62.FS/56.FG % Ar 234 kill on 03/14/1945

[TCO]

Group,

I have a question regarding the victory-scores on 03/14/1945:
Following pilots of the 62. FS were involved in a dogfight with a German jet-bomber "Arado 234" piloted by Lt Amann on this particluar day:

Lt Lear
Lt. Sanborn N Ball
Lt. Norman D Gould

Could you please tell me with how many perecent the above mentioned pilots were credited for a score and the location/vincinity of the individual dogfight?

If you find info on this, what are your sources?

Thanks!
Mario

[Stephane Muret]

According to Frank J. Olynyk's book "USAAF CREDITS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT IN AIR TO AIR COMBAT WW2, published may 1987, 1st Lt Ball and lear are credited for an arado 234 with both 50% in vicinity of Coblenz. 1st Lt Gould is credited for an arado 234 in the same area. Both dog fight were at 15 h 50 PM. Please note that another Ar 234 was given credit to 1st Lt Barnhart (360 FS) over Bielefeld area.

I suppose M. Olynyk could give you more infos.

Good luck.

Stéphane Muret

[TCO]

Stephane,

Thanks for yor reply. This is a good start.

Problem is that 4 Ar 234 B-2 were shot down on 03/14/45:
- Hptm Hirschberger (killed))
- Lt Amann (killed)
- Fw Bäumler (bailed out and survived)
- Fw Schultz (bailed out and survived)

- Capt. Donald S. Bryan 328. FS/352. FG shot down Hirschberger in the vincinity of Elsaffthal close to Vettelschoss

- 1st Ltd Robert E. Barnhart 360. FS/356. FG shot down the empty autopiloted Ar 234 on the route from Bielefeld to Hildesheim, after Bäumler bailed out (P-38 damaged his Arado before)

- My assumption is that 1st Ltd Warren S. Lear (50%) plus 1st Ltd Sanborn N. Ball (50%), but also 1st Lt Norman D. Gould (100%) - all 62.FS/56. FG - shot down Amann in the vincinity of Koblenz (actually between towns of Rennerod and Seck).

- If my assumption on Amann is correct, I refer to the to the book "Arado 234 Blitz, Smith & Creek, Monogram p.203f): there is only a Tempest of No.222 Squadron RAF left over - so this must have shot down Schultz, who managed to bail out, lost an arm and came down in the vincinity of Waldbröl.

Questions:
- Is my hypothesis correct that Lear, Ball and Gould shot down Amann?

- Was Schultz shot down by a Tempest of No.222 Squadron RAF?

- Could you do me a favour and look up in Olynyk's book what is said regarding Barnhart?

Best regards,
Mario

[Stephane Muret]

Hi Mario,

1st lt Robert E. Barnhart (360 FS) is credited for one Ar 234 in bielefeld area at about 16 h 00.
As you found before, Ball and Lear are credited both for 0,5 Ar 234 (Vicinity of Coblenz at about 15 h 50), Gould is credited for 1 Ar 234 in the same area at the same time (all for 62nd FS) and Cpt Donald Septimus Bryan from 328th FS is credited for a Ar 234 at about 15 h 40 in the vicinity of Elsaffthal.

I'm agree with you for Ball, Lear and Gould, sure they shooted the same plane. So you need to find another pilot who could be a RAF member. But sorry, i don't have many infos about them.

Good luck.
Stephane

[TCO]

Bonjour Stephane,

Well, I think we don' t come any further.

My last thought is that only Ball and Lear shot down Amann and Gould downed Schulz.

Thank you all for your support!
Mario