Fw190 units -24/4/44 Augsburg/Munich

[drgondog]

I am looking for the Fw190 units which attacked 1st Bomb Division from north of Augsburg to east and south and sw of Munich. Their observed attacks were in the 1319 (N.Augsburg), 1340 (E.Munich) 1350 (SE Oberpfaffenhofen)

Had IV./JG3 already converted to 190s?

Regards,

Bill

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Bill

IV./JG 3 lost three Bf 109 G-6 fighters that day and the attached Sturmstaffel 1 lost one Fw 190 A-8. The information is:

Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 15 926) flown by Fw. Otto Czermin of 11./JG 3, wounded in aerial combat, crashed at Schützing, 20 km SE of Braunau, baled out

Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 410 536) flown by Obfw. Fritz Loeding of 12./JG 3, killed in aerial combat, crashed at Glenau, Markt Indersdorf

Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 411 896) flown by Uffz. Otto Uhlig of 12./JG 3, killed in aerial combat, crashed at Glenau, Markt Indersdorf

Fw 190 A-8 "White 8" (W.Nr. 170 091) flown by Uffz. Heinz Steffen of Sturmstaffel 1, wounded in aerial combat, crashed at Neuberg/Donau, baled out

I hope that this information from the IV./JG 3 volume by Prein helps you somewhat.

Horrido!

Leo

[drgondog]

thx - leo. The 2nd task force reported fw190s attacking them N, NE SE and SW Munich so either Strurmstaffel 1 was busy or perhaps another unit.

The 357FS claimed two Fw190s in general area N of Augsburg (Neuburg sounds right) and another further south and east. Reading the encounter report doesn't leave much room for doubt that two were destroyed - along with 4 me109s just in this fight alone.

Subsequent to our discussions in the spring I have studied this mission extensively, including the bomber accounts.

The 354FG claimed 3 Me109s shortly before the 355th arrived. The had broken escort and heading out from SW Augsburg due north. The 352nd also broke escort and shot down another 109 near airfield in Ingolstadt area after the 355th engaged NE of Augsburg.

Thanks again - i will send you the mission details shortly for your own files.

FYI the bomber track was not a normail trail formation with one Task Force directly behind the other, but rather in eschelon to put more firepower into head on attacks - which is why the 2nd TF kept getting 'slung away' from course every time there was a turn to the right.

The bombertrack was roughly 180 degrees N. Leipheim @1306, N. Gablingen @1319, SE to Erding and bombs away from 3rd TF @1331, then due south to an IP SE Munich at 1338, then due west to a point Sw of munich at 1344.

At this point the 1st TF drove for Landsburg, the 2nd TF drove for Oberphaffenhofen and the 3rd headed to Rally point just west for reunite of 2nd and 1st TF 10miles west of Landsburg,

Itwas at the point SE of Munich that the III.JG26 and JG3 elements jumped the 2TF and shot down 7 before the 355th could come back from Landsberg force and the 357 could react.

Regards,

Bill

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Bill

Looking through Wood's files shows that the only Fw 190 units making claims at around that time period were II./JG 1 (two B-17 bombers near Haguenau-Bühland at 12:45-12:55) and I./JG 11 (three P-51 fighters NE of Mannheim at 13:00-13:15). Also, Sturmstaffel 1 must have been involved as well through the loss list information. I hope that this adds a little more to the picture.

Horrido!

Leo

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

I have a total of 61 fighter aircraft listed as lost due to enemy action on this date... definitely a lot to choose from.

Regards,
Andreas B

[drgondog]

Leo - the clash with Fw190s in 1215-1315 (NE Mannheim) were 4th FG who were flying a Free Lance Sweep.

I believe Sturmstaffel 1 is the unit I'm looking for in the 1320-1330 timeframe NE to E of Augsburg, attacking the 41B (2Task Force) en route to Erding, then south to SE Munich then due West to IP SW of Munich for target runs to Oberpfaffenhofen and Landsberg. The 3rd Task Force interestingly bombed first at Erding.

The Fw190 claims of two destroyed (one blowing up and one pilot bailing out- both witnessed) seems solid as claims in 1320-1330 and suggests StrurmStfl 1? Of course Me109ss have been id'd as Fw190s before and later..and vice versa

What is interesting to me also is there do not seem to be any claims of B-17s made by SS1 (or any other Fw190 unit in Munich area..

[drgondog]

Andreas - how could I get access to your list for GAF in Munich area from 1320-1430 timeframe?

Regards,

Bill