Over the Frozen Alps
Text: Jan Zdiarský
Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz
Cat. No. 84215
For the German Luftwaffe, Sunday, December 19, 1943, marked one of the days that foreshadowed its fate in the coming months—a prelude to the agony dictated by the subsequent dominance of the Allied air forces over Europe. At the same time, however, this day also signalled that winning air superiority would by no means be easy for the Allies.
The U.S. 15th Air Force, activated just a few weeks earlier on November 1, 1943, was beginning to hit its stride and transform into what it was meant to be—a strategic air force. Although its operations in the first few weeks were limited primarily to targets in central and northern Italy, it increasingly penetrated into Austrian territory and later into Germany itself. Since exceptions prove the rule, it should be noted that the Fifteenth bombed targets in Austria for the first time just one day after its combat debut—on November 2, 1943—when, from bases in Tunisia, it attacked the Messerschmitt factories in Wiener Neustadt. More intense pressure, however, came later.
A classic example was the Advent season of 1943. On December 19, the 15th AF dispatched more than 150 of its four-engine bombers to destroy the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg. For some units involved in the defence of the Reich, this was their first opportunity to face four-engine bombers attacking not only from the west (the 8th Air Force) but now also from the south. And that was precisely the sign mentioned above that the German “Fortress Europe”—which, as is well known now, lacked a roof—would gradually begin to resemble a house of cards.
Even for the 15th AF aircraft, this long-range mission was by no means an easy undertaking. One of the problems was insufficient fighter support. Although 123 Lightnings and 43 Thunderbolts provided escort, they were unable to accompany their big brothers all the way to where they were needed most.
The first wave of bombers, consisting of four-engine B-24 Liberators from the 98th and 376th BG, reached the target shortly before noon. The bombs from fifty Liberators fell primarily in the area south of the factory itself. In the target area, the bombers were attacked (according to American reports) by about 60 single- and twin-engine aircraft. Although American reports list Bf 110s and Ju 88s as the attacking twin-engine aircraft, these were primarily Bf 110s from ZG 76. Its pilots claimed six Liberators shot down over this section of the US bombers stream, or as “Herrauschuss.( singling out a Viermot from its combat box, thus designating it for further attacks)”
Fighter pilots from JG 51 and JG 3 also reported shooting down additional Liberators. In reality, five B-24s were lost. The claims made by American gunners were also overstated. In total, they reported 13 enemy aircraft destroyed, 8 probable, and 1 damaged. German losses, however, were significantly lower.
The escorting Lightnings rejoined the bombers on the return flight, in the Chiusa area.
A second wave of bombers, consisting of more than a hundred B-17s, arrived in the target area a little later, by which time Augsburg was already completely shrouded in clouds. The formations therefore turned southwest and bombed a secondary target, the marshalling yard in Innsbruck. They arrived there between 12:10 and 12:15. Shortly after leaving the target, the B-17 formation was also attacked by groups of German fighters. According to American estimates, there were also around 60 of them. Here, too, it was a combination of single- and twin-engine Messerschmitts. This time, the formation was dominated by Bf 109Gs from Jagdgeschwader 3. Its three Gruppen took off from their bases at Volkel, Bad Wörishofen, and Neubiberg.
The most successful unit within JG 3 that day was its III. Gruppe under the command of Hptm. Walter Dahl, who claimed a B-17 at 12:35 at an altitude of 6,000 m above the Zillertal Alps. This was reportedly his 56th victory.
In total, German fighters claimed twenty B-17s shot down, compared to the five actually lost in this battle. One additional B-17 landed at sea during the return flight, and one returned to base with extreme damage.
In this engagement as well, American claims were significantly overstated—B-17 gunners reported 24 fighters shot down, 4 probable, and 4 damaged.
The escorting Lightnings also joined the B-17s only on the return flight. Due to poor timing of the rendezvous, the P-47s from the 325th FG failed to join the formations; their pilots therefore found a number of ground targets in the Senigallia and Ancona areas on the Italian Adriatic coast to keep themselves occupied.
Walter Dahl, who was twenty-seven years old at the time and whose Bf 109G-5 is featured in the current illustration, had been assigned to JG 3 since the beginning of his service with the Luftwaffe. He began his career within its Ergänzungsgruppe in 1941. Later, as a pilot with Stab II./JG 3, he participated in the campaign against the Soviet Union and scored his Gruppe’s first victory there in the early hours of June 22, 1941.
In June 1942, he assumed command of III. Gruppe of JG 3 and, in this capacity, also participated in the battles over the Alps on December 19, 1943. At the end of June 1944, he assumed command of Jagdgeschwader 300, which was assigned to the defense of the Reich. As part of its operations, Obstlt. Dahl participated in refining the Jagdverband formations (large fighter formations) and in conducting assault attacks against formations of four-engine bombers.
At the end of January 1945, Dahl left JG 300 and became Inspector of Day Fighters. However, he did not give up combat flying and on February 28, he achieved his 100th confirmed victory. He ended the war in the ranks of III./Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2 as an Me 262 pilot.