ZG26 24.APRIL 44

[RT]

The III.Group that day was surprised by a dozen of Mustangs, they flew "Abwehrkreis" , nd pretty perfectly because they started training 4 years before, nd suffer rather hard punishment but claimed none less than 6 P51 shot-down, are these losses documented in the allied side ??

Remi

[RT]

Sorry they claimed 7 P51

Remi

[Don Caldwell]

This combat was with the 357th FG. Its 362nd FS claimed 7-1-5 Bf 110s. According to my MACR summary, the group lost 4 P-51s on the mission: one to Flak, 1 s/d by a Bf 109, 1 s/d by a Bf 110, and one by collision with a Bf 110. I'm sure that Merle Olmsted's big 357th FG book (which I've really got to get) has full mission details. BTW, according to my records, one of the III./ZG 26 claims was confirmed.

Hope this helps.

Don

[drgondog]

According to the MACR witness statements both Connaghan and Donnell were lost due to mid air collisions with the Me 110's they shot down.

Here is my list of ZG26 losses which closely match the 9 awards of Me 110's claimed (and awarded destroyed plus 5 damaged) by the 362FS:


Nagel, Georg Lt III./ZG 26, 7.Stff, Königsberg/Devau near Erding, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G, 6130 013....
Klaus- Gottfried, Herrmann Uffz III./ZG 26, 7. Stff, Königsberg/DevauPoing, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G, 2130 037.....
Gaudes Gerhard, Johannes Uffz, III./ZG 26, 8. Stff, Königsberg/DevauAngelbrechting near Neufahrn, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110 G, 2130 091......
Grachornigg OLt III./ZG 26, 8. Stff, Königsberg/DevauKronacker near Hohenlinden, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G, 2420 034......
Lachinger Uffz III./ZG 26, Königsberg/DevauNear Munchen, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G-2, wrkno unk....Unk
Kuser Uffz III./ZG 26, Königsberg/DevauNear Munchen, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G-2, wrkno Unk....
Weber LtIII./ZG 26, Königsberg/DevauNear Munchen, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G-2, wrkno Unk....
RiskeUffz III./ZG 26, Königsberg/DevauNear Munchen, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G-2, wrkno Unk...
Müller OLt III./ZG 26 Königsberg/DevauErding, Crashed, P-51, Bf 110G-2, wrkno Unk

Donnell went down ~ 11mi east of Munich, Connaghan down south of Erding.. both in the 1400-1410 timeframe.

As Don mentioned the 110 engagement was all 362FS/357FG ranging from just south of Erding to an area to the southeast of Munich from 1400-1410.

For a 100+ mi radius around Munich:

A total of four Mustangs were actually confirmed (by MACR) shot down in air combat - (3 -355FG, 1-357FG), these four were by Me 109s. A Me 110 award for Donnell might be possible according to Tony Woods list. There are about 8 Mustangs (one to 7./ZG26) plus a P-47 (no Jugs travelled east of Stuttgart) awarded as destroyed in air combat in the Munich area (Woods) so it is difficult to match the LW pilots that should actually receive the awards.

Two Mustangs (357FG) were lost to mac w/110's of III./ZG26 according to witness statements but Donnell was not credited for a Me 110 - so ? It is possible that the Me 110 he collided with made it back to base... and made a legitimate claim of a Mustang 'destroyed'

Three Mustangs were lost strafing at Lenting (352FG), Speyer (357FG) and Bingen (355FG) - to AA fire.

[drgondog]

I just re-read J-935, attached to Donnell's MACR 4329. The J report states unequivocally that the Mustang collided with the Bf110 and both crashed.

Apparently the 110 crew claimed Donnell's Mustang shot down.

Browning was the witness, Donnell was Bud Anderson's wing, got separated near Augsburg at 1345 and later engaged the Me 110 near Erding where the mac occurred 1400-1410.

Donnell was observed to bail out and was captured but no mention of survivors in the Me 110..

[Don Caldwell]

Hello Dragondog --

Do you happen to have a casualty list for the III./ZG 26 Bf 110s downed this date?

Don

[RT]

Nagel georg ltn f t
Zenz josef uffz bf t
Rischke rolf uffz f t
Klaus gottfried uffz bf t
Gaudes johann uffz f/bf t
Plötner olaf fj-uffz bf/f t
Grachornigg konrad oblt f t
Schafforz anton fw bf t

+ ZG1 That day but non-ennemy flight
Diebel gerhard ltn f t
Stille herbert uffz bf t
Voigt fritz oge 2,wart t

+ The ones who belly-landed their plane without injuries

Müller oblt f
Weber ltn f
Riske uffz f
Kaiser/kaser uffz f
Lackinger uf f

[Don Caldwell]

Many thanks -- "t" = tot = killed, I assume?

Don

[RT]

You assumed good

Remi

[drgondog]

Don - I sent it along with 8th BC/FC losses and awards about two months ago. Look for it today. It is the April 24 Mission for my new book.

Regards,

Bill