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The following information, derived from deciphered signals plus Allied Technical Intelligence reports, shows just how costly the retreat from France to Belgium and then to Germany was for one Luftwaffe fighter Gruppe; none of these losses was incurred in combat.
I./JG 4’s involvement in the 1944 battle for France came late and was notably brief. Before the Gruppe had moved forward from the Reich, Kommandeur, Maj. Walter Höchner was killed in an accident soon after take-off from Ziegenhain on 25 August. He was succeeded by Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann, Kapitän of the 1. Staffel. The aircraft took off the following morning for Frières, 19 km SSW of Saint-Quentin.
Date
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Unit
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Bf 109
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W.Nr.
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Marking
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Place
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% Damage
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25/8
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Stab
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G-14
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460397
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red 2
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Ziegenhain, Germany
|
85
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Navigation error during transfer, Major [Walter] Höchner dead.
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27/8
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4.
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G-14
|
781172
|
blue 15
|
La Fère, France (21 km SSE Saint Quentin)
|
100
|
|
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Crashed and burst into flames during transfer, not observed by enemy, Uffz. Gustke dead.
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2.
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G-14
|
780310
|
black 14
|
Beauvechain, Belgium (15 km SSE Leuven)
|
100
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|
|
Made an interim landing en route, burnt out in low-level air attack, observed by enemy, no casualties.
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After just one night in France, the Gruppe was pulled out since American troops were threatening to outflank them to the south (Soissons and Reims were both liberated on the 30th). Two Messerschmitts came to grief landing at Brussels-Melsbroek:
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28/8
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4.
|
G-14
|
781163
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blue 7
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—
|
100
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|
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Burnt out in low-level air attack on Beauvechain, observed by enemy, no casualties.
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|
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29/8
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4.
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G-14
|
780303
|
blue 1_
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Frières-Faillouël, France
|
100
|
|
|
Landed during transfer, ran into bomb crater and blew up, no casualties, not observed by enemy. [Second digit of marking missed by Allies]
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|
|
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2.
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G-14
|
460374
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black 2
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Melsbroek, Belgium
|
80
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|
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Landed during transfer, taxied into bomb crater, not observed by enemy, no casualties. [Later examined by Allies: black 2 outlined in red, black/white spiral on spinner]
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5/9
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Stab
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G-14
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460389
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red 3
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Beauvechain, Belgium
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28–30
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|
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Heavily shot-up in low-level air attack, observed by enemy, apparently blown up, no casualties, turned over to Aerodrome Command Speyerdorf. Replacement required.
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1.
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G-14
|
460380
|
white 3
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Lachen-Speyerdorf, Germany
|
20
|
|
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Broke up on landing, damage to fuselage. Replacement required.
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3.
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G-14
|
460510
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yellow 2
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Beauvechain, Belgium
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15–20
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Shot up no casualties, observed by enemy. Replacement required. [Later examined by Allies, only Bf 109 mentioned at this airfield: Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 450510 (sic), DB 605 A-1, W.Nr. 00705052. Maker: nsq]
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3.
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G-14
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413696
|
yellow 14
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Krefeld, Germany
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15–20
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Crashed during transfer, damage to fuselage, no casualties, not observed by enemy. Replacement required.
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4.
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G-14
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460382
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blue 1
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Antwerp-Deurne
|
15
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|
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First reported as "apparently blown up by Aerodrome Command on account of damage to undercarriage and wings." On 18/9 confirmed as 15% damaged, not observed by the enemy, no personnel losses, turned over to Aerodrome Command, Antwerp-Deurne. [Found by the Allies: DB 605 A-1 No. 00205227. MW 50. “Badly looted.”]
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4.
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G-14
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781159
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blue 4
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Antwerp-Deurne
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20
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First reported as "apparently blown up by Aerodrome Command on account of direct hit by Flak." On 18/9, confirmed as 20% damaged, not observed by the enemy, no personnel losses, turned over to Aerodrome Command, Antwerp-Deurne. [Found by the Allies: DB 605 A-1 No. 007/08612. MW 50. Maker: hsq. “Had been under repair but badly looted.”]
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3.
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G-14
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780304
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yellow 15
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Lachen-Speyerdorf, Germany
|
80
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Crashed on take-off, due to technical faults, no casualties, not observed by enemy.
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6/9
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4.
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G-14
|
20477
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—
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Lachen-Speyerdorf, Germany
|
25
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Shot to pieces in low-level air attack, observed by enemy, replacement required, no personnel losses. [Werk Nummer as given in two messages]
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9/9
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2.
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G-14
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413689
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—
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—
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30
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Shot up and set on fire by low-flying aircraft, observed by enemy, no casualties.
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There were successes to report however:
12/9
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1.
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Gefr. Hauten: one Thunderbolt effectively shot up near Pont-à-Mousson at 12.40.
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[details missing]: one Thunderbolt effectively shot up at 12.43.
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1.
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Fhj.Uffz. Wittbold: one Thunderbolt shot down near Pont-à-Mousson at 12.45 (1st victory).
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