Defense of Kiel July 29th 1943

[dp_burke]

Hello,
I was hoping to confirm if the Luftwaffe suffered any losses or damage to aircraft on July 29th 1943 during the early morning raid on the docks at Kiel?

Its just to compare to newspaper reports from a surviving US POW who said his crew took down 8 fighters before they themselves were shot into the sea. I expect it was just for the benefit of the newspaper.

I've looked at http://lesliesawyer.com/claims/tonywood.htm

I'd be correct is saying that JG1 and JG11 were the main protaganists on that morning. The JG11 wiki page (I know, I know) says only one JG11 a/c was damaged.

Thanks in advance everyone

[Delmenhorst]

Luftwaffe lost all together (Kiel and Warnemünde) 7 planes that morning. The American claims for that morning were 48-6-33.

[dp_burke]

Cheers, thanks for that.

I was also looking at the USAAF chronologies as well at those claim figures. Can someone remind me what the three figures are again, sorry for the basic question.

is it
?? - probables - destroyed

[Delmenhorst]

shot Down - probably - damaged

[G.R.Morrison]

Close, although I think you need to turn it around: 48-6-33 = forty-eight shot down, six probably shot down, and thirty-three damaged.

The hail of fire that greeted the oncoming Jagdflieger was certainly deadly, there are plenty of losses to defensive fire. But the gunners were always "enthusiastic" in their claims.

GRM

[dp_burke]

Thanks guys. Just what I needed.