JG 301 on 17 December 1944

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

on 17 December 1944 JG 300 was employed against an incursion of 15th USAAF four engined bombers aiming at the hydrogenation plants in Upper Silesia, Blechhammer, Odertal and Heydebreck.

JG 301 was also in action and reported claims and losses against a B-24 formation and its fighter escort of P-51s and P-38s in the Göttingen / Hannover area - but what was that ?

Can anybody enlighten me as to the identity of the formations JG 301 had been battling with over Lower Saxony ? Were they a stray part of the 15th USAAF formations or what ? As far as I can see neither the 8th USAAF nor the RAF flew any attacks with their four engined bombers over Germany on that day. So ?

As usual, any substantiated help would be gratefully appreciated.

KR

Jochen Prien