1945: Ma Deuces down 83 German planes?

[Horst Fliegel]

Are there any further details of this massed Luftwaffe attack on the bridge & its losses?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M45_Quadmount

"At Oppenheim, when the Allies were gathering to make a massive push after crossing the River Rhine (March 1945), 248 German warplanes were used in an effort to destroy the bridge first. U.S. Army anti-aircraft artillery battalions massed, shot down 30% of the attacking force mainly with M45 Quadmounts and prevented the bridge from being touched before the U.S. Third Army went into Germany."

[Nick Beale]

According to translated Luftwaffenkdo. West sitreps in the National Archives, Fl. Div. 15 flew 104 f 109 and Fw 190 sorties to Oppenheim on 23 March with 11 aircraft lost and 13 missing. That night NSG 1 and NSG 2 each had a Ju 87 damaged. Fighter units involved were I., II. and III./JG 2 plus II., III. and IV./JG 53.

On the 24th, out of 62 fighters (same units), one was lost and four were missing; a Ju 87 was damaged that night. Also overnight, NJG 4 sent 9 Ju 88s there, one being lost.

25 March: 26 Bf 109 and 15 Fw 190 (3 lost, 7 missing, 1 damaged). II./KG 200 employed 4 Mistel that night, losing an Fw 190 and a Ju 88 flare dropper. NAG 13 may also have lost a reconnaissance machine (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=38043)

26th: Two Ju 87 were lost in the bridgehead area that night.

[Nordpol54]

@ Horst Fliegel,

25./26.3.1945, I. and IV./NJG 6 flew attacks against enemy road-traffic in the area Oppenheim - Kaiserslautern - Bad Kreuznach. Special mission was to destroy the bridge over the Rhine at Oppenheim. The following losses had been reported:

1 Ju 88 of 10./NJG 6, MIA
1 Bf 110 of 10./NJG 6, MIA
1 Bf 110 of IV./NJG 6, MIA

Damaged by AAA:
1 Ju 88 of I./NJG 6
2 Bf 110 of I./NJG 6
2 Bf 110 of IV./NJG 6

Best Regards
Norbert