Victors over JG53 losses 15/09/40

[GMichalski]

Hi,
i'm searching of the victors over these losses in this day (maybe i have lack of info):

JG 53 lost eight Bf 109s, with seven completely destroyed. Seven were not directly credited to RAF units. In air combat, I./JG 53 lost Unteroffizier*Schersand, killed in*Weknummer*6160. 1*Staffel*Bf 109,*Werknummer*5111 crash-landed in France, 15% destroyed and the pilot unhurt. 3*Staffel*lost*Oberleutnant*and*Staffelkapitän*Jul ius Haase, killed in*Werkummer*1590 jumped from his stricken 109E, but his chute failed to open. The same unit lost*Unteroffizier*Feldmann. Two more Bf 109s —*Werknummer*1174 and 5251 from III./JG 53 - were destroyed, but their pilots were unhurt. One was rescued from the Channel

72 Sqn? 92 Sqn? 41Sqd? 73 Sqd?

maybe was John Wolferstan Villa of the 72 Sqn involved?....

many thanks,

regards

[Peter Cornwell]

I have the following losses listed for JG53 on 15 September 1940. No obvious link established with any combats involving No.72 Squadron as the known times of engagement do not match.

1./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (5111). Forced-landed at Étaples damaged in combat over south London. Pilot unhurt. Aircraft 15% damaged but repairable.

1./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (1345). Shot down in combat with fighters over the Isle of Sheppey during escort sortie for KG76 attack on London 12.40 p.m. FF Oberfw Alfred Müller captured wounded. Aircraft White 6 + 100% write-off.

1./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (5197). Petrol tank set alight in fighter attack during free-lance sortie over Canterbury and abandoned over Adisham Court, near Bekesbourne, 12.09 p.m. Believed shot down by F/O A.D.J. Lovell of No. 41 Squadron but possibly also that attacked by P/O J.D. Smith of No.73 Squadron. FF Fw Herbert Tzschoppe baled out and captured badly burned. Aircraft 100% write-off.

2./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (6160). Shot down by fighters in combat during bomber escort sortie over south London. FF Uffz Hans Schersand killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

2./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E. Shot down by P/O J.F.J. Macphail of No.603 Squadron during combat over Maidstone and crashed in flames in Gore Wood, Aldington Court Farm, Bearstead, 12.45 p.m. FF Oberlt Rudolf Schmid killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Originally buried in Thurnham Churchyard, Rudolf Schmid was repatriated to Germany post-war.

3./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (1590). Shot down by fighters during escort sortie for KG76 attack on London and abandoned over Mullard Wood, Norheads Farm, Biggin Hill, 12.50 p.m. Believed that claimed by F/Sgt G.C. Unwin of No.19 Squadron but possibly also that attacked by F/O A.D. Nesbitt of No.1 (RCAF) Squadron. FF Oberlt Julius Haase (Staffelkapitän) baled out but fell dead in Lusted Lane due to parachute failure. Aircraft 100% write-off.

3./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-1 (3619). Engine damaged in combat with Spitfires during escort sortie for KG76 attack on London and crashed attempting belly-landing at Grand Redoubt, between Hythe and Dymchurch, 12.42 p.m. Possibly that attacked by F/Sgt C. Sydney of No.92 Squadron. FF Uffz Karl-Heinz Feldmann captured unhurt. Aircraft Yellow 2 + 100% write-off.

Stab III./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (5251). Ditched in the Channel out of fuel following combat with fighters over southern England. FF Oberlt Friedrich-Karl Müller believed rescued unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Possibly the airman picked up by Do18 K6+BL of 3./KüFlGr.406 late that afternoon.

III./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (1174). Crashed and burned out at Étaples following combat sortie. Pilot unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.

[Chris Goss]

You might like to look at my Brothers in Arms for this day for I Gruppe. The one that has always puzzled me is Müller for whom there is no K report and who died of appendicitis in a German hospital in June 1944

[Peter Cornwell]

Chris,

You raise an excellent point. Every source agrees that he was recorded as 'captured' but the fact that no A.I.1(k) Report was raised for him is most significant. One can speculate that his wounds were such that he was among one of the early tranche of prisoners repatriated to Germany from 1943 but my instinct is that it's more likely that reports of his capture were simply incorrect.

[Chris Goss]

I have Müller's NVM which clearly states "... in engl Gefangenschaft geraten 30.11.40" and then "18.6.44 in Lazarett verstorben"

[Matti Salonen]

Chris, I have not found this NVM at WASt files. Could you scan it?
I am wondering, how he became POW on 30 Nov 1940 if he was ditching on 15 Sep 1940?

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Matti

Will scan & send. His capture was not reported until that date

[srob48]

Do we know if Oberfw. Alfred Müller Bf109E come down in the Thames Estuary off the Isle of Sheppey, Kent?

I have Oblt. Rudolf Schmidt (not Schmid) Em:67006/13, buried at Göggingen, Augsburg, Germany.

[Chris Goss]

As said before, there is a degree of mystery about Müller and Schmid (not Schmidt) was definitely killed where Peter says. EKM was as you say 67006/13 DoB 15 Dec 16 in Augsburg so my guess is he was reinterred there after the war

[GMichalski]

Hi,

many thanks for your info!

regards