4./JG 26 13 Aug 44

[Chris Goss]

4./JG 26 lost four Fw 190s to 363 FG at breakfast time this day in the Alencon/NE Le Mans area, losing one of their number to a 3./JG 26 pilot. The American claims have the location as 24 miles NE of Le Mans-can anyone be more precise especially as to where Fw Robert Hager crashed (and where he is now buried?)

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I can't find him on the Volksbund database online.

I also checked a French book, "1944 Guerre en Ile de France" (actually a series of book), but there is no details of air losses for 13 August 1944 (the book is using local sources to list known crashes, and then tries to link them to known losses). This battle was outside the area covered by the book.

[Chris Goss]

Precisely my problem!

[Alfred.MONZAT]

"La Luftwaffe face au Débarquement" gave no more details than your post (even if there is a first hand account from one of the pilots who participated in this air battle) : crash location stated as "NE of Le Mans". Maybe there is something in the JG 26 war diaries ? I have not my copies on hand.

[Chris Goss]

Nothing more precise in Don Caldwell's books

[Adriano Baumgartner]

You also may have that, but...
PG. 257 from 2nd TAF by Shores and Thomas do inform that: "During the day no Luftwaffe aircraft appeared over the 21st Army Group lines".
The only reported losses (Typhoons, Spitfires, etc.)
IT does inform however that the 8th AF supported the second phase of Operation Totalize in the afternoon, bombing Bretteville, Cintheaux and St. Sylvain (many bombs dropped too earlier, hitting Allied troops?).
Most sincerely yours,
Adriano B.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks. The P-51s were 9th AF