Luftwaffe Action, Remagen, 13 Mar 45

[Eagle0025]

I am seeking details on Luftwaffe fighter units in action in the Remagen area on 13 Mar 45. In particular, JG53 and JG2. This information is needed to help investigate the downing of a 474th FG P-38 that may have fallen victim to one of these two groups.

Jochen Prien's outstanding history shows III./JG53 was escorting JG2 Fw190D-9s in the area and did combat with P-38s in the 1626-1725 timeframe. It also shows Lt. Karl Broo, 8./JG53 making two P-38 claims for that day, but no location given.

Lt. Richard V. Riggs, 429FS/474FG, was flying P-38J-15-LO, serial no. 42-104418, that day and was last seen chasing an Fw190 east of the Rhine, up a valley into Germany. His crash site and remains were located by German civilians just north of Eichen, Germany (about 22 km ENE of the Remagen area). Witnesses reported he was shot down from "enemy air opposition".

Luftwaffe claims details for 13 Mar 45 are very limited. It does appear that Riggs was shot down by an enemy aircraft and not flak. Can anyone out there shed any more light on who the victor may have been?

Thanks in advance, Gary Koch (474FG Association Historian)

[Nick Beale]

From intercepted German signals (daily sitrep) I can confirm that JG 2 claimed a P-38 but I can't narrow it down further, I'm afraid.