19 Squadron RAF ( Mustang III ) losses 17th September 1944

[kjetilk]

Just to add further details.

Extracted from the combat report (September 17th, 1944), No. 19 Squadron:

Time ut & down: 1532-1802. Place of attack: W.EMMERICH. Time of attack: 1700. Height of E/A on first sighting: 14,000 feet. Height of own A/C first sighting: 11,000 feet. Our casualties: 1 Mustang Cat. E. F/O R.A.D. Slee, (lost in combat, no information), 1 Mustang Cat. B.

Enemy Casulaties: 1 Fw 190 destr. F/Lt E.S. Hughes, 1 Me 109 dam. shared, F/O J.M. Maynard and F/O F.D. Webster, 1 Fw 190 Dam. shared, F/O J.A. Scott, W/O J.D. Beckett, 2 Fw 190 Dam. F/O J.E. Staples, DFM.

F/Lt Hughes reports: "I was leading 8 a/c of 19 sqdn and flying Jamjar 1. We had been relieved on patrol by 122 Squadron and were leaving the area on an armed recce of the road East of Emmerich when we were informed by Kenway that bandits were approaching from the East. We commenced to climb and at 12,000ft sighted 3 large gaggels of FW190's totalling 50/60 aircraft, flying on a course of approx 300 degs at 14,000ft. We were flying a course of 160 degs and the e/a appeared not to see us, so we made a full turn starboard and climed into the sun to attack the e/a.The e/a saw us an also turned to starboard. After both they and we had completed a 360 degs turn in this manner the e/a still had the advantage of height, and we finally levelled off for 3/4 seconds heding roughly west at about 15,000ft and waited for the 190's to attack. As the e/a closed their range to approx 6/800 yds we broke hard to starboard into them. Almost immediately a FW190 apperard right in front of me at very close range and I fired a short burst. I then lost sight of the 190 under my nose, but after continuing the turn I saw the 190 almost directely below me spinning down streaming white smoke and I saw the hood came off and the pilot bale out. I had to continue turning tightly as my No2 - F/O Maynard - was being attacked by 4/5 190's. F/Lt McNeil who was flying Jamjar 4 also saw my 190 spinning down and the hood came off. Immediately after my attack on the 190 I saw an ME109 creeping up between my No2 and myself. I saw my No2, F/O Maynard, firing at the 109 and subsequently saw a 109 spinning down, out of control. We finnaly succeeded in breaking off the attacks and returned to base. I claim 1 FW190 destroyed. cino Camera used. No Gyro gun-sight used."

The combat report also contains personal reports from F/O Staples, F/O Manyard and F/O Webster and partly F/O Scott (page 3 is missing).

I hope the info is useful,

Kjetil

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Kjetil and Karl,
You added a lot more to my general picture of the combats of 17th September! Kjetil very very interesting the Combat report and particularly this single Me 109 amongst a lot of Fw 190. As you have seen the actual combat report of 19 Squadron matches the HOUR of the combat reports of JG 6. I do not know how many JG 6 machines took off, if they joined forces with another Jagdgeschwader. What seems strange from the reports is that one claim was made East of Eindhoven and the other around Emmerich area. And, we do have the loss of Oberleutnant Werner Uhlig ( my main focus of research ) well to the east, somewhere near Koln ( Cologne ). It is very intriguing...because there is no other ( up to now ) known USAF claim around 17:00hs. So, perhaps, as another researcher like us put on an early reply, maybe JG 6 met 65 or 602 Squadron. I still am looking for 65 Squadron Mustang´s claims and losses, trying to find out some ORB for this Squadron. I only know Oblt Uhlig as a JG 6 loss. Do not know if this JG had more losses...but I am guessing correctly that they probably met 19 Squadron or 65 Squadron´s Mustangs.
I will be sharing all NEW information with you and the others that have helped me so far.
Thank you again for your kind contribution and HELP! I am really in debt...

Yours friendly as ever

Adriano

PS: Yes, Kjetil, if you could send me those PDF archives, I would be glad to have a careful look at
baumgartner_asv@yahoo.com.br

[harper]

Hi, F/L D.G Metzler 65 SQN. is my wife's Uncle. We would be very interested in any further information you may have on 65 SQN involvement in the action.
Anthony

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Harper,
Is he still alive? Yes, I could send you a lot more. Please send write me off board ( baumgartner_asv@yahoo.com.br ).
I was tracing down this day´s actions and do have a lot of information.
Yours
Adriano
Brazil

[SteveB]

Adriano

David Metzler was one of the 65Sqn losses on this date he is buried at Arnhem-Oosterbeek.

Steve

[harper]

Hi Adriano,An email is on it's way.
Regards

[karl lusink]

Originally Posted by SteveB

Adriano

David Metzler was one of the 65Sqn losses on this date he is buried at Arnhem-Oosterbeek.

Steve

Hello
17-09-1944
David Metzler crashed at Wehl, recovered after the war!(1946)
F/O Slee crashed at Braamt, buried at Zeddam
Uffz Lang, 7./JG 6 crashed at Drempt 17.00h
Uffz Reuter, 6./JG 6 crashed at Wehl
Braamt, Wehl and Drempt are small villages near Doetinchen in the East of The Netherlands.
Chears
Karl Lusink
ARGA
www.arga-nl.nl