Claims of F/O Garland 1.1.45 question

[Kutscha]

F/O Garland of 80 Sqd claimed 2 Fw190s 15m N of Munster on 1.1.45

At what approximate time did this combat take place?

[John Beaman]

Have you looked at Bodenplatte, the book by John Manrho?

[Kutscha]

Yes John and there is no claims for 80 Sqd. In fact, there is no mention of any combat by 80 Sqd. I am thinking Garland's combat was later in the day.

In the Tomas/Shores book on the Typhoon/Tempest there is tho, which is where I got the location from.

[udf_00]

From Bob Spurdle's bio, "The Blue Arena" pp204-205 : roughly between 09.00AM & 10.00AM.
11.30 guessing at the combat report :
http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...index=2&page=0

[Kutscha]

Thanks udf.

John, further reading of Bodenplatte has Garland shooting down 2 Dora 9s "late in the morning".

[John Manrho]

If you have the hardcover book, look at note 124 of the JG 6 chapter.

[harryurz]

In "Strike True", the story of 80 Sqn. by C. Shores (1986) it mentions Garland was on an armed recon. over the Paderborn-Bielefeld area and "dived on a pair of FW 190s passing below, his fire causing both to crash".

Shores' "Those Other Eagles" list his aircraft as EJ774 "W2-B" and the 1/1/45 claims as 'NW Munster'

Hope that helps!

[Kutscha]

Thanks all.

[John Manrho]

For others who do not have the book, I believe Garland shot down two D-9's not related to Bodenplatte but who were FlÜG Losses. I believe I have identified one loss, that of Fw. Bernado Lange.

Cheers,

John

[Chris Thomas]

Garland's combat report (and 2nd TAF Vol3 p394, plug!) gives the time of the combat as 1130 hrs. The CR gives the 'place of attack' as approx 15 miles NW Munster but in the narrative gives the crash locations as "approx 8 miles SE Rheine" and "approx 16 miles due west of Osnabruck".

The second Dora was described as "camouflaged light blue", which may help john's identification.
Chris