What JG does this plane belong to?

[jmark]

Thanks for the help, guys.

I believe I have nailed down the day on which this Me 109 was shot down: 8 August 1942. Any details on losses from I./Sch.G.1 on this day?

Many thanks!
Jason

[Jim P.]

1./Schl.G. 1 reported two losses on this day. Bf 109E-7 WNr. 3333 overturned during landing at Fl.Pl. Bereska with 60% damage - obviously not the machine in question. The other, Bf 109E-7 WNr. 2030 was reported as a Bruchlandung due to engine trouble at PlQu. 27 93 with 80% damage. That doesn't seem to match the circumstances in the photo. This machine looks to have landed with a dead engine since only the two lower prop blades are 'bent'. Other than that damage looks minimal and, if assessed as less than 10%, it may not have been reported in the losses at all. Out of curiosity, how were you able to determine that this might have occurred on 8-Aug-42?

[jmark]

Hi Jim,

Thanks very much for your reply. Much appreciated. You're right, the two cases you mentioned don't seem to be "my" plane, although perhaps the 80% damage occured after the belly landing (artillery/mortar strike). Do you know what map is used for the grid coordinates (PlQu. 27 93)?

As for how I determined the date, I have an account by a panzer officer who witnessed the plane coming down. This is what he wrote:
“We drove back to the front and saw the downing of an Me-109, which had intervened in the engagement as a ground-attack aircraft. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing (belly landing) in the immediate realm of the main battle line, but had to get out quickly because Russian mortars plastered the site. He was uninjured and in cheerful spirits."

The account is not clear on the exact date, but I narrowed it down to 4-10 August. Long story, but the panzer officer in question arrived at the front on 4 August, while the man (the battalion doctor) seen in my Me-109 photo was killed on 10 August. After being on the defensive 5-6 August, the German panzers launched an attack on 7 August, continued on 8 August – with heavy support by ground-attack aircraft – and 9-10 August.

Are any other Bruchlandungen listed for 7-10 August?

Thanks for your help, Jim!

Jason

[Merlin]

Jason,

Jim wrote in post #: This machine looks to have landed with a dead engine since only the two lower prop blades are 'bent'. Other than that damage looks minimal and, if assessed as less than 10%, it may not have been reported in the losses at all.

Furthermore this aircraft has a "yellow N" for 3./SchG 1.

All the reported losses from 4. to 10.August were from 1., 2. and 8.Staffel, there is no loss report for a 3.Staffel aircraft.

This seems to be one of those accidents with less than 10% damage, which were salvaged and repaired by the own unit in a short time. Therefore no damage report was written.

[jmark]

Merlin, thanks for your reply. What you write makes perfect sense.

Thanks to everyone who replied. You guys really know your stuff!
Jason