II/JG 3 losses 2 November 1944

[keith A]

Several accounts recount that the Gruppe lost 23 pilots on this date. If so this means the Gruppe was wiped out. Not only the pilot loss (Kracker LW database does not reflect this statement) but also because even more FW190s must have been lost/damaged in combat. Is this a mis-statement and means they lost 23 Fw190s to all causes.

Keith

[SteveR]

From Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in World War II: II./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 by Jochen Prien & Gerhard Stemmer, p. 292:

"This mission cost II/JG 3 twelve pilots killed and one seriously wounded plus 23 Messerschmitts, 17 of which had to be written off."

[Rottler]

Bf 109 losses of II./JG 3 on 2 Nov 1944
II./JG 3 chronicle Prien/Stemmer (1996):
23 Bf 109 G-14 (17 destroyed and 6 damaged in air combats)

JFV 13/II (2017) and JFV 13/IV (2018):
26 Bf 109 G-14 (15 destroyed and 11 damaged in air combats).
In both loss tables:
12 pilots KIA, 1 pilot wounded.
2 Bf 109 G-14 damaged without enemy action on operational flights
1 Bf 109 G-14 damaged on the ground by gunfire from enemy aircraft.

Regards
Leo

[keith A]

Blimey! Even twelve pilots killed is a massive loss. I am seeking those airplanes lost to the 352nd Fighter Group USAAF.

[keith A]

Kracker only lists three pilots of II/JG3 killed on that date.FhjFw Walter Becker (4 victories) 6./JG3, Ltn Adolf Briedl II/JG3 and Ltn Paul Dräger (6 victories) although he does list several other JG3 pilots were killed or wounded.

regards

Keith

[Alfred.MONZAT]

Caldwell list 17 destroyed, 8 damaged, 11 KIA & 2 WIA for II./JG 3.
He list also IV./JG 3 & I./JG 27 at 11 KIA each and IV./JG 27 at 10 KIA. This was indeed a disastrous mission for these Gruppen.