Witten, 12th December 1944

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

Trying to confirm what German single and twin engine fighter units were airborne and engaged a force of 140 Lancaster on this raid. Combat reports from the returning crews reported, Bf109. FW190 Me410 and Me110, there is even a report of a jet.

I only have Don Caldwells DAY FIGHTERS as reference and this suggests JG3 and JG27, where they the only units involved ?

TIA
Steve

[Kaczmarek]

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

I only have Don Caldwells DAY FIGHTERS as reference and this suggests JG3 and JG27, where they the only units involved ?

Hi Steve,

The losses and claims in connection with the Witten raid speak for this.

Rgds, René

[Steve Smith]

Hi Rene,

Thank you for your post. My concern is that I have a number of Combat reports and reports from the returning bombers that suggest that FW190 and Me410 were encountered. If only JG3 and JG27 were involved this would exclude FW190's and Me410's.

Surely, even in thereat of combat these three types could not be confused ?

Thank again.

Steve

[Kaczmarek]

Hi Steve,

you're right with your opinion this should be only Bf 109's. I think this are misindentifications by the bomber crews. For the destroyer units I don't have details for this day. I have a lot of reports from bomber crews which wanted to have seen crazy aircraft. e.g. Me 163. But at these certain attacks no such aircraft were used provably.

Rgds, René

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Kaczmarek

Hi Steve,

… you're right with your opinion this should be only Bf 109's.
Rgds, René

What about IV./JG 3? They had Fw 190s and were based in North Germany at the time.

[Kaczmarek]

The losses was all from I./3. So I think the IV./3 was perhaps not in combat.

[Rottler]

According to JFV Teil 13/II only two German fighter units were involved:

I./JG 3
1345 hrs area Dortmund contact with Lancaster formation.
13 Lancaster and 1 British Mustang claimed.

IV./JG 27
~ 1350 hrs area Bochum contact with Lancaster formation.
8 Lancaster claimed.

Actually 8 Lancaster were lost over enemy territory.

Regards
Leo

[Juha]

And according to British two of the 8 were shot down by AA. Source Chorley 1944