Photos 12-31

[F19Gladiator]

Regarding the downed Bf 109 G-14 referred to above:

I checked in "Bodenplatte The Luftwaffe's Last Hope" by J.Manrho and R. Pütz, Hikoki Publ., 2004. And found the information below.

It is the well published G-14, WNr. 462892, 'Blue 2' of 16./JG 53, flown by Gefr. Alfred Michel. Shot down on 1 Jan 1945 near Waldweistroff, South West of Merzig.
It is not easy, but still possible, to discern the number '2' painted over the patch just forward of the fuselage cross.

Claimed by 'D' Battery of the 455th AAA Bn (M). This battery claimed no less than 10 downed aircraft in this engagement. Five crashed aircraft to have been found afterwards and investigated, but none possible to identify today.
Among those believed to have been claimed by 455th AAA are also;
Fhr Siegfried Leese 14./JG 53, MIA.
FJ.FW. Werner Jaschek, 15./JG 53, MIA. Flying 'Yellow 2'
Fhr. Wolfgang Rosenberger, 15./JG 53, MIA. Flying 'Yellow 12'

More pictures of this G-14 and info on this event on page 237-238 in the book, which I can highly recommend as a good read on the Bodenplatte operation.