Jim Buck Kirksmith

[Buckeye30]

Follow-up to Leendert's post re. hospitalization, Kirksmith may have been one of the 6 wounded (+31 MIA) on his last mission 4 Oct.; 3 B-24s lost from 579BS., 15 damaged. Attacks by single & twin-engine fighters some with rockets.
Incidentally there were several B-24s from the 93BG also, with 44BG component both having returned from detachment to N.Africa.


Nick

[James A Pratt III]

Any idea who which units attacked the B-24s on 4 Oct 43?

[Buckeye30]

Hi James. Seems they were Me109Gs from I./II./JG.11-- "Ciel de Gloire" lists 10 B-24s claimed on the 4th. by JG.11 from this diversion mission; 392nd. lost 3 (and 1 from 44th).
From 392BG... 42-7471 "Filthy Annie", 42-7474 "Satan's Flame", 42-7481 "Whiskers".
471 and 481 collided.


Nick

[James A Pratt III]

Over the weekend I found the flashdrive I had that had Tonywoods Luftwaffe claims list:

one was by Heniz Khoke whose book "I flew for the Fueher" I have

I checked the JG 11 and USAAF chronology on wiki

JS Helgoland made a claim they were equipted with Me 109Ts And I have notes from the book
"The Sea Eagles" by Francis L Marshall on this aircraft

11 German claims US 4 shot down and 19 damaged

[Buckeye30]

Hi James. The Jasta Helgoland B-24 was credited to Hptn. Hans-Heinrich Koenig (Me109T), his 5th. Heinz Knoke - 1 B-24 (5./JG11).
Other 9 B-24s to I./II./ JG11.
( from Ciel De Gloire and Kracker Archive).


Nick

[Buckeye30]

For the record the B-24D from the 44BG was 42-40989 "Holiday Mess" which supposedly collided with a 109, both lost. MACR 940, 10 MIA.
This is the web-site for Knoke, with his account of the action ( described in his book "I flew for the Fuhrer") which fortunately list his missions by date.

http://franckruffino.chez.com/My-Site/Victory_16.htm


Note. The Kracker Archive says this was FW190A 410239 "White 13", not a 109; pilot was Oblt. Heinz Sahnwaldt Stk.1./JG11, killed; his only victory, (he was actually born in Poland). 44BG summary says 109 but I.Gruppe had FW190As, II.Gruppe had Me109Gs.

Nick