I./JG 3 on 26 November 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In the afternoon of 26 November 1944, I./JG 3 were ordered to scramble on a defensive mission in very hazy weather. Radio contact with the ground was lost. In these poor conditions the Gruppenkommandeur, Hauptmann Horst Haase (62 victories, RK) collided with his wingman, Leutnant Hans Fritz (12 victories), both aircraft crashing from low altitude near Erkelenz with their pilots still aboard. Leutnant Walter Brandt, the Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 3, assumed command of the formation and led it back to Paderborn. However, Brandt was then placed under arrest for cowardice in the face of the enemy because there had been no contact with the enemy and the formation could not be reached by radio at low level to be guided on to the enemy. The charges were later dismissed.

I would like to have the usual details about the aircraft of Hptm Haase and Lt Fritz (type and WNr).

Thanks in advance

[John Beaman]

Laurent, they were both G-14/AS machines, but no details are known at this time. Look on page 539 of Prien and Stemmer's history of JG 3.