Heinz Ewald JG52

[Johannes]

Hi Keith

Only one B-24 and u/c. JG 52 had few confirmed US aircraft. Obleser claimed nine, but stated that he was too pressured by other enemy aircraft to observe the actual crashes. Hartmann just one Mustang. Many claims were never officially made due to the pilots death, or as mentioned above badly wounded. Rall's confessed to Bernd Barbas that the Thunderbolt he actually shot down the day he was wounded he didn't do the paperwork for!

Kind Regards

Johannes

[keith A]

It's obvious he either remembered more after he recovered or decided to embellish his version of events because in "More Bf109 aces of the Russian Front" he states that his bomver "dropped away in a shallow curve with its entire left wing in flames" (Quoted from Esau 1990). Another source only lists claims for Birkner and Hartmann on that day, although as I mentioned in another entry Lipfert and his wingman also claimed. Ewald seems to believe at least three B-24s are destroyed and several damaged in the combat. So there's a lot of confusion as to the events of 24 June. I know that Rumanian pilots made claims for at least 3 B-24 and Lipfert mentions 11 kills for raid (presumably LW claims only). The USAAF lost 10 aircraft that day, one from 450th BG, another from 93rd BG, the 456th BG lost an aircraft which ditched...not sure about the identities of others.

regards

Keith

[keith A]

A quick correction. 450th BG lost at least 3, and 376th at least one. Unsure if the 93rd BG lost an aircraft over Rumania.

regards

Keith