Ofw Artur Gross 2./JG 301 15 April 1945

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

Willi Reschke's book Jagdgeschwader 301/302 "Wilde Sau" mentions on page 225 (German edition) that Ofw Artur Gross of JG 301 flew an airfield protection mission over Gardelegen on 15 April 1945.

However, Gardalegen airfield was occupied by U.S. forces already on the 14 April 1945.

Could this be a mistake in Reschke's book? Does anybody have copies of Artur Gross' logbook that would confirm this mission?

Thanks,
Roger

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by Roger Gaemperle

Could this be a mistake in Reschke's book?

No, regarding the pilots logbook his last flight from Gardelegen was on 16.04.1945 with an start on 07.05 and an landing in Gardelegen in 17.04.1945 on 09.22. It was an so called "Einsatzverlegung" from Gardelegen to Stendal and back.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Rasmussen,

Thank you very much for the information about Artur Gross´flights.

The following source indicates that Gardelegen was handed over to Allied forces on 14 April 1945: http://www.gardelegen.info/cms/index.php?article_id=98

Gross landed on 17 April 1945 at Gardelegen airfield even though Gardelegen itself was captured by the Allieds already on the 14 April. Maybe the airfield was far away from the town and not yet captured? Do you know when the airfield was captured by the Allieds?

Best regards,
Roger

[Ruediger Kaufmann]

Hi Roger and Rasmussen,

Gardelegen airfield was captured the same day as the city at 14th of April1945.
The airfield was captured by the 102nd Inf. Div. around 12 a clock after ground fighting against the Local Luftwaffen soldiers.
If any German fighter flow to Gardelegen after 14th of April, he will be a POW.

Best wishes
Rüdiger

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Rüdiger,

Thanks for the information. So it seems there are two conflicting first-hand sources. There appears to be no doubt about the date when Gardelegen was captured (same date indicated by various sources), I can only assume that the log book entries for the flights on 16./17.4. of Artur Gross were not fully correct. Maybe he filled these entries just after the war from memory and was wrong by a few days?

Rasmussen, if you have copies of the logbook could you check if the flights were confirmed and stamped by JG 301 after the 16./17.4. 1945?

Thanks,
Roger

[Rasmussen]

Yes, the flights were confirmed and stamped by I./ JG 301 ... but interesting is the date of confirmation - 09. April 1945 and the flights from 15.April - 17.April are include here. So I'd guess it's an miswriting and the correct dates were 15.03. - 17.03.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[digedag1]

The hard battles around Gardelegen ended in the late afternoon on 14th of April.
The very next day (15 April '45) the USAAF began to use the airfield for supplies and evacuations (airfield Nr. R-33).
No chance for Artur Gross to fly a mission from this place after the 14 April '45.
(but a combat mission to Gardelegen airfield on 15th of April to fight the american ground forces is possible)

Remark:
Gardelegen was at least the home for IV./JG 301 from 2 March to 19 March 1945
(disbanded on this date).
Home for 2./JG 301 from 19 Feb '45 to 10 April '45 was Salzwedel airfield.

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello Rasmussen and digedag1,

Thanks Rasmussen for the information regarding the stamp in the logbook. In what order were the flights from 15.4. - 17.4. vs. the other flight entries in the logbook? If the flights before were from a date before 15.3. it could well make sense that he was mistaken by one month as you suggest.

Thanks digeda1 for the additional information regarding the capture of Gardelegen airfield!

Cheers,
Roger

[Rasmussen]

Last flights were from 25.03.1945 and 26.03.1945, then came the flights from 15.04. - 17.04.1945 but this flights were confirmed on 09.04.1945 (an confirmation in future ?). The last two flights from 18.04.1945 were confirmed seperate by another stamp.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[Roger Gaemperle]

Thank you for the information regarding the sequence of the flight log entries. I agree with you that these flights were likely 15.03 - 17.03. He may have missed to enter the flights and have noticed it when the flights were checked and confirmed on 09.04., so he added them but since it was already April he may have written 04 instead of 03.

Best regards,
Roger