Needing info on some JG 54 losses

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Interesting topic and while on the subject I would like to request some help on a somewhat related matter. Leutnant Heinz Wernicke (117 victories, RK), Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 54, was killed in a mid-air collision with his wingman Unteroffizier Wollien during aerial combat over Schrunden near Doblen on 27 December 1944. Would anyone have at the very least the subtype of the two aircraft involved, either Fw 190 A-8 or A-9? Unfortunately there does not appear to be anything on this incident even sourced from WASt material for what I understand.

Horrido!

Leo

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Leo,

Using the same sources as above:
_ Summary of Luftwaffe losses show two aircraft destroyed without enemy action on operational flight for I./JG 54 on 27 Dec 1944.

_ Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen for I./JG 54 on December 1944 show that while Fw 190 A of several subtypes were lost by enemy action, only Fw 190 A-8 (9 of them) were lost without enemy action. Same source show only two Fw 190 A-9 lost by I./JG 54 this month, both by enemy action. No trace in Rosipal list. Last data, during the month, I./JG 54 used 31 Fw 190 A-8 (14 at start of the month, received 17 and lost the same number destroyed or seriously damaged) compared to only 7 Fw 190 A-9 (7 at start, none received, two lost by enemy action and one sent to repair).

_ according to Rosipal, the collision occured "after an air battle", not during it. As Schrunden was then the base of I./JG 54, it is possible that the collision actually occured while they were returning to base after an air battle.

By the way Schrunden (then) = Skrunda, Latvia (now). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrunda