Luftwaffe Unit responsible for two P-51Ds-April 4,1945

[kaki3152]

On April 4,1945, the 354th FS, 355 FG lost two P-51Ds (both pilots KIA) in combat with 2-4 Fw-190Ds over Ludwiglust, Germany. The combat report in the MACR is fascinating to read, since it's obvious the FW-190Ds were flown by very capable LW pilots. One Fw-190D was claimed by the 354th FS.

Does anyone know which Luftwaffe unit this could have been? For a while, I thought it might JGr-10, but the dates don't match.

This was also the date that Heinz Baer claimed a P-51 Mustang. but there is no mention of a me-262 in this combat.

[Broncazonk]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

The combat report in the MACR is fascinating to read, since it's obvious the FW-190Ds were flown by very capable LW pilots.

Well? How long do you intend to keep us in suspense??

Post the report!! Or give us the best parts. Something!

Bronc

[pdame141]

Looks like one is MACR 14149 - 1st Lt. Thomas F. Truel, Jr. - flying No. 2 in lead element with Captain Alvin S. White. Lt. Truel fell behind his flight leader when they bounced the four FW-190s - ended up with one E/A on his tail - tried a split s at 500 ft and observed by Capt. White to crash and burn.

The second is MACR 13957 - 1st Lt. Robert A. Goth - flying no. 3 in Capt. White's flight. He and his wingman 2d Lt. Kaplan attacked the lead element of the four "long nosed" FW-190s, which turned into them. All eight planes ended up in a Luftberry. Just as Goth got into firing position, the last two of the E/A broke up into the clouds. One E/A then came back down in a steep diving spiral and was shot up by Kaplan. The second E/A repeated this attack and shot down Lt. Goth.

[pdame141]

It could be that the "long nosed" FW-190s were actually Ta-152s of the Stabsschwarm of JG 301. I found an online reference indicating that Stab./JG 301 was the first unit to get Ta-152s and were tasked with providing top cover for Jagdwaffe airfields in their area of ops.

[kaki3152]

Here tis...


On April 4th, 1945 I was flying Falcon Blue 4 on a fighter sweep north of the Hanover-Madgeburg area. Between 8:15 and 8:45, we bounced three flights of bogies and consequently became separated from the group. At approximately 9:30, we let down through the overcast, the base of which was at 1200 ft. and broke out 5 miles east of Ludwiglust . At this time Lt. Goth , who was flying Falcon Blue 3 . called in a flight of four bogies just west of Ludwiglust and circling the town. We made an orbit around the town and they continued to circle. By the time they had arrived at a position east of the town, our flight leader, Capt. Al White identified them as long nose Fw-190s and ordered the flight to drop tanks and attack. The E/A at this time were in a string formation. Capt. White and his wingman, Lt. Truel, fell in behind the last two E/A and the first E/A element turned into them. Lt. Goth and myself were approximately 500 yards behind our lead element , tucked onto the tails of the last E/As and the eight ships went into a Luftberry just below the base of the overcast. As soon as Lt. Goth was in position to fire, the last two E/A broke off and shot up into the overcast. We continued to circle below the overcast, I being approximately 100 yards behind Lt. Goth. Shortly thereafter, one E/A came down through the overcast in a steep diving spiral between Lt. Goth and myself and fired a short burst at him. I , in turn, fired at the E/A and observed several strikes in his tail section, after which he broke off and shot back up into the overcast. A second later, the second E/A attempted the same tactics and apparently succeeded, for although I could not see any strikes on Lt. Goth’s ship, nor was he smoking, he rolled gently out of his turn and struck the ground in a 20 degree dive, exploding. I followed this E/A up into the overcast but was unable to keep him in sight.
Just before following this E/A into the overcast, I observed another E/A to strike the ground and explode.

Albert A. Kaplan --2nd L:t. A/C Pilot

[drgondog]

There is a strong possibility that the encounter was at Salzwedel instead of Ludwiglust.

Lieutenant Truell was lost while trying to evade he 190D by Split S.

There is a strong possibility that the LW unit was JG 301

[kaki3152]

Well, here's one clue

From "JG-301/302" (Reschke)on April 4,1945 Fw-190D-9- 8./JG-301 Uffz Helmut Helix KIA air combat. Location noted as " westlich Cochstedt"

No mention of any JG-301 claims for P-51 Mustangs

[Black6]

I wonder if Helis got a P-51 ?

Helmut Helis is buried in the Quedlinburg War Cemetery, Grave 60.

Nachname: Helis
Vorname: Helmut
Dienstgrad: Unteroffizier
Geburtsdatum: 18 Dec 1922
Geburtsort: Rydultau
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 04 Apr 1945
Todes-/Vermisstenort: 1 km westl. Cochstedt

[Black6]

I see Helis had a previous victory, a B-24 on 26 Nov 1944.

[kaki3152]

Resurrecting an old thread, are there any further thoughts on the unit flying these Fw190Ds? I had some previous correspondence on the possibility that this unit was JGr-10? Found a citation that Stab./ and I./JG1 in early April 1945 was based at Ludwiglust-Techentin A/F, which was the Airfield that the 355FG was supposedly visiting. [https://forgottenairfields.com/airfi...orst-335.html]