<<Rammkommando Elbe>> 7.4.1945

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

From an Allied summary of intercepted Luftwaffe radio traffic on this day:

"An unusual feature on this day was that the running commentary was interspersed with extracts from the "HORST WESSEL LIED", "DEUTSCHLAND LIED" and exhortations to German pilots to "remember the women and children burned under the ruins of our towns" and to "save the Fatherland".


Cheers,
Andrew A.

Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[edwest]

An account of a B-17 that is claimed was a victim of the Elbe operation:

http://www.classic-machines.com/blog...be-buchen-raid




Ed

[edwest]

Another piece of the puzzle:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tom.mccra...verGermany.htm



Ed

[gunbird]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

Hi

Here is my loss list for USAAF Bombers
B-17 42-97105 388. BG 561. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 43-38869 388. BG 563. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 42-31366 452. BG 731. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 44-8634 452. BG 731. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 43-38868 452. BG 728. BS Shot down by fighters
B-17 44-8531 452. BG 728. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 44-8225 390. BG 579. BS Shot down by Me 262
B-17 44-8334 100. BG 349. BS Shot down by Bf 109
B-17 42-97071 100.BG 418. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 44-8744 385. BG 550. BS Rammed by Bf 109
B-17 43-39070 493. BG 860. BS Shot down by fighters
B-17 43-38002 490. BG 850. BS Shot down or rammed Bf 109
B-17 44-8528 486. BG 834. BS Destroyed by bombs dropped from other B-17
B-17 43-39163 486. BG 835. BS Shot down by Flak
B-24 44-49254 389. BG Rammed by Bf 109
B-24 44-49533 389. BG 566. BS Collision with B-24 44-49254
B-24 42-94870 445.BG Shot down by Me 262
B-24 44-48830 446. BG 704. BS Crashed in England
B-24 42-94931 467. BG 789. BS Rammed by Bf 109, crew bailed out over Belgium
B-24 42-95194 466. BG 787. BS Crashed during start


...and 8th USAAF fighter units claims for 7th April

4. FG 4 Bf 109
55.FG 6 Bf 109
56. FG 4 Bf 109 , 1 Bf 109 poss, Me 262 dam
78. FG 4 Bf 109, 1 Fw 190
339. FG 7 Bf 109, 4 Fw 190, 1 Bf 109; 1 Me 262 poss; 1 Bf 109, 5 Me 262 dam
352. FG 1 Bf 109
353. FG 7 Bf 109; 1 Bf 109 dam
355. FG 2 Bf 109, 2 Fw 190; 1 Me 262 dam
356. FG 2 Bf 109, 1 Fw 190; 1 Bf 109 poss; 1 Me 262 dam
357. FG 2 Bf 109
479. FG 9 Bf 109, 2 Me 262; 1 Me 262 poss 1 Me 262 dam
Total: 48 Bf 109, 8 Fw 190 2 Me 262; 3 Bf 109 2 Me 262 poss; 2 Bf 109, 9 Me 262 dam

Usually USAAF fighter claims are 50% higher than actual result, so possibly they shot down around 30-35 Elbe planes.

According to MACR,B-17 43-38002 was lost on 14.1.1945 ,and it belong to 487BG,so I think there should be someting wrong

[NUPPOL]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando_Elbe

[Dan007]

I search information that the "Sonderkommando Elbe" was in Salzwedel, books, Documents...
Many thanks for your help.

Yours sincerely from Salzwedel

Danielo