Seeking information on action when Bob Hoover was shot down Feb 9, 1944

[RCheung]

Bob Hoover's account:

http://www.airportjournals.com/Displ...?varID=0702024


WW2General thread:

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2...o-6116-86.html

A Spitfire bombing a freighter in Nice harbour was attacked by 4 Fw 190Ds - the new modified German fighter with an inline engine as opposed to the old radial engined Fw 190s. Two Spitfires were lost, Lt. Hoover bailing out. When 6 Spitfires were sent to search for Lt. Hoover, they were also attacked by the new 'Doras', which downed another Spitfire before losing one of the new machines. Ofw. Siegfried Lemke of 1./JG 2 claimed 4 Spitfires for the day.

It would appear that Lemke accounted for all three USAAF Spitfires.

http://www.brooksart.com/Deflection.html

The painting by Heinz Krebs appear to show the Fw-190's with radial engine. Since copies of the painting signed by both Hoover and Lemke are being offered, one would assume that the depiction of the aircraft in the painting are accurate.

Anyone have additional details of the action?

According to Hoover's account, James Montgomery was the other pilot shot down in the first action. Who were the other pilots shot down in the second action? (One additional USAAF Spitfire V and one JG2 Fw-190 were downed in the second action according to the WW2 general thread quoted above).

Are there details available of the markings of aircraft involved in this action?

Many thanks in advance!

[Leo Etgen]

Hello RCheung

I have the following information on Lemke's claims that day:

16. 9.2.1944 14:50 Spitfire 1./JG 2 SE Cannes at 2,500 m / Spitfire Vc (EF647) of 4 FS, 52 FG, USAAF flown by F/O James H Montgomery Jr, POW

17. 9.2.1944 14:54 Spitfire 1./JG 2 SE Cannes at 1,500 m / Spitfire Vc (JK160) "WD-R" of 4 FS, 52 FG, USAAF flown by F/O Robert Hoover, baled out, POW

18. 9.2.1944 15:00 Spitfire 1./JG 2 SE Cannes at 200 m / Spitfire Vc (MA883) of 4 FS, 52 FG, USAAF flown by Lt John L Bishop, POW

19. 9.2.1944 16:35 Spitfire 1./JG 2 SE Cannes at 1,200 m / Spitfire of 4 FS, 52 FG, USAAF flown by Lt Stanley Pell, damaged

I./JG 2 was flying a variety of the Fw 190 at the time including the Fw 190 A-4 (1), A-5 (1), A-6 (22) and A-7 (4) as well as the Bf 109 G-3 (1) and G-6 (13) at the beginning of February 1944 but no Fw 190 D-9. The Dora did not reach service until October 1944 with III./JG 54. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[RCheung]

Many thanks!

Did the I./JG2 lose any aircraft during these two actions?

[Leo Etgen]

Hello RCheung

It seems as if Maj William M Houston and Lt Robert L Burnett III, each of the 4th FS, 52nd FG, USAAF claimed to have probably destroyed a Fw 190 near Nice between them during the second engagement. However, this claim was never officially credited. Unfortunately, I have no idea if the loss lists of JG 2 for 1944 would verify that a fighter was lost during that air battle.

Horrido!

Leo

[RCheung]

Thanks again! Perhaps someone else here may have access to the I./JG2 loss records.

[wellss]

In his book, Hoover claims to have been flying MA883, WD-R, not JK160.

[yeknom-ecaps]

Thanks for the link - an intersting article. I knew Bob Hoover's history at Edwards AFB but not this account in WW II.

[Nick Beale]

There were no Fw 190 D-series in service until October 1944. I./JG 2 was flying the Fw 190 A and (in the 4. Staffel) the Bf 109 G-6 in February 1944.

There are many RAF reports of "inline-engined" Fw 190s long before such a thing appeared, I guess because pilots had been told in intelligence bulletins to expect them.