KITS 09/2020

Bf 109E-1, WNr. 3771, Fw. Ernst Arnold, 3./JG 27, Peuplingues, France, August 1940

DER ADLERTAG

Fw. Arnold was shot down on August 30th late afternoon during freelance mission over England. I./JG 27 formation was surprised by RAF

fighters. Arnold´s „Emil“ was hit in radiator, possibly by F/O B.J.G. Carbury of No. 603 Squadron. He performed landing at Westwood Court,

near Faversham, Kent. Aircraft was placed on display in Exeter for fundraising. German fighters did not claim any victory in this combat, but

two of his colleagues were shot down as well. One was captured and the second one ditched in the Channel without injury to be rescued

later on. Camouflage consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65. Africa emblem of I./JG 27 was introduced in late spring 1940 as reminder of German

African colonies lost after Great War. The scissors (in German language: Schere) and „r“ are play on the name of former Schwarmführer

within the 3. Staffel popular Lt. Ulrich Scherer. He is missing after combat with Hurricanes of No. 615 Sq. on July 20th near Cherbourg. Unit

lost Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Helmut Riegel in same combat. Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 27 was future Knight Cross winner Oblt. Gerhard

Homuth who later successfully led I./JG 27 in Africa. Homuth scored 15 victories during 1940 and his final score was 63 in 450 missions. After

recovery from disease in early 1943 he became Luftwaffe delegation based at Sofia in Bulgaria as an instructor training Bulgarian fighter

pilots. In late July he was appointed commander of I./JG 54 on Eastern front. On August 2nd, 1943, Homuth was engaged in a 20 minutes

dogfight with Russian fighters and remains missing.

Bf 109E-1, WNr. 3417, Gefr. Erich Mummert, 4./JG 52, Peuplingues, France, September 1940

DER BLITZ

This Messerschmitt saw very long career, being manufactured by company Arado in late summer or early autumn 1939. Its camouflage consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65 and probably went through several changes. It can not be excluded that it was produced in scheme RLM 70/71 on

upper surfaces. Probably due to error, JG 52 kept this machine in books as E-4. Red cat emblem was introduced as unit badge already in 1939

when the Staffel carried designation 1./JG 71. Erich Mummert was shot down with this „Emil“ on September 30th afternoon during bomber

escort mission. Six JG 52 fighters were attacked by Spitfires and tried to form a defensive circle. Germans were low on fuel and soon had to

abandon the combat. Being pursued by Spitfires the combat got slightly confused for Germans and Mummert was hit in radiator by another

Bf 109! He performed wheels-up landing on the edge of Detling airfield. Another II./JG 52 pilot was also shot down and bailed out, being

captured also near Detling. Commander of 4./JG 52 was legendary Johannes Steinhoff who ended war as Kommodore of Me 262 equipped

Jagdgeschwader 7 and later joined Adolf Galland and his elite Jagdverband 44. He was credited with 178 victories in almost 1,000 missions

being awarded with Knight Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. His career after World War 2 peaked with position of Chairman of the NATO

Military Committee (1971–1974). Steinhoff achieved his fifth victory, a Spitfire near Dorking, on September 30th around noon. Another

Spitfire claim of II./JG 52 on September 30th was submitted by Oblt. Werner Gutowski for his first victory - in late afternoon northwest of

London. After service with JG 1, JG 11 and JG 77 Gutowski became member of Adolf Galland´s staff at General der Jagdflieger office. At the

end of war he also became member of Jagdverband 44.

INFO Eduard - September 2020

eduard

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