Luftwaffe loss night 2/3rd July 1944 in Normandy

[loiclemarchand]

Yeah great Matti and Chris !!!

that's the good one as Zorglub said

[Stig Jarlevik]

Matti

I usually check your details against my written secondhand sources, in this case Jan Horn's book about KG 6, just to see if I need to change/update something.

He lists this loss to II./KG 6 probably because he also lists Mader as Kommandeur of that unit. Incidentally he states in the loss list that it happened on the 2nd but in his commanders list Mader is the Boss until the 3rd, so in my mind pretty clear it happened that night....

I take it the NVM states Stab I./KG 6, is that correct? A bit odd if that was so.

B Rgds
Stig

[Matti Salonen]

I have no other source for this loss than NVM, which obviously gives Stab I/KG 6.Of course it is possible that as the "owner" of the aircraft 3E+CB they reported the loss, but the crew was from Stab II/KG 6. I have to check this, but it takes time.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Matti
Stig

[RT]

188 Solved also the problem of the crew of five..

Rémi

[Matti Salonen]

Stig,

Recheck the case. The NVM was written by I/KG 6 and it shows the crew also from I/KG 6. I have no idea, why Jan Horn is saying II/KG 6 and where he has found that info.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks again Matti

Johann 'Hans' Mader was Kommandeur of II./KG 6 at this point.
In the main text Jan Horn makes it clear he was flying an aircraft if I./KG 6 during the night he was lost. Hans seems to have been his nickname al through his career (see Ritterkreuzträger der Kampflieger)

Looking in Zeng/Stankey's Bomber Units book they put forth he was temporarily acting as Kommandeur of that unit as well which means that Mader in practice was in command of both I. and II./KG 6 at the same time.

I didn't realise this until now since neither authors seems to 100% realise this either in their books. My apologies Matti, I should have looked closer the first time, but my aviation interests and other commitments makes time rather precious....

So we have an aircraft lost from I./KG 6 and a commander from both I. and II./KG 6. Horn followed Mader's main posting (II./KG 6), hence his reporting of the loss the way he did.

Cheers
Stig

[Matti Salonen]

Stig, no reason to apologize. I always enjoy your comments and remarks and also quite often learn quite a lot of them. I don't have those Jan Horn's books and now I know a little bit more about KG 6. Thanks.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Matti

Appreciate your gentle touch

Cheers
Stig