II./JG 52 vs 15th US Air Force, 20 Mar 1945

[leonventer]

Hi Don,

Originally Posted by Don Caldwell

I have a Flugbuch entry stating that on 20 Mar 1945 II./JG 52 (or at least the 5. Staffel) intercepted 15th AF B-17s and P-51s while up from Veszprém 1345-1425 hours. Does anyone have more information? Claims? Losses?

I checked several publications and found some details in the following:
- Fast "JG 52, vol. IV"
- Barbas "Die Geschichte der II. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52"
- Düttmann "Wir kämpften in einsamen Höhen"

According to these sources, II./JG 52 didn't have suffer any losses or make any claims in that action. None of the books contained a description of any such encounter either.

Originally Posted by Don Pearson

Per Barbas, Lt. Duttmann claimed a P-51 10km WSW Veszprem at 1405

Interestingly, Düttmann says in his bio that during the 1980's he discovered that his Flugbuch entries for March 18th and March 20th 1945 were reversed, so his unconfirmed P-51 kill actually took place on the 18th.

According to Fast, there were two JG 52 losses due to enemy action on March 20th, both in III. Gruppe:
- 109G-14, WNr 464158, Uffz. Karlheinz Jüttner, vermißt, FF, gefallen
- 109G-14, WNr 510804, Bielau, absturz nach LK, FF, unverletzt

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter