Dortenmann and Downing

[Boomerang]

There is an account of the combat involving the 78 FG on 19 March 1945 in Donald Caldwell's JG 26 War Diary. This states 'Hans Dortenmann claimed the 84th Squadron commander, Major Harry Downing'.

Caldwell states that, in this combat, the 78th shot down 12 BF109s from JG 27 and 3 Fw190s from JG26, while losing 5 P51s, all to JG 26.

Note that 11th Staffel of JG 54, commanded by Dortenmann, was redesignated 14th Staffel of JG 26 on 25 February 1945, so Dortenmann was a member of JG 26 on 19 March.

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Boomerang