JG 2 Spitfire 15 Feb 1943 Ramsgate

[Peglar]

Dear friends,



the Spitfire is known that Otto Kleinert has shot down on

15 February 1943?

15 Feb 1943 Otto Kleinert 7./JG 2 Spitfire 6500m 14:07 15km

E Ramsgate



Greetings Peglar

[Laurent Rizzotti]

At this time and in this area took place Circus 266, an attack by 12 Boston against a German ship in Dunkirk. Three Spitfire Squadrons of the escort made claims against FW 190 (for a total of 2 shot down, 1 probable and 2 damaged). There is no report of any RAF aircraft lost or damaged during this battle, but the location of the claim of Kleinert (the only German claim known at this time) is coherent with the location of the RAF claims.

[Peglar]

Thanks a lot - on this Date i found only F/O WESTHAVER, HAROLD ANDREW
403 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force - Rhubarb ?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

On 15 February 1943 2 Spitfire Vb of 403 Sqn RCAF took off at 1105 hrs for a Rhubarb in the Le Touquet-Gamaches area. Flg Off H A Westhaver was killed when his Spitfire Vb AD231 was shot down by Flak east of Le Treport. The other pilot returned to base at 1205 hrs.

So too early for the claim by Ofw Kleinert.

[Chris Goss]

I was in touch with Kleinert some years ago. He was not an Ofw but an Uffz at the time of his first kill for which he was awarded the EK2 on 24 Feb 43. Strangely, he did not record his memories of his first kill but did have memories for his two B-17s (6 Mar & 1 May 43), being shot down on 16 Aug 43 and the two Mustangs he claimed in 1945

[Peglar]

Hello Chris, here is a Foto from Otto Kleinerts Comrade - dont know his Name ?

Greetings peglar