From No. 130 Squadron's Operations Record Book (Spitfire XIV)
B.118 (Celle) April 1945
F/Lt Samouelle led 6 aircraft on an intended armed recce of Pritzwalk/Neustadt, taking off at 06.25. 25 minutes later a FW 190 crossed just above the section and the enemy was chased to Neustadt aerodrome where other FW.190s were orbitting. The Spitfires sailed in and destroyed 3 (F/Lt. Samouelle, F/Lt Bruce and F/Sgt Woodman) and damaged 2 (F/Lt Samouelle and F/Lt Corbett). On the way back to base, 4 MET were damaged. A good start to the day's flying. Meanwhile, S/L Wooley, leading six aircraft on a recce to Wismar, sighted a Me.108 at 0 feet near Wismar. S/L Wooley destroyed this. W/O Coverdale destroyed a lone FW.190 near Huginow at 07/45 hours. 4 locos, 4 rail trucks and 2 MET damaged filled out a very useful score. A score of 5-0-2 enemy aircraft before breakfast was particularly brilliant. Since the Hun seemed to be unusually active, a 12 aircraft sweep of Pritzwalk was carried out between 10.00 and 11.25, but this was unproductive. 3 Spitfires made an armed recce of Wismar and Lubeck. 2 MET being destroyed and 11 damaged. At the same time (13.30), 6 more aircraft wrought havoc among a convoy of 30 MET, destroying 9 and damaging 8. Four more aircraft took off at 16.25 to the same area, and returned with a score of 11 MET and 1 loco damaged. On the last show of the day (18:55 to 20/25), S/L Wooley led 8 aircraft on a sweep of Kyritz/Malchew. Near Nevendorf, a single Me.109 was sighted and destroyed by F/Lt Stowe and F/Lt Bruce (shared). Later, several FW.190's were seen trying to land at Rechlin aerodrome, and these were attacked with good effect, two being destroyed (F/Lt Stowe and F/Lt Sibeth) and two damaged (F/Lt Sibeth and F/O Martens). There was no loss on our side.
As to the destroyed claims at Rechlin mentioned above:
F/Lt W. N. Stowe of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
I was leading Blue Section at 1935 hrs we were 6000' West of RECHLIN Airfield when I saw 2 E/A crossing over the 'drome heading N.E. The Section started to attack these when I observed three or four F.W. 190's with wheels down about to land. I went for these and closed in on the last one firing from dead astern. I just had time to observe strikes and a big flash from the tail of the E/A.I was closing so fast I had to pull away. I did not see the E/A crash but Sgt Lewis who was orbiting the airfield saw the E/A which I had fired at, go in, crash, and catch fire.
Sgt Lewis says: I saw the E/A fired at by F/Lt Stowe go into the 'drome and catch fire.
F/Lt Sibeth of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
I was flying Blue 3 and at 1920 Blue I reported E/A going across the aerodrome at RECHLIN on mthe South shore of MURITZ Sea. Blue I went down with the Section. I picked out M.E.109 and followed round in its land hand circuit. I saw it firing at Blue I so I dived on it and attacked from 250 yards in a curne of pursuit, angle off 30 degrees. I hit his left wing, half way along it. I did a very steep turn inside me and I lost sight of him. I claim the E/A damaged.
I went on round the circuit after another A/C which was a F.W.190. It had its wheels down and was at 200' going in to land. When he saw me he made off towards the village of MIROW and I chased him at varying ranges as the E/A was weaving and opening and cutting his throttle. The angle of attack was about 10 degrees. I saw strikes all round the fuselage. I used up all my ammunition so I left him and pulled up over the top of him. I did not see him go in but Red Section who were about saw it go in and was burning on the ground. I claim the first E/A damaged and the second Destroyed. S/Ldr Wooley confirms the second one. He says I saw an A/C burning on the ground near the village of MIROW. This was at the time of F/Lt Sibeth's attack.
More claims from No. 130 Squadron for 24 April 1945 as follows:
F/Lt C. J. Samouelle of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
I was leading Yellow section of 130 Squadron and we were at 7,000 ft when Yellow 3 (F/Sgt Woodman) reported an A/C at 9 o'clock to us. We were flying East at the time. I immediately gave chase and we steadily overhauled the E/A which was diving towards the aerodrome at NEUSTADT. Just as we approached the A/D F/Sgt Woodman got within range and gave the E/A a short burst. It rolled over to starboard and crashed into a field. I also saw F/L Bruce (Yellow 5) attack a FW 190 on my starboard side. There was a great red flash from the E/A and the pilot baled out. This A/C crashed into a field S.E. of the aerodrome.
By this time there were two or three FW 190's round the circuit I saw one with wheels down at about 1,000 ft going round the circuit. I closed in to about 300 yds and just as the E/A got its wheels up I opened fire from dead astern. I got strikes all over the rear of the fuselage and the E/A crashed immediately into a village N.W. of the aerodrome.
I broke to port and saw another 190 south of the aerodrome at about 200 ft coming in to land. I pulled round and attacked from the starboard quarter. I saw strikes on the starboard wing.The E/A continued to fly on a straight course with wheels and flaps down. I continued to hit him and the E/A went in to land with white smoke pouring out of the starboard wing, at the end of his run he went slowly up on his nose.
I claim the first E/A destroyed and the second damaged.
F/L Corbett states: I saw the A/C shot down by F/L Samouelle.I saw it crash into a house in the village and about 10 mins. later there was a big explosion from the same spot. I also saw F/L Samouelle firing at the second one.
F/Sgt B. W. Woodman of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
I was Yellow 3 and was with my section on an armed recce. We were flying at 6,000 ft in an easterly direction and when near PRITZWALK I sighted a FW 190, 500 ft above going N.W. towards NEUSTADT. I called up my leader but as he did not receive me I broke over the top of him to attract his attention. As I finished my break I saw the E/A about a mile ahead diving. I closed to within 100 yds of him and then pulled out to one side to make certain of the E/A's identity. I saw the German markings. The German pilot then saw me for the first time and started a slow break to port. I pulled in behind him and opened fire. As a result of my first burst I saw strikes on the wing roots and fuselage. I missed with my second burst, but with my third burst I clobbered him all over the cockpit and the fuselage. The coop top came off and the E/A rolled to port. As I broke away from him I saw a parachute open about 50 ft from the ground. The E/A crashed into a wood in the S.W. corner of the airfield and it caught fire.
I claim this E/A destroyed.
F/Lt Samouelle confirms this claim, he states:- Just as I got to the aerodrome I saw F/Sgt Woodman get within range of E/A and after he had fired the E/A crashed into the S.W. corner of the aerodrome.
F/Lt Bruce of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
My section was on an armed recce in the PLITZ WALK area and we were at 7,000 ft going East when Yellow 3 (F/Sgt Woodman) reported a F.W. 190 at 7,500 ft going N.E.As we approached the aerodrome I saw another F.W. 190 at a 1,000 ft with its wheels down about to make its approach and land. I pulled up to the right to lose speed and then came down behind the e/a opening fire at 300 yds, at 30 degrees off. I saw strikes on the fuselage near the cockpit. The e/a had retracted his undercarriage and turned to port. I closed to 50 yds and saw him jettison his hood. He turned tightly across me. I fired again as he crossed me and I saw more strikes on the starboard wing. The e/a slowly rolled on its back and went down vertically to about 500 ft at which height the pilot bailed out. The A/C went down and crashed about 2 miles from the A/D.
I claim this E/A destroyed.
F/LT Samouelle confirms the claim. He says: I saw the e/a claimed by F/LT Bruce crash into a field on the edge of a wood on the South East side of the Aerodrome. There was a big red flash as F/LT Bruce attacked and the pilot bailed out.
W/O R. E. Coverdale of 130 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 24 April, 1945:
I was flying Red 6 and we were on an armed recce in the LUBECK - WISMAR area. At about 17.35 we were at 6,000 ft when I saw a F.W. 190 at 1,000 ft going West near HAGENOW. It was first attacked by Red 3 (F/O Trevarrow) and Red 5 W/O Miller without result. The e/a had gone down to about 50 ft when Red 5 broke away and the e/a broke right. I fired at once from about 150 yds full deflection and I saw strikes on the wing roots and cockpit. The e/a turned and went down in a gradual dive. I fired at him again as he went down and I saw him crash into a field. I claim this e/a destroyed.
W/O Miller confirms the claim: He says: I saw W/O Coverdale firing full deflection. I saw the e/a crash into a field and turn over on it side.
Anyone have a listing of German losses for 24 April 1945 in the area of operations discussed above? I see Bernt and Spangenberg mentioned above. Also :
From a link in the initial posting:
Uffz. KLEEMANN, Willi, 24.04.1945 Berlin Tempelhof, 1./JG 11, Luftkampf
Uffz. KRENTZ, Karl, 24.04.1945 Berlin 1./JG 11, Luftkampf
Uffz. LÜTZOW, Fritz, 24.04.1945 Raum Gatow, 1./JG 11, Luftkampf
Fw. POLLACK, 24.04.1945 Oranienburg, 1./JG 11, Luftkampf
Lt. SCHLEGEL, Eberhard, 24.04.1945 Lärz, 1./JG 11, unbekannte Ursache
Ofhr. STADLER, 24.04.1945 Strausberg, 1./JG 11, Luftkampf vermisst
Edit:
Prein & Rodeike also list these JG 11 losses from 24 April 45:
Fw. Linder, verw. Motorbrand, über Parchim
Lt. Eberhard Schlegel, +, Ursache unbekannt, Lärz, 100%
Uffz, Fritz Lützow, +, Überführungsflug, Luftkampf, Raum Gatow, 100%
Olt. Dietmar Spangenberg, -, Luftkampf Spitfire, Raum Lärz, 100%
Fw. Paul Berndt, -, bei Landung von Spitfires beschossen Bruchlandung, Lärz