For Drgndog - April 4, 1945

[Erich]

Bill

don't think we have talked about this mission date yet have we. . . . ? Seems the 355th fg hit numerous A/F's and found II./JG 301 Dora 9's up and at them, JG 301 lost at least 3. What does the 355th fg history say ? German sources are completely lacking for the moment as they seem to be in defense against the Soviets and the possible incursions of the 9th AF P-47 dive bombing attacks.

E ~ 8)

 

[drgondog]

The 355th (354 - 1 Fw 190D near salzwedel, Al White; 357 - 1 Do 335 damaged, Cooper and 1 Ar234 Destroyed, Riffle near Magdeburg, plus 1 Fw 190D, Cullerton, 2 Fw 190D, Long near Halberstadt) ranged from west of Berlin down toward Leipzig but didn't get anything on the ground.

I would speculate II./JG301 109D's were the ones around Halberstadt area. The one at Salzwedel was JGr 10.

 

[Erich]

actually from I./JG 301 not JGr 10. Salzwedel was their A/F. though equipped with A-9's they also by spring of 45 had Dora -9's onboard Bill. Say do you have the combat reports for all the guys this date ?

JG 301 Doras were on low level ground attack missions and covered huge distances with the Dora pilots very fatigued. I have two confirmed JG 301 losses from this date though they had more..........

am I correct that Doras attacked a portion of the group with the 355th fg losing 2 or more to JG 301 pilots ?

JGr 10 disbanded in March of 45.

 

[Erich]

Unteroffizier Helmut Helis shot down in Luftkampf west of Cochstedt which is almost due east of Halberstedt. In 8./JG 301 probably flying a 6./JG 301 Dora 9 as 8th staffel never was equipped.

2./JG 301 lost an A-9 most likely a Dora 9 in Luftkampf Unteroffizier Siegfried Schulz KIA near Ifta which is SW of Magdeburg. He also may have been down two days previously in an A-9.

interesting that both these pilots put in claims for a B-24 each on 26 November 1944 on the Misburg operation, of which the OKL refused the claims as credited. Kracker archiv gives them credit but we know this was not so officially.

 

[bobbysocks]

merry christmas, erich! sent you thurman longs report for the day...2 190s.

 

[Erich]

yeppers man, got it, the I. and II. gruppen were all over the place and I am trying to track if they were just after taking on originally 9th AF Jugs or also going a tad east to defend the eastern portion from the Soviets. There is so much 0 info during the early spring even till May of 45 in the LW records

 

[drgondog]

Yes Erich - Al White was leading a flight toward what he thought was Ludwiglust, dropped below low cloud cover to search for the airfield and was bounced from the cloud deck by four Fw 190D's. His number four was hit (Goth) immediately and just drifted over into a roll and went in. They played cat and mouse for a minute or so as the got the 190s in front, then climb back in the could cover - His number three Truell spotted one on the deck headed in opposite direction and split S after him but mushed in recovery and he crashed and blew up. Al white caught one and blew him up.

That was the first time the 355th lost a Mustang in air to air combat since either September 11, 1944 when 358FS Morgan had a mid air collision w/Bauer of III./JG53 or Sept 12 when 354FS Ellison last seen chasing two 190s through a box of B-17s ne of Berlin.

 

[drgondog]

And no - I don't have the encounter reports for 357 on Apr 4. Have White's but still in paper format and stashed in boxes I haven't unpacked yet. will get it to you when I do. Thanks on JGr disbandment. I only found out about Salzwedel (vs Ludwiglust) last year.

 

[Erich]

anything in the other area of the 355th fg commitments for the date and the other Doras when time permits ?

thanks Bill

E ~

 

[drgondog]

U betcha!