drgondog
Major
My father had what he described as his toughest encounter on August SW of Hamburg. My research pointred to JG 3, possibly JG 300. Excerpt from Our Might Always:
"August 6, 1944"
F.0.487. Captain Marshall led the 355th on a Ramrod to Berlin to escort B-17s attacking Berlin area aircraft and tank engine factories. The first 10 boxes of 2nd TF B-17s were headed for Berlin diesel and aircraft engine works. The last two boxes would go to Gdynia with the 357th FG and continue southeastward to Ukraine on another Shuttle mission.
The leading boxes of bombers were picked up over Cuxhaven at 1155 and escorted to the target and back along the withdrawal route.
Between Hamburg and Bremen at 1330, Lenfest's Green flight of the 354FS was bounced from six o'clock high by six to eight Me109s from I./JG3. Green flight engaged in a turning fight at 15,000 feet.
Flight Officer Folger initially evaded the bounce with a climbing right turn and called in OK shortly thereafter, but was never seen again. Uffr. Karcher from I./JG3 probably shot down Folger in that fight.
Marshall led Red flight down on the 109s that had cornered Green flight and picked up two on Lenfest's tail. Marshall picked up the leader, scored hits on the wing root, and the two 109s separated to free up Lenfest. Marshal shot his victim down about 20 miles south of Hamburg after a hard chase on the deck, to become the Group's eleventh ace.
In what was apparently a desperation maneuver the German pilot split-S from 2000 feet in an attempt to evade, but crashed before he could pull out as Marshall dropped his flaps and followed him.
Captain Lenfest shot down the second pursuer to become the Group's twelfth ace and Lieutenant Martin shot down another Me 109 to raise his combined air and ground score to seven.
In a separate encounter Captain Bill Preddy of the 352nd FG destroyed six to tie the current ETO record for most air to air victories on one mission.
Final score 3-0-0 for loss of one (air)"
As a follow on, Dad's wingman (Chuck Hauver) for that mission lost him in the middle of what he described the most violent maneuvering he ever ever encountered in 30 years as a fighter pilot.
"August 6, 1944"
F.0.487. Captain Marshall led the 355th on a Ramrod to Berlin to escort B-17s attacking Berlin area aircraft and tank engine factories. The first 10 boxes of 2nd TF B-17s were headed for Berlin diesel and aircraft engine works. The last two boxes would go to Gdynia with the 357th FG and continue southeastward to Ukraine on another Shuttle mission.
The leading boxes of bombers were picked up over Cuxhaven at 1155 and escorted to the target and back along the withdrawal route.
Between Hamburg and Bremen at 1330, Lenfest's Green flight of the 354FS was bounced from six o'clock high by six to eight Me109s from I./JG3. Green flight engaged in a turning fight at 15,000 feet.
Flight Officer Folger initially evaded the bounce with a climbing right turn and called in OK shortly thereafter, but was never seen again. Uffr. Karcher from I./JG3 probably shot down Folger in that fight.
Marshall led Red flight down on the 109s that had cornered Green flight and picked up two on Lenfest's tail. Marshall picked up the leader, scored hits on the wing root, and the two 109s separated to free up Lenfest. Marshal shot his victim down about 20 miles south of Hamburg after a hard chase on the deck, to become the Group's eleventh ace.
In what was apparently a desperation maneuver the German pilot split-S from 2000 feet in an attempt to evade, but crashed before he could pull out as Marshall dropped his flaps and followed him.
Captain Lenfest shot down the second pursuer to become the Group's twelfth ace and Lieutenant Martin shot down another Me 109 to raise his combined air and ground score to seven.
In a separate encounter Captain Bill Preddy of the 352nd FG destroyed six to tie the current ETO record for most air to air victories on one mission.
Final score 3-0-0 for loss of one (air)"
As a follow on, Dad's wingman (Chuck Hauver) for that mission lost him in the middle of what he described the most violent maneuvering he ever ever encountered in 30 years as a fighter pilot.
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