Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Multiple Claims against fighters 1944-45

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Nick

Is it known if the other fighter squadrons of the 358th Fighter Group suffered any additional losses that day? Scutts states that the Group lost three fighters to Kemethmüller in that particular engagement and that same day eight fighters of the 366th Fighter Squadron were bounced by six Fw 190s near Dreux. Two aircraft were lost and this was the engagement in which Blevins was killed. For his part Caldwell states that the engagement in which Kemethmüller was involved was most likely that with the 366th Fighter Squadron. It should also be pointed out that III./JG 54 claimed three P-47 fighters in the same time and area as Kemethmüller, including two by Hauptmann Robert Weiss, the Gruppenkommandeur. So it appears that the 358th Fighter Group lost a total of five fighters and one pilot if the above is true and I./JG 26 and III./JG 54 claimed five victories against P-47 fighters. Does anyone have additional information that can help sort out this?

Horrido!

Leo