Fw 190 Black 16 shot down 23 Dec 1944?

[John Beaman]

It is an amazing photo Revi.

I wonder what USA unit that was? If the location is accurate this would be right on the northern "shoulder" of the Battle of the Bulge just a week underway at this date. I thought Rotgen was still in German hands? Perhaps the location is a bit further to the west than "near Rotgen" and these troops are from the 2nd Division?

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

It is an amazing photo Revi.

I wonder what USA unit that was? If the location is accurate this would be right on the northern "shoulder" of the Battle of the Bulge just a week underway at this date. I thought Rotgen was still in German hands? Perhaps the location is a bit further to the west than "near Rotgen" and these troops are from the 2nd Division?

Hi John !

There are some Rotgen or Rötgen or Roetgen in the area. There is one in the Aachen area, which wasn't obviously touched by the Battle of the Bulge. One is also in the Monschau area, where this photo-series also could be shot at.
At both locations, U.S. troops could had been be present on Dec. 23rd, 1944, since those locations were North of the "Bulge" but were around and just inside the Hürtgenwald-Forest battlefield.
At the Rotgen near Bonn, no U.S. troops were present at Dec. 23rd 1944, so that this photo couldn't have had shot this time at that location there.

Best regards !

Horst Weber

[John Beaman]

Thanks, Horst. That is what I thought. US units were often horrible as to locations recorded. Sometimes they could be miles off.

The soldiers there could be from the AA unit that made the claim or they could be from the 2nd Division. Too bad the detail is not a bit sharper so we could see what type of rifle they were carrying. AA units typically carried the M-1 carbine as opposed to the M1 Garrand.

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Thanks, Horst. That is what I thought. US units were often horrible as to locations recorded. Sometimes they could be miles off.

The soldiers there could be from the AA unit that made the claim or they could be from the 2nd Division. Too bad the detail is not a bit sharper so we could see what type of rifle they were carrying. AA units typically carried the M-1 carbine as opposed to the M1 Garrand.

[John Beaman]

Thanks, Revi16 for the great enlargement.

It would appear that the majority of USA soldiers are carrying the M1A carbine, so this would indicate they were from a flak or artillery unit.