Uffz. Gustav Frey crash 22 September 1943

[vinnie]

Hi to all,

On 22 September 1943 the 19-year old Uffz. Gustav Frey from 9./JG 1 crashed, probably hit by German Flak. Is there anything more known about this crash (what mission he was flying, etc) and the pilot?

The crash location is given as 'FL-2/5'. Could this also be the location of the mission instead of the crash? Gustav Frey did survive the crash, so it would be likely that he himself mentioned this rough location..

Thanks for your help!

Vinnie

[Matti Salonen]

1943-09-22, 9./JG 1, Bf 109G-6, 20531, 9 gelbe, Bei Enkhuizen (Ijsselmeer), 45, km nordöstlich Amsterdam, Eigener Flakbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Frey, Gustav, verletzt

Matti

[Larry deZeng]

According to Prien, III./JG 1 was based at Leeuwarden in September 1943 with the individual Staffeln operating from different airfields as the tactical situation dictated. It's mission was to intercept Allied light bomber, fighter and fighter-bomber attacks on German-occupied airfields in northern France, Belgium and Holland. Frey's 9./JG 1 operated mostly from Woensdrecht during mid-August and early September, but may have then returned to Leeuwarden. After 7 September, the air situation quieted and III./JG 1 had no casualties due to enemy contact for the next two weeks. On 22 September, elements of 9. Staffel were probably scrambled to intercept a P-47 sweep along the North Sea coast that took place around noontime. Prien gives no details and just states that Frey's "Yellow 9" took multiple hits from German Flak and Frey was wounded. He then baled out over the Ijsselmeer. Enkhuizen is 64 km SW of Leeuwarden so this would suggest that 9. Staffel had returned there and was no longer operating from Woensdrecht.

[Source: Prien, Jochen and Peter Rodeike. Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945. 3 Teile (volumes). Eutin: Struve-Druck, c. 1993-94. Teil 1 (1939-43, ISBN: 3-923457- 21-9), page 452.]

L.

[vinnie]

Thanks, guys! This is great information.

Larry, I looked at some P-47 pilot combat reports, and it seems that a few pilots from the 353nd claimed victories over Holland on 22 September 1943. This must have been the American unit that encountered the German forces in the air that day.

[Larry deZeng]

I just checked the Tony Woods site and there do not appear to have been any Luftwaffe claims over Holland on 22 September; so, like many attempts to intercept enemy intruders, this one may have failed to make contact. But the Flak defenses would have been alerted along the coastal area and further inland and overly eager gunners may have opened up on Frey's machine thinking it to be an enemy fighter.

L.

[vinnie]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

I just checked the Tony Woods site and there do not appear to have been any Luftwaffe claims over Holland on 22 September; so, like many attempts to intercept enemy intruders, this one may have failed to make contact. But the Flak defenses would have been alerted along the coastal area and further inland and overly eager gunners may have opened up on Frey's machine thinking it to be an enemy fighter.

L.

Thanks, Larry. This must have been what happened to Frey.

About the claims; maybe a bit off topic, but it seems that Uffz. Eduard Bartsch from 4./JG 3 crashed that day at 13.20 PM. US P47 pilot 1st. Lt. Jesse W. Gonnam from the 353nd FG claimed an Me-109 at about the same time, on the same location where Bartsch crashed.
Here is the link for the combat report:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...m-22sept43.jpg

[Larry deZeng]

Yes, the time of engagement seems about right - one hour difference between the time given in the U.S. combat report and the time given in the German report. I could not find a Schoonhaven, but I assume it's in the Utrecht area?

The U.S. pilot's name appears to be Connam?

Larry

[vinnie]

Yes, Schoonhoven is the correct location given by the report and the Dutch losses register. It is located in the province of South-Holland.
The name of the pilot was Jesse W. Gonnam, apparently an ace with 5 victories. He became POW when he was captured by the Germans on 23 April 1944.

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks, Vinnie.

Regarding the pilot's last name, the first letter looked more like a "C" than a "G". But you have devoted a lot of research time on this so I am sure you are correct and it's a "G". Interesting that he was shot down himself just 6 months later.

L.

[Fokker100]

Gentleman,

It looks that Uffz Frey's ME109 did not crash in the IJsselmeer but in the village of Grootebroek about 10 km from Enkhuizen.
At this moment we are doing investigation there.