JG1 losses 1941-42

[keith A]

Can anyone give me details of the losses of this unit. Tantalizingly my local (National) library has mislaid the JG1 history volumes for this period!!!

I am looking at the periods August-December 1941, and September -November 1942. Only air combats are relevant.

Over to you chaps, with thanks

Keith

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to the Registered Luftwaffe Summary Aircraft Losses database by Mr Brekkens and co, there are only three losses due to enemy actions during this period:
07/Sep/1942: 1 aircraft of II./J.G.1 missing Due to enemy action (reported on 09/09/1942)
07/Sep/1942: 1 aircraft of IV./J.G.1 destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy (reported on 11/Sep/1942)
19/Sep/1942: 1 aircraft of I./J.G.1 destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy (reported on 21/Sep/1942)

Details from the book "JG 1. Histoire de la Jagdgeschwader 1 Oesau" by Eric Mombeek, 1992:

7 September 1942:
Narrative: II. and IV./JG 1 were scrambled to intercept "29 B-17s escorted by around 30 Spitfires" flying towards Rotterdam and Utrecht. The interception was a failure, with no claim done and two pilots killed by the escort.
Loss list:
Lt Karl Endrizzi of 4./JG 1 was killed when his Fw 190 A-4 WNr 5566 "white 1" fell in the sea 30 km NE of Leiden during an air battle against B-17s and Spitfires.
Uffz Ludwig Platzer of 10./JG 1 was killed when his Fw 190 A-3 WNr 5436 "white 8" was shot down in air batte against Allied fighters and crashed in a marsh 1 km south of Nieuwkoop.

Here is what Tony Wood had on his 1942 RAF activity file:
"

7. September 1942

VIII Bomber Command # 11: Circus 217

Wilton-yards ROTTERDAM

09.30 rv: 29 (9) 1st Bomb-Wing B-17 Fortress

Spitfire IX Escort Wing:
RAF 11 Gp. 402 Sqn. 12 Spitfire F.IX 09.05-10.10 Circus 217 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 No casualty H-BS: Rotterdam

Claim 07.09.42 Pilot 11 Group 402 Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 09.40 ca: Dutch Coast

RAF 11 Gp. 64 Sqn. 11 Spitfire F.IX 09.05-11.10 Circus 217 0 - 0 - 0 n/a 1 Cat.Em Fighters H-BS: Rotterdam

Cat.Em 07.09.42 Sgt. E.L. Dickerson: kia 11 Group 64 Sqn. Spitfire F.IX: BR602 SH-G FW 190s: Holland

RAF 11 Gp. 133 Sqn. 8 Spitfire F.IX 09.24-12.15 Circus 217 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 No casualty H-BS: Rotterdam

Claim 07.09.42 Pilot 11 Group 133 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 11.40 ca: Dutch Coast

Summary for Circus 217 09.30 RV on 7th September 1942 Ship-yards Rotterdam. Fighters taking part: 3 squadrons, 59 sorties, 0-1-1 claimed for 1 lost. Bombers taking part: 29 B-17 Fortresses of VIII Bomber Command: none lost. Ref: RAF/FC Summary of Sorties (Air 16/1307)

2nd Echelon Diversion Wing: Northolt
RAF 11 Gp. 302 Sqn. 12 Spitfire Vb 09.00-11.45 Circus 217 1 - 1 - 1 FW 190 1 Cat.Em Fighters H-BS: Rotterdam

Cat.Em 07.09.42 P/O Zdzitowiecki: asr 11 Group 302 Sqn. Spitfire Vb: AR280 FW 190s: Holland

Claim 07.09.42 Pilot 11 Group 302 Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 FW 190 11.40 ca: Dutch Coast
Claim 07.09.42 Pilot 11 Group 302 Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 FW 190 11.40 ca: Dutch Coast
Claim 07.09.42 Pilot 11 Group 302 Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 11.40 ca: Dutch Coast "

Official USAAF chronology:
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): Mission 11: 29 bombers attack targets in the Netherlands without loss: 1. 4 of 15 B-17s ineffectively raid the Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam in bad weather; they claim 8-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. 2. 5 of 14 B-17s seek targets of opportunity in the vicinity of Utrecht; they claim 4-6-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is damaged and 1 airman is WIA.

So RAF Spitfire claimed only 1 Fw 190 shot down, while B-17 gunners claimed 12: the latter could well have shot down one then (Endrizzi?).

On the other hand, two Spitfires did no return and only one German claim (by 9./JG 26) is known. Actually there is a second, by 2./JG 1, but for a Spitfire of 1 PRU that is identified.



19 September 1942:
Narrative: /
Loss list:
Lt Gerhard Steiger of 2./JG 1 was killed when his Bf 109 F-4 WNr 8418 "black 16" crashed near Pfahlausen (Oldenburg) in an air battle.

No idea for this one. There was certainly no Allied fighters or heavy bombers in this area that day, only unarmed (except for bombs) Mosquito. See http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=36407