JG 54 loss on 18 August 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Another JG 54 question, this time for August 1943.

This day, Hptm Max Stotz, the Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 54 and an ace of 189 victories, was shot down, reportedly by Yak-9 and posted missing after bailing out.

All written sources I have seen say that this fight took place neat Vitebsk, but the JG 54 loss list, that says it was in "Pl. Qu 4572".

This is consistent with the claims of II./JG 54 this day, two Yak-9 being claimed by 5. and 6./JG 54 in Pl Qu 45 751 and 45 754 at 1623 and 1625 hrs. This day 28 GvIAP claimed two Fw 190 and lost two Yak in an air battle that had been linked to Stotz loss... by the Russian author Dynmich that is apparently not very reliable.

The problem is that my LUMA Excel grid places this Pl Qu near Kirov far more east than Vitebsk (by choosing 35 Ost).

By the way I have tried to find where 5./JG 54 was based at the time but it seems to have changed a lot during the summer 1943.

Any comment will be appreciated

Laurent