Combat loss of III./JG 54 on May 26th, 1943

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

in my records I have a loss report of III./JG 54 dated May 26th, 1943, stating that one Bf 109 G-4 had to belly land near Malente owing to battle damage from an aerial combat, the overall damage being assessed as 25%, whereas the pilot - name so far not known - got away unscathed.

I have so far no clue at all who the opponent may have been since none of my sources contains any hint at an incursion of enemy planes in that part of Germany. The nearest thing is the mentioning of a number of fighter sweeps over Belgian and Dutch territory in the daily report by the Generalstab der Luftwaffe, but this goes with the explicit comment that no attacks took place.

Can anyone enlighten me as to the whereabouts of this combat in the area of Malente in which an a/c of III./JG 54 was damaged on May 26th, 1943 ? Or is it after all just a typo on my part and the reason was a mere engine trouble resulting in a belly landing ?

Any founded response would be welcome.

Regards

Jochen Prien

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, Jochen.

This loss is not reflected in the GenQu losses, as I am sure you have noted already. The resulting loss assessment could have been changed, and thus the loss would not have been reported if it was reassessed as below 10%.

The closest in time is one loss at 22.05.1943, and one on 08.06.1943.

Please find attached these records:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=107343

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=107344

As a curiosity, the G-2 was later lost by JG 5 in December 1943...

Regards,
Andreas

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

thanks to Axel Urbanke - editor of Luftwaffe im Focus - the mystery has been quickly solved - it was in fact a typo, the correct date of the loss being May 21st, 1943.

Thank you too for your help dear Andreas.

Cheers

Jochen