Retreat of Crimea - 09/05/1944 ( JG 52 + SG 2 activities )

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello to all!
I would like to know, if possible, the JG 52 losses on this day. From the account of Hptm Lipfert on his incredible diary, it seems that the Russians raided the airbase of Khersonyes six times this day. His Staffel ( from his book, pgs. 99 to 107 ) seems to not have taken part on the air battles. However checking Tony Wood´s claims, there were claims submitted by Lt. Sachsenberg.
I would be pleased to hear about JG 52 activities between 11:00hs - 12:20hs on that day. I am particularly interested on the crash of a Bf 109 G during the take off for a mission.
I also read somewhere that SG 2 Immelmann flew that day and that some of his pilots, flying Fw 190 F, shot down at least one IL-2. I found no corroboration of that narrative on Tony Wood´s claims. SG 2 flew that day? Which pilots from this Squadron claimed victories?

Thanks for all specialists on Eastern Front for the help and please forgive me any error.

Sincerely yours

Adriano

[yogybär]

Quoting the II/JG52-book:
"
6 Claims, all near Balaklawa:
11:35 Sachsenberg IL2
11:38 Sachsenberg Jak7
11:43 Sachsenberg Jak7
12:38 Wüst Jak7
16:05 Hoffmann Jak7

After that there is a break until 27th in the claim list.

Losses:
2 due to bombing in Chersonnez
8-9 due to chrashlandings in Mamaia, Rumania
2 pilots wounded during these crashes (Hackl, van de Kamp)
"

SG2:
Concerning non-JG-claims, I would not trust TonyWoods otherwise very good claimslist. Afaik, there are missing huge parts of StG-/SG- and KG-claims.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Yogibar,

Thanks for your help. May I ask you if your source says if a Schwarm or a Rotte took off on the 11:00h mission? There was a Hauptmann amongst JG 52 pilots?
From the information you put here, there was no crash landing on take off due to bomb holes on the runway? ( JG 52 machines )

Thanks

Adriano

[yogybär]

No info about that mission, only the . But... I am sure that a lot of machines were lost during these soviet air attacks which are not mentioned in the german statistics... I believe Lipfert's stories. Also, II/JG52 had 21 (!) losses in May due to enemy action, out of which only 4-5 were in late may in Romania (incl. Gerd Barkhorn's A/C...).

Source for 21 losses:
http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/biijg52.html

I can check soviet side reports, maybe I find something about that day.

[Pawel Burchard]

According to Hermann Buchner's logbook (copies in Stormbird by Hikoki) he flew 4 sorties that day claiming Il-2 and Jak-9 (1045-1135 hrs) and one Jak-9 (1305-1325 hrs). He was from II./S.G. 2.

regards,
Pawel

[Pawel Burchard]

And there is also short narrative description, he was flying in mixed Rotte with unknown Hptm. from J.G. 52 on first mission.

Pawel

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Yogibar and Pawell,
This is this action that I am looking for. I would like to know the name of that Hauptmann. It seems from Tony Wood´s claims, that JG 52 NOT only scrambled this only machine, but a second Rotte ( Sachsemberg leading ). And, if you do remember well Pawell, on take off there was an accident, but I do not remember if it was a machine from SG 2 or JG 52.
No more clues?
Adriano

[Pawel Burchard]

If I understand Buchner right, his wingman's Fw 190 rolled into bomb crater and also one Bf 109 encountered difficulties while taxiing. Thus Schwarm was reduced to Rotte of 1 Bf 109 and 1 Fw 190.

regards,
Pawel

[yogybär]

There were not so many Hauptmänner in JG52 at that time... Batz, Barkhorn, Haiböck (?) and "Rothenberg (whi is that?). Lipfert was still Oberleutnant, and Rall already Major.

[Pawel Burchard]

Be warned however that Buchner's memories seem not very accurate. For example chapter on Kursk does not match even his Flugbuch entries...

Pawel