 8 Typhoons flying in the opposite direction at about 4,000 ft. They were in open formation. When almost abreast of these A/C at about 6,000 ft I noticed one of the Typhoons suddenly break formation and dive into the ground on fire and I did not see anybody bale out. I then noticed the machine which had been flying behind that one, had moved behind another Typhoon, which then began shedding large pieces and losing height. Although we were not close enough to these aircraft to identify one of them as an enemy, I realised that this particular one must have been, so I immediately jettisoned my long-range tanks and gave chase.
There was no R/T communication between myself and the other members of the section, as I had not heard the order to change to channel 'A'. The E/A lost some height then pulled vertically upwards. I identified it as a short nosed FW190 and opened fire with four cannons at a range of about 250 yds closing to 50 yds. I then broke off the attack as I was then rolling over on to my back. I gave about a 2 1/2 sec. burst and numerous strikes were seen on the wings and centre section of the FW190 by myself and F/L Malloy who was flying Red 3. After I broke away, S/L Baird stated that the FW190 levelled out, going very slowly, dropped a wing and then spun into the ground approx. 4 miles SE of Eindhoven, where it blew up."
It appeared that Mackie had shot down Hauptmann Wolfgang Kosse, Staffelkapitän of 13 Staffel, IV/JG3.