352nd Fighter Group 29 January 1944

[keith A]

On this date Bill Whisner, flying a P-47D claimed a Fw190 which had just shot down a B-17. Can anyone identify his claim?

regards

Keith

[Alex Smart]

Hello Keith,

29/01/1944.
Whisner's a/c was P-47D 42-22515 -"HO=*=U". 487th FS.
Claim: Fw190 over area of Malmedy.

From Caldwell's "Day Fighters in defence of the Reich"
Fw190 losses on the 29/01/1944 were 10 destroyed, 3 damaged ; 3 Kia ; 2 Mia ; 2 Wia.

III/JG2
Destroyed 4; 1 Kia; 2 Mia; 1 Wia.

I/JG26
Destroyed 1; 1Kia;

II/JG26
Destroyed 3 ; 3 Damaged ; 1 kia; 1 Wia.

4/JG26
Destroyed 1

Stab/JG2
Destroyed 1.

The two JG26 pilots killed were victims of the 20th FG'P38's. As was the wounded pilot.
Schneider in Fw190 470237 ; Reichmann in Fw190 530749 and wounded Lissack in Fw190 410207.

So that leaves the two JG2 kill's. One could be the victem of Whisner.

B17's were shot down by Fw190's on that day and times.
1/JG26 -1010 - 2 B17's.
11/JG26 - 1035 - 2 B17's.
1 SKG - 1230 - 1 B17.
4/JG26 - 1300 - 2 B17's.
11/JG26 - 1330 - 2 B17's.
11/JG26 - 1400 - 1 B17.
Total 10.

JG26 Claims were -
Hptm. Borris - B17 - E of Bonn(NQ-OP) - ???BG - confirmed.
Fw. Gomann - B17 - 8km SSW of Le Château - 388BG - confirmed.
Lt. Hofmann - B17 - 2km N of Lutrebois - 95BG - confirmed.
Oblt. Kranefeld - B17 - S of Maubeuge - 385BG - confirmed.
Lt. Lange - B17 - 20km SE of Lille - ???BG - confirmed ?
Oblt. Matoni - B17HSS - 12km SW of ( Channel) Muhlhausen - ???BG - confirmed ?
Oblt. Neu - B17 - S of Maubeuge - 385BG - confirmed.
Fw. Zirngibl - B17HSS - Pferdsfeld-Entempfuhl (?) - ???BG - confirmed.
Lt. Weide - B17 - W of Koblenz(PO-PP) - ???BG - confirmed.
Fw. Mayer - B17 - Not confirmed.
Few. Wiegand - B17 - nr Laon - Not confirmed.

Possible MACR's
95BG - MACR 2256 ( 42-30226).
385BG - MACR's 2267; 2268; 2269; ( two of these ).
388BG - MACR 2349 (42-3285).

Alex

Refs: Day Fighters in defense of the Reich , JG26 War Diary vol 2 & 8&9AAF losses vol 2

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Re:95 BG losses on 29/01/1944.

Chris Goss, in his, Luftwaffe Hit-and-Run Raiders, suggests:

I./ SKG 10 Air Combat Victories.

29 Jan 1944 - I./ SKG 10 - Claimant unknown - B-17 - S. Courtrai - 1236 hrs -
Possibly 42-3545 - 334 BS/95 BG (1/Lt A Roznetinsky) - Crashed Hulste 1235 hrs*.
B-17 Master Log states; 42-3545 Ass. 334BS/95BG [BG-A] - Horham - 9/43 - MIA - Frankurt 29/1/44 - 2 POW, 3 Evaded, 5 KIA - Enemy aircraft - Crashed Ooigem, 19 miles SW of Ghent, Belgium. (MACR 2257)**

*
See:
Luftwaffe Hit-and-Run Raiders Nocturnal Fighter-Bomber Operations over the Western Front, 1943-1945.
Goss,Chris.
Hersham:Chevron/Classic,2009.
pp.58 & 85.

and...

**
https://www.91stbombardmentgroup.com...ID/FORTLOG.pdf - p.99 of 736.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

It seems that the Luftwaffe pilot bailed out so presumably survived to fight another day.
The 11 JG26 B17 claims times.
11.30
MATONI
ZIRNGIBL
1245
KRANEFELD
1250
GOMANN
1300
LANGE
1320
MAYER
1330
HOFMANN
Time Unknown
BORRIS
WEIDE
NEU
WIEGAND

So if the Fw190 pilot was from JG26 he would have to be either,
MATONI
ZIRNGIBL
WEIDE
NEU
WIEGAND
Any of the JG26 pilots bail out and survive ?

[keith A]

Cheers Alex. I am off work tomorrow and arm going to hit the books