B26 Marauder in French Service

[keith A]

https://www.39-45.org/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=52451

I would refer to my previous post on this subject where Zoran was able to identify several bomb groups that made aerial victory claims, according to this site GBI/22 "Maroc" claimed two fighters shot down, and is the only one to be credited with victories.

I haven't been able to locate any victories by any of the French bomb groups although I believe the sources jointly credit them with at least fourteen to seventeen.

One possible encounter was on 24 December 1944 when 13./JG53 lost at least three Bf109 to the Spitfire escort (which claimed four). One French Spitfire was shot down but unclaimed (perhaps the victor was one of the German pilots killed?) and one B-26 was lost (probably the 49th victim of Ofw Eduard Isken).

Perhaps the bomber crews double-claimed, seeing the escorts victims as their own?

6./JG53 made four other B-26 claims, but I assume they were American.

At this stage in the war the B26 raids rarely saw enemy fighters and almost all the losses I have found to French units came from Flak.