Two cities named Lingen? July 7, 1944

[drgondog]

I am trying to clean up the last of the revised Combat Log of the 355th and found an anomaly.

Kinnard and several others list the area of the fight of July 7, 1944 in their Encounter Reports as "Lingen". Lingen is stated as he R/V point west of Halle, and the area of a fight with me 410's (probably ZG26) and Me 109's (maybe JG300) just after the bombers bombed and re-formed nw of Halle for the trip back.

The pertinent times are 0808 for R/V with 2BD, 0830 for last of bombers dropping and turning nw, then west, for home at Halle, then 0830-0840 for the first battles which ended (for 355) at Nordhausen and Neuberg.

Any idea where another 'Lingen' might fit or another small town that sounds like Lingen?

Thank you,

Bill

[robert_schulte]

Bill,
the only city named Lingen in Germany is in the far North-West near the Dutch border and should be too far away for that encounter.
If the place you are looking for is really in the vicinity of Nordhausen, two cities come to my mind, which sound similar to "Lingen".
These are "Zwinge" and "Limlingerode", about 30 resp. 20 km WNW of Nordhausen (see attached chart).
Long shot maybe...
Best wishes
Robert

[drgondog]

Robert - thanks. I am quite sure the area "lingen" on the Encounter Report is wrong but the description "20 miles west of target" (Halle) is correct with respect to the encounter and pretty sure it was with ZG26 as far as the Me410's are concerned.

The 355FG histories all describe the RV point at 'Lingen' at 0808 which would (in the eye of the Intelligence Officer) would have been 30+ miles westSW of Halle based on the Bomb group locations for the 2nd AD.

As the 355th took off at 0624 - cruising for 2 hours at 220+ kts would put them WAY past Lingen in Saxony.

I suspect the 355th Operations Map had a city identified as 'another' Lingen in that area - in error!

Oh, well

Thanks again

Bill

[robert_schulte]

Bill,
ah, now I see, I thought you were looking for a place West of Nordhausen.
There is a "Clingen" about 75 km WSW of Halle. Could this be the one?
Regards
Robert

[drgondog]

Robert - it most certainly could! That fits nicely with one report of "20+ miles west of Merseburg".

Thank you

Regards,

Bill