Me-262 claim 4 April 1945

[ektra79]

Hi all,

Looking into a claim submitted by Capt. Robert Kanaga, 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group for downing an Me-262 on 4 April 1945 near Schwerin, Germany.

My guess is the claim was denied because, despite both Kanaga and his wingman Gordon Denson seeing the plane smoking badly and rolling over and going straight down at about 3,000 feet, neither saw the aircraft strike the ground, as they had reengaged and their attention was diverted elsewhere. His film obviously then did not show the ground strike either.

Was a 262 reported shot down on that date in that area? Any insight you can provide is appreciated.

Thanks!

[Alfred.MONZAT]

The Me 262 losses of the day were located near Leipzig or to its South.

[Nick Beale]

I don't have locations but Bundesarchiv RL 2-II/389, page 0079 (which you can download free) has the following Me 262 casualties in operations against 4-motor bombers over NW Germany:

I./JG 7: 2 men dead, 3 missing; 2 aircraft lost, 3 missing, 1 damaged.

III./JG 7: 2 men missing, 2 wounded; 2 aircraft lsot, 2 missing, 4 damaged.

I./KG(J) 54: 2 men wounded; 3 aircraft lost.

[Trendle]

Hello Tim,

the victim you search for, may well be Unteroffizier Otto Heckmann, 11./JG 7. He was shot down and killed northwest of Parchim, southeast of Schwerin in Dogfight with a P-51 Mustang on April 4th, 1945.

Fred

[ektra79]

Fred, Nick, Alfred,

Thank you for taking the time to respond, greatly appreciated!

Tim

[Dan O'Connell]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

I don't have locations but Bundesarchiv RL 2-II/389, page 0079 (which you can download free) has the following Me 262 casualties in operations against 4-motor bombers over NW Germany:

I./JG 7: 2 men dead, 3 missing; 2 aircraft lost, 3 missing, 1 damaged.

III./JG 7: 2 men missing, 2 wounded; 2 aircraft lsot, 2 missing, 4 damaged.

I./KG(J) 54: 2 men wounded; 3 aircraft lost.

Are there any WNr listed for these 262's Nick?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Dan O'Connell

Are there any WNr listed for these 262's Nick?

No such luck, Dan!

[Dan O'Connell]

That figures Nick. Thanks!