I./JG 3 on 24 December 1944

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

on 24 December 1944 I./JG3 lost several Bf109s in combat over the front area in the West; six pilots were initially listed as missing, two of which were later found dead, Fhr. Hans Jenkner and Lt. Franz Ruhl (who was declared dead only after the war). Of the remaining four, two are known to have become POWs, Uffz. Kurt Möllerke and Uffz. Franz Mörl. The other two - Fw. Paul Hamann and Uffz. Erich Thiel - were reported missing but are known to have survived the war.

Can anybody confirm that they too became POWs on this day ? Or are there any details known that would show that they returned to their unit and soldiered on ?

As usual any help would be gratefully appreciated.

KR

Jochen Prien

[John Manrho]

Dear Jochen,

I found no trace of an ADI(K) Report of either Hamann or Thiel. What I did find is that acc. to Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report No. 265 dated 29.1.1945 the Bf 109 of Hamann crashed SSW of Tirlemont/Tienen. This is so far west that we can assume he ended up as POW. The description of the wreck leads me to believe that he probably made a bellylanding.

Maybe also of interest, III./JG 3 also lost several a/c that day;

Uffz. Heinrich Brand (9./3), no details.

Uffz. Friedrich Benning (12./3) crashed north of Couthuin. No details on his fate or possible grave. Do you have information?

Uffz. Friedrich Schnödewind (12./3) crashed northwest of Franc-Waret. Killed, now buried at Lommel.

Ogfr. Herbert Krawczyk (12./3) crashed west of Warisoulx. He was initially buried at US Cemetery Fosse. I could locate his grave as unknown at Lommel in 1996 and this was "beurkundet" by the WASt on 11.11.1997 and the relatives were informed. Another one solved...:-)

This is from notes from about 15 years ago, so there might be more info now...

Regards John

[John Manrho]

Mmmmm, same question also on other board and answered.....