Ju 52 loss on 16-17 April 1944

[Nokose]

In the recent JFV 15/II it lists that on 16 April 1944 that 1st FG shot down 2 Ju 52 in Yugoslavia and the 82nd FG shot down one at Belgrade on the 17 April 1944. Can anyone provide the names of the German pilots and the US pilots making the claims.

[Rottler]

Hello Nokose,

according to JFV Vol. 15/II page 524 footnote 2205 and page 558 footnote2403 on 16 April 1944 the IV./JG 54 lost 3 pilots and 21 men ground personnel as passengers in Ju 52 of TG 4.
In connection with the Ju 52 database: https://www.ju52archiv.de/Ju52.pdf the Ju 52 WNr. 501132 and 501325 were involved.

Ju 52 501132 DR+UV 1Z+KX 11./TG 4 16 dead
Crew:
F Uffz Hans Dieteler
Bf Fw Walter Müller
Bm Uffz Albert Neiteler
Bs Gefr August Tatzel
Passengers (ground personnel):
Gefr Vinzent Barka
Flg Heinz Dippner
Fw Franz Eichinger
Fw Hermann Gehre
Ogfr Rudolf Hausotter
Gefr Horst Hofmann
Gefr Jochim Nass
Uffz Servatius Neufang
Ofw Anton Stamm
Ogfr Otto Wichern
Ogfr Günther Wolff
Ogfr Friedrich Ziegler.

Ju 52 501325 PO+GO 9./TG 4 16 dead
Crew:
F Fw Ludwig Hebstreit
Bf Uffz Heinz Kürschner
Bm Uffz Josef Eichinger
Bs Uffz Albin Kupczak
Passengers:
Pilots:
Fw Hartmut Wilkens 12./JG 54
Uffz Alfred Grimm 12./JG 54
Uffz Johann Elbinger 10./JG 54
Ground personnel:
Ogfr Franz Gravogel
Uffz Walter Hey
Uffz Fritz Marx
Gefr Helmut Nonn
Uffz Hubert Neger
Gefr Edmund Siemon
Uffz Kurt Trafoyer
Gefr Robert Treutel
Gefr Heinz Urban.

Regards
Leo

[Jim P.]

There were apparently 3 Ju 52s lost over Yugoslavia on the 17th of April. The other two were:

Ju 52/3m g8e, WNr.130859, Dieterle, Uffz. Hans, 1./TG 1, 1Z+FH, 17-Apr-44, KIA with crew due to attack by P-38 from the 82nd FG (Capt. Force). Notwasserung. 12 passengers also KIA., (Or 97 Sq. per Balss.), Jugoslawien, Balss, Deutsche LW Losses & Claims, V.31-2 (16 - 30-Apr-44), p.26; Trendle via TOCH on 16-Jan-20, nahe Pančevo, nordöstlich Belgrad, 100%, F, Fw. Walter Müller, Uffz. Albert Neiteler, Gefr. August Tatzel & Gasts Fw. Franz Eichinger, Ogefr. Friedrich Ziegler, Ofw. Anton Stamm, Fw. Hermann Gehre, Uffz. Servatius Neufang, Gefr. Vinzent Barka, Gefr. Horst Hoffmann, Ogefr. Günther Wolff, Gefr. Joachim Nass, Ogefr. Rudolf Hausotter, Flg. Heinz Dippner & Ogefr. Otto Wichern

Ju 52/3m g14e, WNr.640996, Vogel, Fl.Kapt. Kurt, DLH, D-AOCA, "Harry Rother", 17-Apr-44, WIA due to attack by P-38 from the 82nd FG (Capt. Force) during regular DLH flight from Vienna to Athens via Belgrad, Sofia & Thessaloniki. DOW 23-Apr-44. Two crewmen WIA, 4 Gasts KIA., (Or P-38 from 97 Sq.), Jugoslawien, Balss, Deutsche LW Losses & Claims, V.31-2 (16 - 30-Apr-44), p.26; Trendle via TOCH on 16-Jan-20, bei Alt-Pasua, 26km nördlich Belgrad-Semlin, 100%, F, FlzFu. Georg Denzer & FuMa. Karl Freymüller

[Rottler]

According to JFV Vol. 15/II and the mentioned Ju 52 database on 17 Apr 1944 the 82nd FG claimed two Ju 52 northeast of Belgrad. Involved were the Lufthansa Ju 52 “Harry Rother“ WNr. 640996. 4 passengers died, the pilot Flugkapitän Kurt Vogel died on 23 Apr 1944, co-pilot Freymüller and radio operator Denzer were injured.
The other was the WNr. 130859 of 1./TG 1 1Z+FH. The pilot Ofw Willi Lichy was killed, three men were injured. If Balss and Trenkle are right, the entry in the Ju 52 database is wrong.

Regards
Leo

[CENTURION]

Hello Nokose,
according to Olynyk,
the 1st FG claimed two EA destroyed on 16.04.1944 in Yugoslavia:
09.40 Lt R Hoffman (71st FS) [but, actually, probably C. Hoffman 94th FS] Ju.52 S of Belgrade
12.00 Lt. F Gerry (27th FS) SM.79 S of Dubravica
while the 82nd FG (97th FS) claimed three EA destroyed on 17.04.1944:
9.40/14.57 Capt A Force Ju.52 20m NE of Belgrade
9.40/14.57 Lt. W Patterson Ju.52 20m NE of Belgrade
9.40/14.57 Lt. W Patterson He.111 20m NE of Belgrade
Regards.
Marco

[Jim P.]

Lichy & crew are reported with the Ju 52 WNr.501132 per Balss & Trendle.

[Nokose]

Thank you to all that have responded. I am still looking for the rank, full names of the 1st FG involved on the 16 April 1944. Also the score number that they listed. There was a Hoffmann in the 94th FS. This will be added to the combat war diary for IV./JG 54 that Nick Hector and myself will be making available before long. Unfortunately, it will be an incomplete work but maybe it will be added to in the future.

[focusfocus]

Hello all

Regarding April 16,I have this information (French)

Uffz.Johannes Elbing (3vic.) 10/JG54
Uffz.Alfred Grimm (2vic.) 12/JG54
No mention of Fw.Hartmut Wilkens 12/JG54(an oversight?)

Killed as passengers of a JU.52 (Wn.501325) crashed in mountains near Toplet,north of Orsova (Romania)

US.Vict.
1/Lt Frank J.Gerry 1 SM.79 (his second vic)
2/Lt Robert C.Griffith 1 (his first vict.)

No infos of vict.of R.Hoffman or C.Hoffman.

Regards
Michel

[KM1957]

Frank J. Gerry, serial number 0-800512 according to USAF Study #85.

kent

[CENTURION]

Hello all,
the 1st FG claimed only one Ju.52 on 16.04.1944.
According to Olynyk it was claimed by ?/Lt Robert K Hoffman (71st FS).
However, the 71st FS' War Diary reports, on this date, that "No enemy aircraft were seen on today's mission".
The Ju.52, apparently, was claimed by 2/Lt Charles Landis Hoffman (94th FS) during his 43rd mission.
He reported: "We had a 4-flight squadron (16 planes) escort B-17s of the 5th Bomb Wing to the marshalling yards at Brazov, Romania. En route to the target, we observed a Ju-52 “Iron Annie” below our formation. Lt Thiessen was leading the squadron and he sent my flight down and I attacked the transport. The Ju-52 was burning fiercely when it disappeared into the clouds below".
Despite the claim, Hoffman reported that "the Army Air Force did never officially credited it to me".
Hope this helps.
Marco