Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" in 1944

[hucks216]

From Day Fighters In Defence Of The Reich by Donald Caldwell...

The 2nd BD crossed Schleswig-Holstein, flew up the Baltic Sea and turned back to bomb Pölitz. The Jagddivision 1 Gefechtsverband, now comprising I/ZG-26 & II/ZG-26, escorted by III/JG-300, was directed north and found the B-24's in a strung out formation, escorted by only one P-51 group.
The Bf-109 escort Gruppe attacked the Mustangs, at high cost to itself, and allowed the Me-410s to attack the Liberators repeatedly before the relief group of P-51s arrived to punish the Zerstörer, 12 of which were shot down or crash-landed back at their Königsberg-Neumark base. Thirteen B-24s went down immediately or broke formation to head for sanctuary in Sweden. The 2nd BD lost a total of 34 B-24s on the mission. The JD-1 Verband claimed 38; 27 of these claims were confirmed on the most successful mision ever flown by the Me-410s.

[Brian R]

Thanks so much, Hucks. This is a huge help!

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by hucks216

From Day Fighters In Defence Of The Reich by Donald Caldwell...

The 2nd BD crossed Schleswig-Holstein, flew up the Baltic Sea and turned back to bomb Pölitz. The Jagddivision 1 Gefechtsverband, now comprising I/ZG-26 & II/ZG-26, escorted by III/JG-300, was directed north and found the B-24's in a strung out formation, escorted by only one P-51 group.
The Bf-109 escort Gruppe attacked the Mustangs, at high cost to itself, and allowed the Me-410s to attack the Liberators repeatedly before the relief group of P-51s arrived to punish the Zerstörer, 12 of which were shot down or crash-landed back at their Königsberg-Neumark base. Thirteen B-24s went down immediately or broke formation to head for sanctuary in Sweden. The 2nd BD lost a total of 34 B-24s on the mission. The JD-1 Verband claimed 38; 27 of these claims were confirmed on the most successful mision ever flown by the Me-410s.

The 'first' group of Mustangs that I. and II./ZG 26 plus JG 300 109s confronted was the 355th FG which was credited with five Me 410s plus eight Bf 109s. They chased the ZG 26 Me 410s and JG 300 109s south east where they were caught by the 4th FG (2nd Mustang Group) heading for target escort at Stettin.