LOSS NEAR BURGAU 24 APRIL 1945

[Nick Beale]

From Bundesarchiv Rl 2-II/389, page 0437:

Nachtrag zur Abendmeldung vom 24.4.45:

Jagdverb. 44: 16 Me 262 in 2 Einsätzen gegen Marauderverbände im süddeutschen Raum.

i.A.

Erfolge: 2 Mustang sicher, 3 Marauder wahrscheinlich.

Verluste: p: 0 - 2 - 0, m: 0 - 2 - 0 (darunter Oberst Lützow)

RL 2-II/391, page 047 et seq.

Abendmeldung West vom 24.4.45

JG 300: 2 Fw 190 Einsatz gegen Brücke Dillingen von 0610–0750. Tiefangriff mit je einem 250 kg Werferballon ohne besondere Wirkungsbeobachtung wegen starker Flakabwehr.

JG 300: 6 Fw 190 Bomben und Bordwaffenangriffe auf Feindbewegungen südl. Dillingen von 0655–0715 ohne besondere Wirkungsbeobachtung wegen starker Flakabwehr.
Verluste: p: 0 - 1 - 0, m: 0 - 1 - 0

NJG 1 [sic]: 14 Me 109 Gleicher Auftrag in 2 Einsätzen von 0615–0735. Wegen Luftkampf mit Spitfire- und Mustangverband auftrag nicht durchgeführt.
Verluste: p: 0 - 1 - 0, m: 0 - 1 - 0

1.(F)/100: Strassenaufklärung Raum Cham – Weiden – Neumarkt – Lauf, dgf.

Nachtrag zur Abendmeldung West vom 24.4.45:

Lw.Kdo.West (7. Div.) ingesamt:

JG 300: 5 Fw 190 Angriff mit Spezialbomben auf Brücke Dillingen ohne ohne besondere Wirkungsbeobachtung wegen starker Flakabwehr. Keine Verluste.

JG 300: 12 Fw 190 Angriff mit Bomben und Bordwaffen auf Feindbewegungen im Raum südl. Dillingen.
Erfolge: 2 LKW zerstört, 4 Panzer und mehrere LKW beschädigt.
Verluste: p: 0 - 1 - 0, m: 0 - 1 - 0

JG 53: 38 Me 109 Gleicher Auftrag in 3 Einsätzen.
Erfolge: 1 LKW und mehrere Panzespähwagen mit augesessener Infanterie vernichtet. Im Luftkamp 1 Auster abgeschossen.
Verluste: p: 0 - 3 - 0, m: 2 - 3 - 3

JG 27: 19 Me 109 Gleicher Auftrag in 2 Einsätzen.
Erfolge: 15 Kfz. in Brand geschossen, im Luftkampf 2 Auster abgeschossen.
Verluste: p: 1 - 2 - 0, m: 1 - 2 - 0

EJG 1: 17 Me 109 Gleicher Auftrag in 3 Einsätzen.
Erfolge: 3 LKW und 2 Panzer beschädigt.
Verluste: p: 0 - 1 - 0, m: 0 - 1 - 0

P.S. Burgau to Dillingen is just under 18 km.

National Archives HW 5/697:

CX/MSS/T530/14

To IA and IC from Officer Commanding Special Detachment T

Stamped 0830/24/4:

5 Storch aircraft took off at 02.15–02.30 hours.

Demolition detachments of 2 men each dropped in area Dillingen – Nördlingen – Donauwörth.

4 aicraft returned. Landing 04.05–04.30 hours. Dropping proceeded according to plan, no striking road movements recognised in low level flight. South west of Donauwörth, 1 village in flames. West of Nördlingen, artillery fire.

Defence: 3 Storch shot at by MG and/or light AA.

2 aircraft slightly damaged.

Losses: 1 Storch missing.

Regarding any possible operations by KG 51 on the 24th, Bletchley Park noted from decrypts that it was included in 7. Jagd Division orders for the 23rd but not the 24th. On the latter date:

CX/MSS/T530/64

Report signed Major Barth Kommodore, dated 24/4/

BANOV ((KG)) 51 disbanded. All personnel equipped with arms in own (few words illegible) to be subordinated to ground organisation or (smudge). Personnel without arms to be placed in Army supplementary reserve. Equipment, vehicles and secret documents (several words missing) with the unit. Act on your own responsibility.

This subsequently caused ructions in the high command and was countermanded but it seems to rule out KG 51's participation on 24 April at least.

[Nick Beale]

And for night operations:

(RL 2-II/391 page 0145) Morgenmeldung West vom 24.4.45

Own operations (7. Div.)

NJG 6, 2 Ju 88 and 6 Me 110; NJG 2, 4 Ju 88

Engaging enemy supply traffic in the areas Amberg-Weiden, Erfurt-Giessen, Nürnberg-Neumarkt and Göppingen-Eisenstadt from 2100-0450.

Results: 15 lorries destroyed or set on fire by strafing, numerous others damaged.

Losses: p 0 - 3 - 1; m 0 - 1 - 2

(RL 2-II/391 page 0151) Morgenmeldung West vom 25.4.45

Own operations (7. Div.)

NSG 1, 5 Ju 87; NJG 6, 5 Ju 88

Engaging enemy movements and artillery positions in the area Regensburg-Cham from 2015–0752.

Results: 30 motor vehicle set on fire by strafing, 15 more damaged. Several quite large explosions and fires observed.

Losses: p 0 - 4 - 0; m 0 -1 - 0

NJG 6, 5 Me 110

Same task in area Göppingen-Fresudenstadt-Mannheim from 2101–2301.

Results: 1 railway wagon and 10 motor vehicles set on fire by strafing, others damaged.

No losses.

NJG 11, 5 Me 109

Same task in area Dillingen-Bonfingen-Würzburg from 2103–2254.

Results: 3 lorries set on fire by strafing, 1 railway train shot up with good effect SW Gunzenhausen.

Losses: p 0 - 1 - 0, m 0 - 1 - 0.

[Blücher]

Nick, thanks for your detailed reply.

As the author of the thread concerning the 109 loss in the area of Burgau mentioned by Leendert your notes prove to be highly interesting.

The after action report of the 714th Tank Battalion gives another detail for April 24, 1945 that might be of some value.

The report notes for 2000h:

"Unit moved to Gund[r]emmingen. CP established for night. Patrol from Co D reports bridges at railroad and autobahn south of Burgau intact but mined (see overlay of patrol). One plane, enemy, crashed with three bodies in it reported by patrol."

Michael

Edit: The quote from the AAR given the in paragraph above focuses on the town of Burgau situated between Augsburg and Ulm. Additionally I want to point out that there are some more towns named Burgau in Germany and Austria. Another "German" Burgau ist the one located near Jena. The Austrian Burgau is some 80 km east of Graz.