Dogfight Between RAF and VVS over Germany, March 1945

[Allan125]

Originally Posted by BruceMk11

Dimitris,

Could you please mention your source of information? Thanks.

611 Sqn encountered Russian a/c near Berlin on the 16/4/45, before engaging with Fw 190s. I'm not aware of any other encounters by RAF Mustangs.

JJ mentions in Wing Leader encountering Russian a/c over Berlin whilst leading 41 Sqn but there was no firing. This was also April '45.

Bruce

Bruce

It wasn't only 41 Squadron - it was all of 125 Wing (41 Squadron, 350 (Belgian) Squadron and 130 (Punjab) Squadron, all operating Spitfire XIV's.

125 Wing ORB

24/4/45

Well, the 125 Gold Medal Wing is in the news again. By virtue of the number of wireless sets now on the unit strength everyone will doubtless have heard on the 9 p.m. news that British fighters had met Russian fighters in an area unspecified west of Berlin and that the British fighters had flown with the 'Hammer and Sickles' for some time. This was on a sweep in grand style, the Group Captain leading 350 Sqdn, the Wing Commander leading 41 Sqdn and S/Ldr Woolley leading 130 Sqdn. Having shown off our aircraft to the Russians, the rest of the day was spent in hardwork - getting Huns while the stocks last. There were armed recces to the PRITZWALK area and to the WISMAR-LUBECK areas and there were few that which did not produce fruit of one variety or another. So far as e/a are concerned 130 Sqdn was early off the mark, as on an armed recce in the early morning they destroyed an Me 108 and a FW 190. The former was caught by S/Ldr Woolley after he had followed it round and round in circles. The FW 190 was shot down by W/O Coverdale. They had enough ammo to score against the rolling stock as well. Just prior to this another section of 130 Sqdn also got amongst the Huns and came back with a score of 3-0-2, 1 FW 190 destroyed and 1 damaged by F/Lt Samouelle, 1 destroyed by F/Lt Bruce, 1 destroyed by F/Sgt Woodman and a damaged by F/Lt Corbett. They also damaged 4 met. That was pretty good going for any squadron before breakfast. Shortly after breakfast 41 Sqdn got amongst the Hun met to the tune of 38 damaged whilst on the empire building sweep previously mentioned. We had one piece of very bad luck, an accident on the runway when a section of 41 Sqdn were landing. This resulted in both pilots being taken to hospital. F/Sgt Smart with severe injuries and F/O Smith badly shaken. We hear the former has lost a leg and has head injuries. Everyone will wish him speedy recovery and every sympathy with his bad luck, and also to F/O Smith. In the afternoon a section of 41 Sqdn on an armed recce found 20 Arado 196’s on a lake by RATZEBURG and damaged 16 of them, the pilots each getting four were F/Lt Cowell, F/Lt Fisher, F/O Jollands and F/Sgt Kelly. 350 Sqdn came into the picture in the afternoon with a He 111 destroyed by F/O Van Eckhoudt and P/O Watkins, and later they again scored – S/Ldr Walmsley leading six a/c of his new squadron destroying a FW 190, F/Lt Depatoul destroying another. Unfortunately nothing has been heard of F/Lt Depatoul since the combat and we can only hope he landed somewhere and was unable to contact anyone by R/T. To wind up the day 130 Sqdn found the odd FW 190 and Me 109 while on a sweep to the KYRITZ-MALCHOW area. F/Lt Stowe got two destroyed and F/Lt Sibeth one damaged. Altogether a very successful day and a record one for sorties flown.

41 Squadron ORB

24 April 1945

At 09:45 the Wing became airborne to carry out a sweep in the Rathenow area. Several wings of enemy fighters had been reported covering ground movements in that area. Ten of our aircraft were led by W/Cdr. D. Keefer, DSO, DFC. Group Captain J. Johnson, DSO, DFC & Bar, was leading 130 Squadron. Soon after crossing the Elbe the squadron sighted a very large number of single-engined aircraft and went to investigate them. They proved to be Russian aircraft engaged in ground attacks on the Germans retreating from the North Eastern sector. The squadron joined in, damaging nine M.E.T. and 26 H.D.V's to the west of Rathenow, returning to base at 11.05. This was the first contact to have been made by British Fighters with Russian aircraft. It was appropriate that it should take place on St. George's Day.

41 Squadron ORB – courtesy of Steve Brew

350 (Belgian) Squadron ORB

B.118 Celle 24th 06.00

The first team of the day F/Lt. Muls, F/Sgt. Kicq, F/O Doncq and F/O Van Eckhoudt had a wonderful score in the Pritzwalk area. In 15 minutes they had used all their ammunition sharing the destruction of 6 trains with 120 Wagons. This successful operation was followed by a Wing sweep in which we met for the first time Yaks and Stormoviks aeroplanes. (These two facts “Jamming of the railway system South West of Pritzwalk and the meeting of British and Russian air patrols were reported in a B.B.C. broadcast”) The squadron was led by Group Captain Johnny Johnson and our new Commanding Officer S/Ldr Walmsley just arrived 130 Squadron makes its first show with us. In the afternoon F/O Watkins and F/O Van Eckhoudt shared the destruction of a HE.111. In the evening S/Ldr Walmsley got a FW.190 destroyed and F/Lt De Patoul got another probable. Unfortunately F/Lt De Patoul did not return owing to engine trouble.

350 (Belgian) Squadron ORB – courtesy of Serge Bonge.

130 (Punjab) Squadron ORB

24 April 1945

F/Lt. Samouelle led 6 aircraft on an intended armed recce of Pritzwalk/Neustadt, taking off at 06.25. 25 minutes later a FW190 crossed just above the section, and the enemy was chased to Neustadt aerodrome where other FW.190's were orbitting. The Spitfires sailed in and destroyed 3 (F/Lt. Samouelle, F/Lt. Bruce and F/Sgt. Woodman) and damaged 2 (F/Lt. Samouelle and F/Lt. Corbett). On the way back to base, 4 MET were damaged. A good start to the day's flying. Meanwhile S/L. Woolley, leading six aircraft on a recce to Wismar, sighted a Me. 108 at 0 feet near Wismar. S/L Woolley destroyed this. W/O Coverdale destroyed a lone FW.190 near Huginow at 07.45 hours. 4 locos, 4 rail trucks and 2 MET damaged filled out a very useful score. A score of 5-0-2 enemy aircraft before breakfast was particularly brilliant. Since the Hun seemed to be unusually active, a 12 aircraft sweep of Pritzwalk was carried out between 10.00 and 11.25, but this was unproductive. 3 Spitfires made an armed recce of Wismar and Lubeck. 2 MET being destroyed and 11 damaged. At the same time (13.30) 6 more aircraft wrought havoc among a convoy of 30 MET, destroying 9 and damaging 8. Four more aircraft took off at 16.25 to the same area, and returned with a score of 11 MET and 1 loco damaged. On the last show of the day (18.55 to 20.25), S/L. Woolley led 8 aircraft on a sweep of Kyritz/Malchow. Near Nevendorf, a single Me.109 was sighted and destroyed by F/Lt. Stowe and F/Lt. Bruce (shared). Later, several FW.190's were seen trying to land at Rechlin aerodrome, and these were attacked with good effect, two being destroyed (F/Lt. Stowe and F/Lt. Sibeth) and two damaged (F/Lt. Sibeth and F/O. Martens). There was no loss on our side. To-day command of 350 (Belgian) Squadron was taken over by F/Lt. Walmsley, who was promoted S/Ldr. F/Lt. Stowe from 41 Squadron, becomes "B" Flight Commander in his place.

No mention of meeting Russians in the above report!!

130 (Punjab) Squadron ORB – courtesy of Steve Brooking

From the Soviet side I also have the ORB equivalent for 291 "Nemanskiy" IAP of the VVS which mentions meeting the Spitfires, also on 26 April 1945 291 "Nemanskiy" IAP met 2 more Spitfires (RAF Squadron as yet unidentified) and suffered damage to one of their Yak-9’s.

Allan