II/KG 53 28 Aug 44 He 111 losses

[Chris Goss]

A total of 34 air and groundcrew from II/KG 53 were killed on this day-what happened and does anyone have aircraft details/NVMs?

Could the claims by 61 FS (south of Saarbruecken), 63 FS (N Kaiserslautern, Kettnich), 343 FS (30 miles SW Coblenz), 350 FS (SE Arlon x 2), 56 FG (S Trier) link to this?

[Brian Bines]

This was a transfer flight from Rouvres to Babenhausen apparantley the route was reported clear of enemy air activity and but they were attacked by aircraft of the 56th. and 353rd F.G.'s. Losses were AI+AM 5 aircrew and 5 groundcrew killed, AI+MP 3 aircrew killed 2 wounded plus 1 ground crew wounded and one killed , AI+N 1 aircrew + and one w., plus 3 groundcrew w., AI+KP 3 aircrew and 3 groundcrew w. AI+LP 1 aircrew and 1 grouncrew + plus 4 aircrew and 2 groundcrew w., AI+IP
5 aircrew and 3 groundcrew missing , AI+CP 5 aircrew and 4 ground crew missing.
I believe prior to this the unit had been air dropping supplies to German troops losing five crews on 'Versorggungsflug' ,
Regards
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Brian: Thanks for this. Thought as much. I will email you

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

They reported a total of 9 aircraft lost, 2 missing, 6 shot down by enemy aircraft, and 1 destroyed on the ground by strafing.

So trying to sum up the excellent post by Brian I would guess it would end up as:

(btw the Verbandskennzeichen for KG 53 was A1 and not AI)

4. Staffel
He 111H-20 A1 + AM 5 aircrew KIA, 5 groundcrew KIA


6. Staffel
He 111H-20 A1 + CP 5 aircrew MIA, 4 ground crew MIA
He 111H-20 A1 + IP 5 aircrew MIA, 3 groundcrew MIA
He 111H-20 A1 + KP 3 aircrew WIA, 3 groundcrew WIA
He 111H-20 A1 + LP 1 aircrew KIA, 1 groundcrew KIA, 4 aircrew WIA, 2 groundcrew WIA
He 111H-20 A1 + MP 3 aircrew KIA, 2 aircrew WIA, 1 groundcrew KIA and 1 groundcrew KIA

The last one cannot be assigned to a Staffel, as it could be A1 + N? or A1 + ?N (5. Staffel)
He 111H-20 A1 + N 1 aircrew KIA, 1 aircrew KIA, 3 groundcrew WIA


The 2 aircraft reported as missing would then be:
1. He 111H-20 A1 + CP 5 aircrew MIA, 4 ground crew MIA
2. He 111H-20 A1 + IP 5 aircrew MIA, 3 groundcrew MIA

The 6 aircraft reported shot down would be:
1. He 111H-20 A1 + AM 5 aircrew KIA, 5 groundcrew KIA
2. He 111H-20 A1 + KP 3 aircrew WIA, 3 groundcrew WIA
3. He 111H-20 A1 + LP 1 aircrew KIA, 1 groundcrew KIA, 4 aircrew WIA, 2 groundcrew WIA
4. He 111H-20 A1 + MP 3 aircrew KIA, 2 aircrew WIA, 1 groundcrew KIA and 1 groundcrew KIA
5. He 111H-20 A1 + N 1 aircrew KIA, 1 aircrew KIA, 3 groundcrew WIA
6. unknown

The 1 aircraft reported destroyed on the ground is probably not in the list by Brian.

Seems most of these are then more or less covered, but the NVM's would be nice with regards to WNr etc (and one of the aircraft could be a H-16 subtype as the unit reported one of these lost during August 1944).

Regards,
Andreas B

[Brian Bines]

A1+AM He111 H 20 wn 700657
A1+MP He111 H 20 wn 700139
A1+?N He111 H 20 wn 700630
A1+KP He111 H 20 wn 700568
A1+LP He111 H 20 wn 701658
A1+IP He111 H 20 wn 700883
A1+CP He111 H 20 wn 7007745

Other losses A1+LR 161766 on 19.8.44 - missing
A1+DT H-16 160681 on 20-8-1944 - crashed Le Bourget
A1+DN H-16 8242 on 20-8-1944 - crashed crew killed
A1+AT ? 161718 on 21-8-1944 - missing
?? ?? ? 6756 (hand written) on 22-8-1944 - four missing, had crash-landed at Creil and reported missing from ' Ruckmarsch nach Le Bourget,


Hope this helps,
Regards
Brian