Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Allied and Soviet Air Forces

Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20th May 2019, 00:29
JBL1177 JBL1177 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 25
JBL1177 is on a distinguished road
343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

I'm researching the loss of a Bf-109G pilot in 4./JG-27 on 24 April 1944 over SW Germany. Evidence points to his opponents as two pilots of the 343rd FS, 55th FG: 1st Lt. Clair D. Porter and 1st Lt. Arthur A. DeYoung. I would be most grateful to know if John Gray's "The 55th Fighter Group vs the Luftwaffe" might mention this action and whether anyone might even have the original encounter/action reports for the fight.

Thanks very much.

Best wishes,
John
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 20th May 2019, 10:14
Nick Beale's Avatar
Nick Beale Nick Beale is online now
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Exeter, England
Posts: 5,781
Nick Beale has a spectacular aura aboutNick Beale has a spectacular aura aboutNick Beale has a spectacular aura about
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

You might find something on the Mustang Encounter Reports web page:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...t-reports.html
__________________
Nick Beale
http://www.ghostbombers.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 20th May 2019, 15:37
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 736
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

John, De Young isn't in there and Porter only mentioned on June 6 and 10 Sept. 1944

Nick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 20th May 2019, 17:01
Alfred.MONZAT's Avatar
Alfred.MONZAT Alfred.MONZAT is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 448
Alfred.MONZAT will become famous soon enough
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

I have the book and some combat reports from the 55th, I'll look next time I have an opportunity.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 21st May 2019, 04:00
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Great Britain
Posts: 4,269
Alex Smart is on a distinguished road
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

Nothing in Double Nickel-Double Trouble or 55th FG vs the Luftwaffe for the date you seek, also nil on DeYoung and very little for Porter.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 21st May 2019, 17:54
Peter Randall's Avatar
Peter Randall Peter Randall is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maubeuge, France
Posts: 162
Peter Randall
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

Apparently, on 24th April, Porter claimed 1 x Me109 destroyed and DeYoung 1 x Me109 damaged, both air-air and North-West of lake Constance. No details of the actual encounters though. I would think that the damaged claim would point you towards Porter in this case?
__________________
US 8th Air Force Little Friends Site
www.littlefriends.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21st May 2019, 18:00
Peter Randall's Avatar
Peter Randall Peter Randall is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maubeuge, France
Posts: 162
Peter Randall
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

By the way, you will find nothing in the P-51 encounter reports as they were flying P-38s at the time!
__________________
US 8th Air Force Little Friends Site
www.littlefriends.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21st May 2019, 23:43
JBL1177 JBL1177 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 25
JBL1177 is on a distinguished road
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

Gentlemen,
Thanks for checking for me and especially for ruling out the 55th FG history as a source. I can understand why Gray might not have mentioned such a small skirmish. I did find in the WWII Aircraft Performance website an excellent analysis of the 24 April 1944 air actions around Munich itself, if not where Friedrich Heilmann's fight took place. Attached to the article was the text of the VIII Fighter Command's Narrative of Operations for that day, and that report is extremely useful.

The evidence does point to the 55th Fighter Group, with P-38s, that dived on a group of ME-109s that were attacking the rear box of the two lead B-17 combat wings from the 3rd Bomb Division heading in to bomb Friedrichshafen. The 109s "split S'ed for deck," 343rd Yellow flight making the claims of 1-1-0 air.

I still hope to find the reports for the 55 FG and 343 FS for that day and the encounter reports for Lt. Porter and Lt. DeYoung. I would much appreciate any advice as to where they might be located.

Thanks again.

Best wishes,
John
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 22nd May 2019, 11:20
Peter Randall's Avatar
Peter Randall Peter Randall is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maubeuge, France
Posts: 162
Peter Randall
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

I would think that your only chance would be: 1 - the unit mission folders and 2 - Personal Combat Reports. Both of these are stored at Archives 2 at College Park, Maryland, and unfortunately not available on-line.
__________________
US 8th Air Force Little Friends Site
www.littlefriends.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 23rd May 2019, 00:30
JBL1177 JBL1177 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 25
JBL1177 is on a distinguished road
Re: 343 FS/55th FG Claims on 24 April 1944

Peter,

Thanks. I was afraid of that. Do you know of a professional researcher familiar with these records whom I could commission to copy these particular documents for me?

Best wishes,
John
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
24 April 1944 CENTURION Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 12 3rd November 2016 16:12
Kg51 "edelweiss" the complete history of kg 51 in world war ii". Mike H Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 14 8th February 2015 13:24
Claims 4th FG (June 6, 1944) Kocab Zdenek Allied and Soviet Air Forces 2 6th August 2013 02:07
Boris Safonov real claims and german losses GMichalski Allied and Soviet Air Forces 27 16th May 2013 11:52
Percentage of Verifiable Victories of Various Aces –Updates & Recommendations Rob Romero Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 25 9th March 2010 03:39


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 21:30.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net