NSG 20 Losses Apr 45

[Chris Goss]

Being so close to the end of the war, a number of NSG 20's FW 190s were lost on operations according to Luftflotte reports; can anyone confirm or deny:

14/15 Apr 45: 2 x FW 190 missing from operations; 3 x FW 190 shot down


15/16 Apr 45: 1 x FW 190 damaged during attack on Rethen, 2 missing

22 Apr 45: FW 190 Lt Hess shot down/killed in combat with 5 Spitfires, Hagenow/Mecklenburg; possibly shot down by Flt Lt E J Gardner & Flt Lt M F Doyle, 411 Sqn, Elbe, 1740 hrs?

[Nick Beale]

Hi Chris, I can help with two of the dates:

Ultra KO 608

Fl.Div. 14 at 09.00/15, ops report for night 14/15: (a) ground attack by 20 Fw 190 and 19 Bf 109, area Eringen (X.75) – Braunschweig (X.90) – Wittingen (Y.6); (b) recce by 2 Fw 190 in same area. 2 aircraft missing. (2) at 16.00/15: ops intentions night 15/16: about 30 ground attack aircraft area Gifhorn (X.93).

Ultra KO 696

Operations night 15/16th by (strong indications Fl.Div. 14), total sorties 104. Attacks on pontoon bridge near Rethem (X.16), M/T and railway installations area Salzwedel (Y.27), Gifhorn (X.93), Wesendorf (X.84), Nienburg (X.05). Five aircraft missing.