F-5 loss-December 24,1944-I/JG-26 Victory

[kaki3152]

Trying to determine the German unit that shot down Lt. Jeryl Crowell,27th PG,7 PG on December 24,1944. The 27th Photographic Squadron was detached from the 7th PG in England and was operating out of Denain/Prouvy AF (A83). He was reported by Lt. White as attacked by an enemy fighter in the vicinity of Stavelot,Belgium.

While looking at Tony Wood's victory list, the best "fit" is the claim for a "P-38" by Lt. Jorg Kiefner of 1./JG-26. Although JG-26 Vol 2 (Caldwell) has Lt. Keifner shooting down a 367th FG P-38, there are several factors about Kiefner's claim that lead me to believe he was the victor.

(1) Kiefner's P-38 victory is reported at 8500 meters, nearly 28,000 feet or more likely the altitude a F-5 would be flying at. He was a flying a Fw-190D-9, a good high altitude fighter. The 367th was flying ground attack missions not bomber escort. The I/JG-26 was reported to have atatcked the massive B-17 bomber force attacking Germany.

(2) His victory was reported at 1224 hrs, which is over two hours after the multiple claims for P-38s by III/JG-11 (Fw-190s) from 1023-1030 hrs,which would more closely match the altitude and combat time of the 367th FG air combat. Two 367th P-38s were lost in this engagement.

(3) 2 474th P-38 and one 370th Fg P-38s were lost to flak, not air combat.