IV/JG 54 info

[Nokose]

John, I was entering the serial number but guess I was putting the date in wrong.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by Nokose

Also I am looking for any comments from any books on the 353 FG for the afternoon mission on the 23 Sep 1944 in which they suffered losses.

There's roughly a page on that fight in the book Jonah's Feet Are Dry (it's a unit history of the 353rd FG), though it reads like it's excerpts from Encounter Reports.

Speaking of which, two of the Encounter Reports from the 353rd FG for the afternoon fight on 23 September 1944 can be found here:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...r-reports.html

[Nokose]

Steve, I looked at the reports on that website and they are all 352 FS/353 FG from a mission around 08:00. I believe that the mission that I am looking for was flown by 350 FS/353 FG. 2nd Lt. Gerald F. Province 350 FS/353 FG was killed at Arnhem during the mission that I am looking at this day, probably around 18:00(?). Have found several mentions of victory claims by pilots from that squadron but no details.

[SteveR]

My apologies! I hadn't realized those reports were from an earlier fight.

Jonah's Feet Are Dry lists three pilots from the 350th FS shot down and KIA on 23 Sept. 1944. MACR numbers aren't in the book; I'm listing them along with the link for each at NARA. All are timed 1800 hours; claims are all timed 1745 hours.

2Lt. Gerald F. Province MACR 9157:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066753

Capt. Ellis S. Middleton MACR 9156:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066719

2Lt. John G. Edwards MACR 9155:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91066707

Give me a little time, I'll type out all of the 350th FS claims for the afternoon fight.

[SteveR]

350th FS claims for 23 Sept. 44, from Frank J. Olynyk's (may he R.I.P.) USAAF (European Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat World War 2 (Victory List No. 5).

All have the time given as 1745 hours; all have the location given as SE of Arnhem.

2/Lt. Robert W Abernathy Me-109
1/Lt. Harold Emerson Asper Fw-190
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Me-109
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Fw-190
1/Lt. Bayard Cutting Auchincloss Fw-190 prob (originally claimed destroyed)
2/Lt. Gerald Patrick Devine Fw-190
2/Lt. Gerald Patrick Devine Fw-190 dam
1/Lt. Harry E Haynes Me-109
1/Lt. William P Knowling Me-109 prob (originally claimed destroyed)
Capt. Ellis Spear Middleton Fw-190
Capt. William Jeavons Price Fw-190
2/Lt. Gerald Francis Province Fw-190
1/Lt. Vernon G Rafferty Me-109
1/Lt. Vernon G Rafferty Fw-190
2/Lt. Lester M Grainger Fw-190 dam
2/Lt. Lonnie M Davis Me-109 dam

There are also four claims for the 352nd FS, also all timed at 1745 hours, location for each also given as SE of Arnhem (according to Jonah's Feet Are Dry it's the same fight that the 350th FS was in):

2/Lt. James F Cross Fw-190
Capt. John W Eanes Fw-190
2/Lt. George N Porterfield Fw-190
2/Lt. Charles E Sladek Fw-190

No losses for the 352nd FS this day.

[Nokose]

Thanks Steve. This is going to be a cluster to figure out with II/JG 27 and IV/JG 54 this day. Both claimed P-47s this day. Hopefully, no other FG claimed in that area.

[SteveR]

385th FS/364th FG 4 claims at 1745 hours, 2 of them 10 miles E of Arnhem, the other 2 at Emmerich.

505th FS/339th FG 3 claims at 1530 hours, Geldern-Weeze area.

503rd FS/339th FG 4 pilots made claims at 1600 hours, SW of Wesel (5135-0628)]

504th FS/339th FG 1 claim at1615 hours, vicinity of Venlo.

That's it for the USAAF. Have you checked RAF Tempest and Typhoon squadrons?

[John Manrho]

Gentlemen, Arnheim battles are a nightmare to sort out on certain days, unless they were seperate battles in different locations like 21.9.44.

John

[Nokose]

Steve the 339 FG is out time wise. 364 FG it depends on what they claimed. 353 FG is definitely time and area.

John it definitely is a wild one on 23rd but the 353 FG claimed 5 Me-109 s/d, 1 probable and 1 damaged. Claimed 1 Fw 190 damaged, 1 Fw 190 probable and 11 Fw 190 as s/d. Actually 5 Bf 109 shot down II/JG 27 and 6 Fw 190 s/d IV/JG 54. The Germans claimed 7 P-47 s/d. I have no idea were 83 FS/78 FG fits into the picture this day with 1 P-47 loss. The actual loss of 350 FS/353 FG had 3 P-47 loss

[John Manrho]

If you look at 21.09.1944 the battle is clear. Combat took place in Lochen-Laren area and dragged on further northeast. Losses of IV./JG 54 are well known and corresponding losses of 56th FG also, although there are some small discussion points.