Fw190 losses over France, 1th March 1944?

[olsols]

Hello,
I am currently researching the wartime history of my cousin, pilot of the 308th Polish Fighter Squadron. He is credited with a confirmed victory over a Fw190 on 1.3.1944 near Creil, at 16:10.
Is it possible to find out any details about the downed airplane and its pilot? I would be really grateful for any replies.

[Rottler]

Hello Olsols,

according to the JVF Vol. 13/III the opposing German group is not known, a loss is not reported (... ein Verlust ist nicht gemeldet. Source: Luftlagemeldungen Luftwaffenführungsstab 1.3.1944).

Regards
Leo

[olsols]

Thank you!

I have also found this confirmation of no activity on that day:

Für den Mittwoch, 01.März 1944 hält das KTB (Kriegstagebuch) des I.Jagdkorps fest:

Tagesübersicht: Bei Tage nur feindliche Aufklärungstätigkeit über dem Reichsgebiet. Wegen mäßiger Wetterlage kein eigener Einsatz.

Abgesehen von Einflügen einzelner Aufklärer jeweils über die Scheldemündung am späten Vormittag und um die Mittagszeit, von denen zwei anschließend in den Raum Kassel flogen, während zwei weitere den westdeutschen Raum erkundeten, blieb es bei Tage vollkommen ruhig.

(Quelle: Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 - Teil 13 / Band I - Reichsverteidigung 1944 - 1.1. bis 5.6.1944 - Buchverlag Rogge GmbH von Jochen Prien, Gerhard Stemmer, Peter Rodeike und Winfried Bock)

Comparing this with other victory reports that were certainly analysed on this message board - what would you call the more probable source of this ambiguity:

• pilots misreporting the victory
• incomplete German records
• the situation happened, but on some other day (clerical error on the Allied scoresheet?)

[Chris Goss]

I guess you have consulted the Sikorski Instutute or failing that confirmed the combat with what is held in the National Archives? This will confirm date & time without doubt from the Allied side. The loss could also be a training aircraft if no combat took place

[olsols]

@Chris, I took the info about the combat from the "Polish Wings 15, Supermarine Spitfire IX 1944-1946" by Wojtek Matusiak (2012, Wydawnictwo Stratus). It is also repeated in other online sources (sometimes without the hour), but the date, outcome, pilot name and his plane serial number is everywhere the same.
Polish Wings also claims that it was a first victory achieved of a 308th pilot flying IX.

[Chris Goss]

Knowing Wojtek, the date will be correct from an Allied perspective