Two JG27 crashes, Greece 1943

[mimithem]

Hello fellows!

I request further information on the following crashes:

1) 26.09.1943, 11./JG27, Fw. Heinz Keller +, Feindlug ohne Feindeinwirkung, bei Notlandung Absturz 2 Km oestlich Paramythia, 100%, Bf109G-6, W.Nr.20242

2) 14.12.1943, 9./JG27, Uffz. Rolf Steinberg v., Luftkampf bei Paramythia, 100%, Bf-109G-6 W.Nr.140079 ge. 2+1

Information taken by Jochen Prien's book.

Thank you in advance!

[Bruce Lander]

Ref USAAF Claims MTO by Frank Olynyk shows the following:-

37th F,S.
Maj. W.L.Leverette Me.109 N.E.Eleusis A/D 11.00 hrs

49th F.S.
Maj. B.E.McKenzie Me.109 Eleusis A/D area


Bruce Lander

[mimithem]

Thank you Bruce,

but these two above claims are reported over Eleusis and not Paramythia as I can understand. Do the dates match with the losses of JG27?

Themis

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Themis,

yes these two claims are on 14 December 1943 and are the only fighter claims over Greece on that date.
The other possibility is that the 109s were shot down by return fire while attacking bombers.

Bruce Lander

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Themis,

a bit more information regarding 15th Air force operations on 14th December 1943 :-

(Fifteenth Air Force): 150+ B-17's and B-24's, with fighter escorts, bomb Greece. The B-24's hit the Tatoi air depot at Athens; the B-17's hit the Kalamaki and Eleusis air depots at Athens and the docks and shipping at Piraeus. The heavy bombers claim 10 fighters shot down.

Bruce Lander

[mimithem]

Thank you once more Bruce. The matter is that Paramythia, the site that the crashes are refered to have occured, is about 250 miles away from the Athens area where the USAAF bombers seem to have operated.

Do we know the base of operation for these bomber squadrons? If it was Southern Italy, then yes it could be possible for the second crash, that of 14 December.

[RT]

Cap Aramythia ??

Paramythia ??

Rémi

[sidney]

Themis,

Your first loss, that of 26 September 1943... ohne Feindeinwirkung translates as "without enemy actions".

Thus, only the second loss, that of 14 December 1943, can possibly be matched with the USAAF claims.

Regards,
Sinisa

[pelagonia]

Does anybody have images of these two pilots?