Ltn Fritz Simme JG 5/52

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I am a bit confused by this name. In my victory list I had two pilots with the same name, one with JG 5 and the other with JG 52. Aces lists available on the Net showed a Fritz Simme with JG 52 claiming 6 victories and no death date.

I now think that there was only one pilot, Lt Fritz Simme, that flew with 15./JG 5 over Northern Norway and Finland in the fall of 1944 and claimed 6 victories here between 27/9/44 and 15/10/44.

Tony Wood lists show the 6 following victories:
27.09.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 5 Airacobra £ 37 Ost/QA-82: at 2.500-3.000 m. 11.42 Film C. 2035/II Anerk: Nr. -
09.10.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 5 Il-2 £ 37 Ost/TE-5.2: at 50 m. 15.01 Film C. 2032/II Anerk: Nr. -
15.10.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 52 LaGG-5 £ TB-4.2: at 400 m. 10.30 Film C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr. -
15.10.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 52 U-2 £ TB-8.2: at 50 m. 10.34 Film C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr. -
15.10.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 52 U-2 £ TB-9.1: at 50 m. 10.37 Film C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr. -
15.10.44 Ltn. Fritz Simme 15./JG 52 U-2 £ TB-9.4: at 50 m. 10.39 Film C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr. -

On 15.10.44 there was no more 15./JG 52 so I assumed this is a typo for 15./JG 5. By the way the Lt Frits Simme of 15./JG 5 was lost the same day, reportedly killed by ground fire SE of Petsamo.

Can anyone confirm the above ?

Another question will be about the four claims made on the last day. A formation of U-2 flying in broad daylight was rather unusual, but they may have been busy supplying Soviet troops advancing in the tundra outside roads during the Petsamo offensive ?

Thanks in advance

Laurent