JG53 casualties 24 and 26 December 1944.

[keith A]

French Spitfire groups encounter JG53 on these dates claiming nine Bf109G,(as well as two Fw190 of another unit on the 24th December). Can anyone give me details of LW casualties?

The Bf109s were shot down at Rottweil, Pforzheim and Boblingen, the Fw190s fell at Freiburg-am-Breisgau.

regards

Keith

[Nick Beale]

Talking of Freiburg, if you can get there then I think file RL 2 III/71 would answer your question (it has fighter losses in the west from 24–31 December 1944). I don't have the answer myself but maybe someone here will.

[Chris Goss]

24 Dec: 13./JG 53. Fw Erich Braitsch wounded Neustadt; Uffz Otto Jakob killed Dunningen

26 Dec: Maj Julius Meimberg w II./JG 53, Schaichhof. Oblt Leo Ludorf 6./JG 53 + Rutesheim. Gefr Adolf Meermann 6./JG 53 + Wimsheim. Gefr Heinz Ruland wounded 8./JG 53 Flacht. Oblt Adolf Gercke + 16./JG 53 + Gärtringen

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

24 Dec: 13./JG 53. Fw Erich Braitsch wounded Neustadt; Uffz Otto Jakob killed Dunningen


26 Dec: Maj Julius Meimberg w II./JG 53, Schaichhof. Oblt Leo Ludorf 6./JG 53 + Rutesheim. Gefr Adolf Meermann 6./JG 53 + Wimsheim. Gefr Heinz Ruland wounded 8./JG 53 Flacht. Oblt Adolf Gercke + 16./JG 53 + Gärtringen

In Dunnigen there was lost a Spitfire during that combat. Pilot kia

[keith A]

Spot on! Cheers Chris

[SteveR]

Could someone please tell me the identity of the French Spitfire units mentioned in the first post as having fought JG 53?

I've checked TNA but found no Combat Reports for December 1944 for any of the Free French RAF Squadrons and nothing in any of the ORBs noting combats for any of them on either 24 or 26 December 1944. I assume I've been barking up the wrong tree!

TIA!

[Frank Olynyk]

Steve,
GC II/7 = 326 Sqn (Dec 24), and GC I/7 = 328 Sqn (Dec 26).

Enjoy!

Frank.

[SteveR]

Thank you very much, Frank!

Turns out TNA doesn't have the December 1944 ORB for either of them and no Combat Reports for either as well.

[SteveR]

Thanks, Rolfeb!

Might you know where I can find more info about these combats on 24 and 26 December 1944? I have Prien's JG 53 volumes and JFV 13/V.

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by SteveR

Thanks, Rolfeb!

Might you know where I can find more info about these combats on 24 and 26 December 1944? I have Prien's JG 53 volumes and JFV 13/V.

Hi SteveR,
About the 24th there are some more (6 pages) info in my book „Die Flugplätze im Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis“ but the book is written in German only. It includes photographs of the pilots Otto Jakob, Erich Braitsch and Leutnant Jean Marie Doillon, who was shot down in his Spitfire. In addition it contains a copy of one page of Braitsch logbook showing his flights from Dec. 22nd until his his last flight at 24th. Based on this logbook he was shot down at 15:15 local time.
Best regards
Rolf