Biggest Air Battle over Germany? JG 300 and JG 301 "Wilde Sau" November 27th, 1944

[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by Klaus Schiffler

Here is a summary of Luftwaffe fighter units involved on 27 November 1944 with claims and losses:

I/JG 1: no claims; 1 damaged, no pilots lost
II/JG 1: no claims; 1 destroyed, no pilots lost
I/JG 3: no claims; 3 destroyed, 3 damaged, no pilots lost
III/JG 26: 2 P-51; 6 destroyed, 2 pilots killed, 2 wounded
I/JG 26: no claims; 1 destroyed, 1 pilot wounded
III/JG 27: no claims; 3 destroyed, 3 pilots killed
IV/JG 27: 1 P-47, 2 P-51; 11 destroyed, 1 damaged, 2 pilots killed, 2 wounded
IV/JG 54: no claims; 2 destroyed, 2 pilots killed
I/JG 300: claims unknown; 12 destroyed, 1 damaged, 3 pilots killed
II/JG 300: 2 P-51; 12 destroyed, 3 damaged, 7pilots killed, 4 wounded
III/JG 300: 2 P-51; 12 destroyed, 7 pilots killed, 1 wounded
IV/JG 300: claims unknown; 3 destroyed, 1 pilot killed
Stab/JG 301: no claims; 1 destroyed, 1 pilot killed
I/JG 301: 1 P-51; 11 destroyed, 3 damaged, 4 pilots killed, 4 wounded
II/JG 301: claims unknown; 3 destroyed, 3 pilots killed

I am taking these statistics from Jochen Prien, Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11 Teil 3 1944-1945.

Much obliged for the data Klaus, that must be a handy reference guide you have there. And thank you Bertrand and Erich for the additional information about JG 300.

[Erich]

.50's

A little side note checking through the 352nd fg history; the unit scored 17 kills( Bf 109's ) with the 487th squadron leading with 15 for the date. Smith and Starck were downed and 1 pilot from the 328th sq. on a strafe run was hit and crashed to his death.

E ~

[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by Erich

.50's

A little side note checking through the 352nd fg history; the unit scored 17 kills( Bf 109's ) with the 487th squadron leading with 15 for the date

Their participation in the battle raises some questions about times noted for engagements by all of the fighter groups. Erich, is it certain those 109s were top cover from JG 300 and/or JG 301? The dogfights between the 352nd Fighter Group and German fighters lasted for over 30 minutes, yet the two main formations of the Wilde Sau were seen by other American pilots 30 minutes later and did not appear to be dispersed.

As far as I can tell, the 352nd group was the first to make contact with Bf 109s of the Wilde Sau and it looks like they departed before other USAAF fighter groups arrived. No Focke-Wulfs were claimed by the 352nd group and only the 487th squadron was heavily engaged. My source indicates that all 352nd group claims were made from 1145 - 1230 hrs. The last 109 was credited to Karl Dittmer, a pilot better known for his experience flying F-86 Sabres vs. MiG-15s in Korea.

At about 1300 hrs. Capt. Ray S. Wetmore and Lt. Robert M. York of the 359th Fighter Group flew into the massive formation from JG 300 and JG 301, distinctly divided into two gaggles. According to Wetmore's account, there were no other American planes in the area and the German fighters he saw were not under attack, not taking evasive action, and still carrying drop tanks. That would suggest they were not attacked since they took off, and it seems unlikely that so many planes could have reformed so quickly. Had they been in dogfights from 1145 to 1230, they would have been low on fuel by 1300 hrs.

Anyway, after Wetmore called for help on the radio, some of the German planes broke formation and flew towards the two P-51s to investigate. At about 1300 Wetmore and York were forced to attack against incredible odds, though after a few minutes of fighting desperately for their lives, ten other Mustangs from the 359th group arrived on the scene. The dogfights between the 359th pilots and the Germans went on for about 25 minutes and eventually one plane from the 357th group was mixed in with them. The 353rd group must have made contact with German fighters at about the same time.

[John Beaman]

Originally Posted by Erich

.50's

A little side note checking through the 352nd fg history; the unit scored 17 kills( Bf 109's ) with the 487th squadron leading with 15 for the date. Smith and Starck were downed and 1 pilot from the 328th sq. on a strafe run was hit and crashed to his death.

The 328th pilot that was lost was a Lt. Arthur Hudson, flying PE-Z, 44-15012 named "Genie Boy".

[Erich]

yes John , thanks, forgot to include the name of the pilot. According to the Blue Nose Bastards history the area in which the 109's bounced the P-51's is not given.


I., III. and IV./JG 300 had 109G-14's. II.Sturm had the Fw 190A-8 and A-8/R2/R8

JG 301 had all Fw 190A-8's/A-9's

neither JG 300 or 301 were termed "Wilde Sau" after June's end of 44 as they constituted day fighter defence now.

not sure if the 352nd wrestled with the big bunch of JG 300 109's or not.

the 353rd appears to have tangled with JG 27 109's

[Pyker]

According to Six Months to Oblivion by Werner Girbig at Pages 34-37 for November 27, 1944 I.Jagdkorps took on the intrusion by U.S. 8th Air Force with some 750 fighters.... and for casualties he gives totals of 37 pilots killed or missing and 14 wounded.

Pyker