3./JG 2 Claims 30 Jun 41

[Andy Fletcher]

On 30 Jun 41 two pilots of 3./JG 2 claimed Spitfires.

Fw Erwin RICHEY (18:28)
Fw Karl PFEIFFER (18:45)

Can anyone give a location for these claims. I believe I./JG 2 was based at Brest/Guipavas at this time.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Andy

Prien does not given any information aside of that which you mention but in going through the RAF claims and losses by Wood for that date it appears that Spitfire Va (W3138) flown by Sgt LES Salt of 603 Sqn, RAF was the only loss and this occurred due to Bf 109s over St Omer. JG 2 recorded the two claims mentioned and JG 26 recorded two Spitfire fighters as well, one by Oberleutnant Josef Priller, Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 26, at 18:56 and 10 kilometres northwest of Saint-Inglevert and the other that was not confirmed by Hauptmann Rudolf Bieber of Stab I./JG 26 with no time or location given. Who was responsible for the loss is not clear to me.

Horrido!

Leo

[Andy Fletcher]

Thank you Leo, some JG 2 claims seem to be a bit "optimistic".

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Andy

I have read that as well, especially in the summer of 1941. However, in this case who knows which of the three claimants actually shot down Sgt Salt? For their part the RAF fighters claimed 6 destroyed, 2 probable and 3 damaged victories whereas the Germans only lost Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 8237) of III./JG 2 due to engine damage at St Omer-Arques that day.

Horrido!

Leo

[GMichalski]

Hi,
in the info that Nick Hector send to me about the Priller claim says:

Said by Caldwell to have been claimed against 603 "City of Edinburgh" and 616 "South Yorkshire" sqns.

you know if 616 sqn lost any aircraft? or damaged?

regards

[Leo Etgen]

Hello GMichalski

In the Wood file the only loss given is the 603 Sqn one. I do not see any mention of 616 Sqn making any claims or suffering any losses. Perhaps the information given is incomplete or Caldwell is in error?

Horrido!

Leo

[Nick Hector]

I think the strongest possibility is that Don Caldwell was implying that 616 sqn flew a mission as well and encountered opposition but did not suffer any losses but that the Germans overclaimed against them. John Foreman's Fight Command victory claims part two backs up Tony Woods info in that it lists no claims by 616 sqn.

[Nokose]

I checked the book by Norman L.R. Franks "Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War volume 1 1939-1941" and found the following.

30 June 1941 257 Sqn Hurricane IIB # Z3163 Sgt F A Uher : Convoy patrol. Crashed into the sea 35 miles NE Happisburgh. Seen in his Mae West but not rescued. Czech, aged 26. NKG.

It has for the 29 June 1941 603 Sqn Spitfire Va # R7270 Sgt. L.E.S. Salt (KIA)Nae Bother. Circus, FTR, evening. Buried Pihen-les-Guines, aged 20.

[GMichalski]

i found in my info:

RAF 11 Gp. 603 Sqn. 11 Spitfire Va 17.40 19.20 Circus 27 1 - 0 - 0 Me 109E 1 Cat.3m Fighters L-BS: Pont à Vendin

Cat.3m 30.06.41 Sgt. L.E.S. Salt: KIA 11 Group 603 Sqn. Spitfire Va: XT - Me 109s: St. Omer

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

It appears there is some level of confusion regarding which aircraft Sgt Salt was flying the day he died. I have read that according to the amendments included in Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War, Vol. 2: 1942-1943 by Norman Franks he is listed as having been killed on 29 June 1941 in Spitfire Va (R7272). However, according to the 603 Squadron Operations Record Book, P/O CA Newman was killed in Spitfire Va (R7272) on 26 June 1941 and Sgt LES Salt was killed in Spitfire Va (W3138) on 30 June 1941. I will readily admit that RAF units are not an area I am particularly knowledgeable about thus I have no idea concerning the accuracy of the above and so hopefully someone with greater knowledge can clear up this minor mystery.

Horrido!

Leo