.2/ JG 27 and II/JG 1 losses on 3rd May 1943

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Please, could someone inform me about the losses of these two Squadrons during the famous combat over the Eindhoven Power Station ( in which a later VC was awarded to S/L Trent )?
Thanks a lot

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

According to the loss record available to me, the 2./J.G.27 did not seem to report any losses on this date at all... and the II./J.G.1 reported the following:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=113792

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=113793

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=113794

Best regards,
Andreas B

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi, thanks a lot for those information; but it seems strange...S/L Trent ( on his VC´s citation ) seems to have shot down a Bf 109 with his front guns! I know that a JG 54 landed back with problems on a base in Holland, but his probable victim may have been a JG 27 aircraft! Curious, isn´t it?
Thanks a lot, I will try to check my information anyway!
Adriano Baumgartner

[David Pausey]

Hi

Prien's book on Stab and I/JG27 has two losses for the 3rd of May 43 as follows:-
Bf109G-6 W.Nr 19640 35% damaged
Bf109G-6 W.Nr 19656 90% damaged
Both made forcelandings at Evreux.

Don't think this helps much, were was S/L Trents claim ?

Cheers

David

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi, this is the VC Citation. I underlined the Me 109 claim made by Trent. Curious no?

VICTORIA CROSS CITATION

Air Ministry, 1st March 1946.

The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned officer, in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:

Squadron Leader Leonard Henry TRENT, DFC ( NZ 2481 ), Royal New Zealand Air Force, No.487 ( RNZAF ) Squadron.

On the 3rd May 1943, Squadron Leader Trent was detailed to lead a formation of Ventura aircraft in a daylight attack on the power station at Amsterdam. This operation was intended to encourage Dutch workmen in their resistance to enemy pressure. The target was known to be heavily defended. The importance of bombing it, regardless of enemy fighters or anti-aircraft fire, was strongly impressed on the aicrews taking part in the operation. Before taking off, Squadron Leader Trent told the Deputy Leader that he was going over the target, whatever happened.
All went well until the 11 Venturas and their fighter escort were nearing the Dutch Coast. Then one bomber was hit and had to turn back. Suddenly large numbers of enemy fighters appeared. Our escorting fighters were hotly engaged and lost touch with the bombing force. The Venturas closed up for mutual protection and commenced their run up to the target. Unfortunately, the fighters detailed to support them over the target had reached the area too early and had been recalled.
Soon the bombers were attacked. They were at the mercy of 15 to 20 Me 109 which dived on them incessantly. Within 4 minutes, 6 Venturas were destroyed. Squadron Leader Trent continued on his course with the 3 remaining aircraft.
In a short time more 2 Venturas went down in flames. Heedless of murderous attacks and of the heavy anti-aircrft fire which was now encountered, S/L Trent completed an accurate bombing and even shot down a Me 109 at point blanck range. Dropping his bombs in the target area he turned away. The aircraft following him was shot down on reaching the target. Immediately afterwards his own aircraft was hit, went into a spin and broke up. Squadron Leader Trent and his navigator were thrown clear and became Prisoners of War. The other 2 members of the crew perished.
On this, his 24th sortie, Squadron Leader Trent showed outstanding leadership. Such was the trust placed in this gallant officer that the other pilots followed him unwaveringly. His cool, unflinching courage and devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds rank with the finest examples of these virtues.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

David Pausey,
Please, did you have the names of the pilots involved? The codes of the airplanes? Could you post them for me? I would be very glad!
Thanks and hope you will like the VC Citation
Adriano

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello all,

On 3 May 43 between 1720-1820 II./JG 1 operated as a Gruppe, re-inforced with 2 Schwärme of 2./JG 27 with 24 Fw 190 and 8 Bf 109's. At about 20 km west of The Hague the Gruppe met 12-16 Ventura's and about 40 Spitfires as escort. Parts of 5./ and 6./JG 1 engaged the Spitfires - II./JG 1 succeeded in attacking the bombers before crossing the Dutch Coast. Numerous claims were made. Ofw Heesen and Fw Pfeiffer were shot down and missing in action. Ofw Hütter, after having shot down a Ventura, was shot down himself by a Spitfire and baled out. Slightly wounded he landed near Zandvoort.

Ofw Heesen acting as Staffelführer of 5./JG 1 engaged with the allied formation in planquadrat 4364. With his Schwarm he attacked the allied bombers from above. His wingman was attacked in this engagement by 6 Spitfires - while he dived down, he observed that Heesen dived steeply away. The leader of the high cover formation of the Staffel, who was shot down himself (Hütter), observed that a Fw 190 was shot down and crashed in 4364 over the Northsea. Heesen flew Fw 190A5, w/nr 1191, schwarze 7.

Fw Pfeiffer flew in the attack Schwarm of 4./JG 1 as number 4 and engaged the allied formation at 3385 at 1740 hours. He flew Fw 190A4, w/nr 5567 and weiße 8.

Both Heesen and Pfeiffer are still missing in action.

sources: namentliche verlustmeldung and KTB II./JG 1.

Regards
Rob

PS
On 3 May 43 487 Sqdn attacked Amsterdam power station - not located at Eindhoven.

[David Pausey]

Hi
Heres a bit more info on I/JG27 :-
On the 3rd of May , Bf109G-6 WNr 19656 was destroyed by 90% while trying to land at Evreux and another Bf109G-6 is damaged 30% under the same circumstances, that is a training flight with a bad ending although the pilots are safe.
The above was translted from French.
Cheers
David