Jurgen Harder

[keith A]

I have found details of his victory list, but very few allied casualties to confirm alongside these. Does anyone have a complete list? I have used Chris Shores "Fighters over the desert" and "...Tunisia" and also Brian Cull's "Spitfires over Malta" and "....Sicily" but there are few confirmed matches.

I know there are Histories of JG53, are they able to fill in the gaps?

With one exception I also can't match any of the later American claims.

regards

Keith

[Nick Hector]

Hi, hope this helps:

11th victory (18.3.42) 185 sqn. P/O Howard "Chuck" Lester (Australian) in Z2480/T rescued WIA and Sgt. George Frank Robert Mulloy KIA in Z5213.

12th victory (30.4.42) Likely overclaiming.

13th victory (18.5.42) Possibly Sgt. Eric Shaw of 185 sqn, badly shot up but made it home.

15th victory (31.5.42) 260 sqn. F/L Thomas Hindle KIA and P/O Stuart Stewart Mitchell (RNZAF, 112 sqn) KIA. 1 other P-40 seriously damaged.

16th victory (11.6.42) 33 and 274 sqns, P/O Charles William Parry Persse RAAF in BE864 of 274 sqn was KIA whilst P/O Wade and P/O Challis both of 33 sqn had their machines severely damaged.

17th victory (14.6.42) 250 sqn. P/O Francis Albert Creighton KIA and Sgt. Webster.

18th victory (27.9.42) Likely overclaiming or date in error.

23rd victory (13.10.42) Possibly Lt. Robertson of 4 sqn SAAF.
24th victory (13.10.42 as well) 3 sqn RAAF. Possibly P/O Taylor.

25th victory (19.10.42) 2 sqn SAAF. Lt. Nigel McMahon Gunyon - had his wing shot off, baled out into sea.

27th victory (21.10.42) Said by some to be 145 sqn, Sgt. Cunningham (AB207?) but more likely 41-45830/FR240 of 250 sqn, P/O J A Falconer-Taylor.

29th victory (26.10.42) 260 sqn. P/O Charles Edwin Ody KIA.

31st victory (22.11.42) Said to be S/L Bobby Oxspring of 72 sqn. Forcelanded 8 miles E of Beja.

32nd victory (30.1.43) ER707 of 243 sqn. F/S J Lawrence.

33rd victory (8.2.43) EP473/GL- of 185 sqn. F/S Cornelius J Carmody RCAF KIA.

34th victory (22.3.43) 301st BG. Was overclaiming because there was only one loss and Seeger claimed it as well.

35th victory (8.5.43) Was this ER849 of 243 sqn? Presumed shot down by Bf109s off Cap Bon
36th victory (8.5.43 as well) 152 sqn definitely in action this day. Was this US Spitfire of Albert A Alenius?

40th victory (7.2.44) Likely 31st FG. Several losses this date including EP615/WZ-GG of Bruce W Collins KIA plus pilot William Webster Yocum

44th and 45th victories (28.3.44) 319th FS, 325th FG. Losses include P-47D-15-REs 42-75748 of Jess D Hudson baled out but KIA and 42-75829/29 "Ginger" William A Rynne POW. Possibly overclaiming as Zemper and Stegmeyer reported victories as well.

51st victory (28.6.44) 485th BG. Likely overclaiming, 3 losses, includes B-24H-15-FO 42-52701. 9 of 10 crewmen baled out safely over Plovdiv and were made POW. Pilot remained to steady the aircraft (3 losses versus a total of at least 8 claims).

Regards,
Nick

[keith A]

Brilliant, thanks Nick.

I am going to try and match losses by 325, 332 and 31 Fighter Groups to claims by JG53, given that Harder claims many P-51s among his victims.

regards

Keith

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Re Harder's 16th "Victory". Whatever Hurricane Charles William Parry Persse RAAF was flying, it was not BE864. BE864 fell within a cancelled Blenheim block.

Col.