II./JG 2 – Tunisia – 1 Feb. 1943

[CJE]

Hello,

Looking for the name of the pilot who shreared off Lt. Bragg's B-17 tail section and who was killed in a subsequent collision with another B-17 over Tunisia on 1 February 1943.
Thanks in advance.

Chris

[CJE]

Actually, it seems that the two Boeings were rammed by two different Fw's.

[Kaczmarek]

Where comes the information this was a pilot from II./J.G. 2 ?

It could be Fw. Erich Paczia from 6./J.G. 53.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Chris

I do not see any loss listed for II./JG 2 on 1 February 1943 in the Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 - 1945. However, various accounts that I have seen of this incident state that the German fighter in question was this one:

1 February 1943: Feldwebel Erich Paczia of 6./JG 53 killed in Bf 109 G-4/Trop "Yellow 1" (W.Nr. 16 093) in aerial combat with B-17 four-engined bombers over Pont-du-Fahs, 100%

On that day Oberleutnant Julius Meimberg, Staffelkapitän of 11./JG 2 but serving with II./JG 53, claimed a B-17 at 13:14 10 kilometers northwest of Pont-du-Fahs at 6,000 meters as his 32nd victory but was shot down and wounded in Bf 109 G-4/Trop (W.Nr. 16 025) in aerial combat with B-17 four-engined bombers over Pont-du-Fahs and forced to bale out. Paczia was a 16 victory ace by the way.

I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[Chris Goss]

From what I remember speaking with Jule Meimberg, he was shot down as opposed to collided

[CJE]

It makes sense.
One B-17 was probably shot down by Meimberg and the other collided with Paczia.
I read somewhere that a part of a 109 wing was discovered in the B-17 fuselage.

Thanks to all of you.

Chris

[Kaczmarek]

The 11./J.G. 2 was already absorbed by II./J.G. 53 at this time and no more part of J.G. 2. Later reformed. "Jule" Meimberg was member of 6./J.G. 53.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi CJE,

I started writing an article about Erich Paczia and this incident last year. Some FW 190 fighter-bombers of III./S.K.G. 10 did intercept the bombers, but they reported no aircraft lost or damaged. The evidence indicates that the B-17s fell victim to Meimberg and Paczia. My article will appear at some point in the future.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Mark R.]

Just as an aside, Lt Bragg's aircraft was repaired and flew in combat again.