Did Adolf Galland down B-17 "Struggle Buggy" on April 21, 1945

[blythsco]

There were two B-17s reported lost that day in the ETO and some sources have AG claiming one of them. This article appears to suggest that "Struggle Buggy" was downed by a German fighter rather than prop wash as was commonly believed: http://www.suedwest-aktiv.de/region/...72/artikel.php

"Struggle Buggy" was the last AC lost by the 94th BG in the war. The pilot was on his 2nd mission and managed to bail out. The rest of the crew were KIA.

Regards
Scott Blyth

[Don Pearson]

A quick glance at some published sources on JV 44 do not show Galland claiming a B-17 on this date.

Don

[blythsco]

Here is one source although I am not sure about the accuracy:

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/gallanda.html

Are there better lists available?

Thanks
Scott

[Don Pearson]

Can't speak for the accuracy of the list, but in "The Mighty Eighth" by Freeman, it is noted that April 19th 1945 was the last date on which American heavy bombers were lost to Luftwaffe fighters.

Don

[blythsco]

Thanks Don

I know the MACRs for "Slienthe Je Vahr" and "Struggle Buggy" do not mention enemy fighters. I believe both were attributed to prop wash. Both aircraft had only 1 survivor. I communicated with the navigator of "Slienthe Je Vahre" a few years ago and he indicated that he would be surprised if their downing was due to jet activity. Some eyewitnesses on the ground suggested that "Slienthe Je Vahr" was hit by lightning which might also suggest that the loss was due to R4M rockets from an ME-262. The navigator was James Boehling and his memoirs are posted on the site of the Virginia Chapter of the 8th AF. They make a very interesting read I might add.

http://www.8thaf-virginia.org/storie...Jimmy_Boehling

As for "Struggle Buggy" the crashsite is apparently being investigated or has been investigated and a rough translation of the German newspaper article indicates that:

"According to condense information from our newspaper are now indications that the bomber was hit by a German fighter plane."

Prior to reading this comment any connection between AG and the loss of "Struggle Buggy" was pure conjecture.

All the best

Scott

[Johannes]

I agree with the conjecture. I think Sulzbach is near Frankfurt-am-Main, whereas Galland seemed to claim near Munich. I do have his full abschusse list, the first ninety-four are absolutely accurate, nowever the last seven with the jet would be slightly open to question, he had a couple of unconfirmed heavy bombers also one in 1943 and another in 1944:-

Nr 95 3rd April 1945 P-38
Nr 96 5th April 1945 B-24
Nr 97-98 16th April 1945 2x B-26
Nr 99 21st Apil 1945 B-17 near Munich
Nr 100-101 26th April 1945 2x B-26 near Munich

Regards

Johannes

[Flavio]

Originally Posted by Johannes

I agree with the conjecture. I think Sulzbach is near Frankfurt-am-Main, whereas Galland seemed to claim near Munich. I do have his full abschusse list, the first ninety-four are absolutely accurate, nowever the last seven with the jet would be slightly open to question, he had a couple of unconfirmed heavy bombers also one in 1943 and another in 1944:-

Nr 95 3rd April 1945 P-38
Nr 96 5th April 1945 B-24
Nr 97-98 16th April 1945 2x B-26
Nr 99 21st Apil 1945 B-17 near Munich
Nr 100-101 26th April 1945 2x B-26 near Munich

Regards

Johannes

Hi Johannes,

have you the data of these two unconfirmed victories gained by Galland in 1943 and 1944?
Thank you
Flavio

[blythsco]

Thank you Johannes

I certainly think it better to be shot down by Galland rather than downed due to prop wash.

Cheers
Scott

[kaki3152]

I find this victory claim interesting. There are no reported losses of any 15th AF P-38 or F-5 on April 3,1945, On April 4,1945 one P-38 of the 14th FG was lost in action with Me-262s of JV-44 though it is accepted that it was lost in a collision with a JV-44 Me-262.

[Johannes]

Hi Flavio

Actually I found three:-

9th October 1943 B-17 Marienburg area(without witness)
8th March 1944 B-17 x2(don't know why these were unconfirmed, but probably to do this his combat ban!?

Regards

Johannes