Ltn. Joachim Weber's claim of 08.08.1944

[Karoband]

Hi Knusel,

While we both know that there is nothing "definite" about claims, this is what I have found so far on Joachim Weber.

1. Early claims: one place to look before checking Tony Woods lists is the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries of deZeng and Stankey. They often use claim lists to establish dates and units. For Joachim Weber they give three early dates: 28.07.43, 10.10.43 and 22.12.43. Checking Tony Woods I found that Weber, indeed, on 28.07.43 claimed a Lightning in the Mediterranean theatre; on 10.10.43 a B-17 in the West, but there is nothing in Woods for 22.12.43, although I suspect there should be one.

2. Jet claims: checking Foreman & Harvey, Me 262 Combat Diary, (1990) against Smith & Creek, ME 262 Volumes Two and Three, (1998, 2000), I find they are consistent about the following nine claims by Weber: 08.08.44 Mosquito; 14.09.44 Mosquito; 18.09.44 Mosquito; 02.12.44 P-38; 03.02.45 B-17; 24.02.45 P-51; 14.03.45 P-51; 15.03.45 B-24 and 15.03.45 B-24. However, while Foreman & Harvey ascribe a B-17 to Weber at the time of his death on 21.03.45, Smith & Creek, Boehme and Forsyth make no such claim.

DeZeng and Stankey make the statement, "Credited with 11 victories." That is the number of claims I have found so far too.

Hi Adriano,

You are probably right about it being an American Mosquito that Weber claimed on 08.08.44. From Smith & Creek, ME 262 Volume Two, p.251:

"On 8 August Lt. Joachim Weber of EKdo 262 shot down the unit's second Mosquito, an aircraft from the U.S. 802nd Reconnaissance Group, over the Ammer See, south-west of Munich..."

As there is no MACR for a 25th BG-802nd RG aircraft, this is probably the one in your post above.

best regards

Jim