ID two Bf109s destroyed on 29 May 1944

[Roundway]

Fighter Command War Diaries: Vol 4, records that two Bf109s on a reconnaisance sortie were shot down south of the Isle of Wight on 29 May 1944, and that both pilots baled out.

Can anyone advise (a) which unit the German aircraft belonged to, (b) if the pilots survived and (c) were they attempting to reconnoitre south coast ports or were engaged on some other operation?

I suspect this might have been the last reconnaissance attempt prior to the 5th June.

[Chris Goss]

Not from what I can see the usual suspects-4/123, 5/123, NAG 13, JG 2 or JG 26

[Nick Beale]

There's this from National Archives HW13/25: "GAF recce and bombing operations, Mar 19 1944 – Mar 28 1945" but it doesn't mention anyone being shot down.

[Roundway]

Thank you both gentlemen.

Nick,

Your reference is mostly consistent with the War Diaries:

Day Defensive operations:
A pair of 183 Squadron Typhoon pilots were scrambled to intercept a pair of Bf109 reconnaissance aircraft. Both were claimed destroyed 40 miles south of the Isle of Wight by Flying Officer A R Taylor, who reported both German pilots baled out.

The time and location fits nicely. A photo of Taylor on the facing page is credited to Chris.

Chris

Can you identify when and in which location the last reconnaissance was flown before D-day, please? My reason for asking is that at in the last pages of Forecast for Overlord the author, James Stagg, claims bad weather kept reconnaissance aircraft on the ground on the 5th, and because of this the invasion fleet went undetected. Meteorology is my speciality, and there is no way the weather would have restricted flying on the 5th. I'm content with my interpretation in this respect, but it would be useful to know if any were flown - whether or not they were over the Channel is immaterial.

Brian

[Nick Beale]

Sadly the file I quoted doesn't have anything after 29 May. The impression I got from the reports there are is that the Germans weren't trying too hard to achieve coverage of England's south coast and hadn't been for some time.

[Roundway]

Thank you Nick; I'd assumed that such operations were severely restricted due to the Allies' air superiority, but assuming isn't always the correct approach, so confirmation that reconnaissance was limited is welcome and helpful.

Apologies if you've seen this before, but in his weekly situation report issued on 5 June, Rommel stated "Survey urgently required of harbour moorings on the entire English south coast by air reconnaissance" (Wilmot's The Struggle for Europe page 229), implying no reports had been received during the previous week.

Brian

[Chris Goss]

I am afraid I cannot add anything further to this discussion

[Brian Bines]

Some years ago I made a note from an AIR40 file at Kew on RAF reports about Luftwaffe air activity against the UK Jan. to May 1944. The report noted day recons. on May 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th with the last day recon. being to the Thames Estuary on 24th. May. I assume the missions in early May included weather runs down he Channel but no details were given in these reports. The Home Office key points reports for week ending 0900 hrs 31st May does not report any day activity against the UK on the 29th May, and report ending 0900hrs 7th June shows slight activity off the Norfolk coast on the 31st May/1st June with no other activity for the rest of that week. I believe an May 29th JG2 lost a Bf109 at Aix, a Fw190 at Fontenay and one at Pardenstein while JG26 had two pilots baling out of Bf 109s but in the Metz area.
From another book Taylor (reported KIA on D-Day) dispatched the two 109s, described as fighter-bombers, on the 29th with only 20 rounds per gun

[Kaczmarek]

The losses of J.G. 2 were transferring and training flights.

Kaczmarek

[Merlin]

During May 1944 there were no lossen due to enemy action reported by 4. and 5.(F)/123.

NAGr 13 reported one aircraft lost due to enemy action. This happened 12.05.44 when a plane went missing with it’s pilot near the British coast. A second pilot had to parachute due to a burning engine over Alderney the same day.

This may be your mysterious aerial victories reported for 29.05.44.