German seaplanes destroyed 30 April 1944

[keith A]

Does anyone know anything about LW casualties? The 4th FG claimed unidentified seaplanes destroyed on the water. Colonel Don Blakeslee was credited with three seaplanes shared with three other pilots.

regards

Keith

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Keith,
Can't see anything on this site :-

http://www.luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seel...lustlisten.htm

also there is nothing on this :-
https://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/lu...es-nordic.html

Ill will check more later

Cheers
Bruce

[John Manrho]

All kinds of a/c were destroyed at Flpl. Lyon-Brone that day, quick check should no seaplanes.

[Chris Goss]

Trouble is being 1944, if there were no casualties and there is no KTB, hard to ascertain

[focusfocus]

hello
it was french seaplanes

LeOH-242 x 4 "Decines-Charpieu and Meyzieu"" near Lyon

N°7 (F-ANPD) "Ville d'Ajaccio"
N°9 (F-ANQF)"Ville de Toulon"
N°12(F-ANQI) "Ville de Bizerte"
N°11 (F-ANQH) "Ville de Cannes"

Michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Sure about that Michel?

I have No 7, 9, 11 and 13 as destroyed in the raid on 30 April
No 12 was heavily damaged together with No 8 in an Allied bombing raid on Marignane 10 March 1944

Cheers
Stig

[focusfocus]

Now, no regarding the n° 12
I'm basing this on a recent source (2021)

On the net,it's n°13....so
If anyone has the French magazine "le fana de l'aviation" n°430....maybe confirmation or not?

Michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by focusfocus

I'm basing this on a recent source (2021)

Michel

And that source is??
Stig

[keith A]

According to "The Debden Warbirds" the victories were shared by Col Blakeslee, Capt Godfrey, Lt Harris,Lt Patteeuw and Lt McDill. Another site gives Blakeslee credit for 3 x 1/4 shares indicating one pilot was not credited. Anyone know which one of these chaps it was?

K

[keith A]

Found more of the puzzle, Courtesy of our forum (where else ?)

(A) 4th Fighter Group, Colonel Blakeslee leading (B) 43 P-51s, up 07.15 down 13.00 hours (C) 3 abortive sorties (D) Field Order # 321 (E) 3 Cat. unknown (F) 1 Cat.E lost (G) 2/Lt. Fred W. Glover, 336th Sqn., missing (H) Claims 1-0-0 (air): 4-0-11 (ground) (I) Made landfall-in Boulogne, 08.00 hours, at 17,000 feet. Climbed to 25,000 feet, reaching Dijon at 09.00 hours lost altitude towards Lyon, to conduct a sweep of the Lyon-Valence area, and back to Lyon which was reached at 10.40 hours, at 20,000 feet. Saw the B-17s bombing, but did not join them as they were not being attacked and had an escort with them. Landfall-out Cayeux, 12.15 hours, at 16,000 feet. When 20 miles north of Lyon, a Me 110 at 3,000 feet was 'bounced' by three P-51s from 7,000 feet, and destroyed. The 336th Squadron attacked four un-identified twin-engined hull-type seaplanes, moored on a river on the north-eastern side of Lyon, destroying three and damaging one. A section of the same Squadron attacked Valence airdrome, damaging one un-identified twin-engined aircraft and a Caudron-Goeland. An un-determined number of Ju 88s were seen parked under trees. After this attack, Lieutenant Glover's P-51 was seen to stream glycol, and was last observed heading towards Switzerland. A section of the 334th Squadron strafed Lyon/Bron airdrome destroying a Me 110, and damaging three Me 110s and a He 111. A section from the 335th Squadron attacked an un-identified airfield to the west of Lyon damaging a He 111 glider-tug, one Ju 88 and two Cub-type aircraft. Twenty to thirty un-serviceable aircraft were seen and shot-up on St. Rambert d’Albon airdrome. On the airdromes attacked, moderate light-Flak was encountered.

[Accredited Claims: 4th FG 1-0-0 air 6-0-5 ground/water]

30.04.44 Col. D.J.M. Blakeslee 4th FG HQ Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Capt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Lt. T.K. McDill 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Lt. J.A. Patteeuw 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Lt. S.F. Harris 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Lt. W.E. Johnson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage
30.04.44 Lt. W.W. Millikan 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Do 24 Lyon Anchorage