Date: 8th April 1944
Unit: 4 Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 53
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
Werke/Nr. 410312
Coded: ?
Location: In woodland, Gluesingen, Germany
Pilot: Unteroffizier Hans Albers Killed
REASON FOR LOSS
This aircraft was shot down by U.S fighters.
In the wood near Gluesingen at 15.07.06
Uffz. Hans Albers, born 22.11.1922 in Ochtrup Westfahlen killed in action 08.04.1944
8th April 1944:
A clear improvement in the weather made possible the next daylight incursion by units of the 8th Air Force; a total of 664 four-engined bombers were dispatched to once again attack airfields in the northwest of Germany as well as aircraft factories near Braunschweig. The list of targets included the air bases at Oldenburg, Quakenbruck, Achmer, Rheine and Twente. The heavy bombers were escorted by 780 fighters, including 206 Mustangs. The Luftwaffe mobilised 20 day fighter Gruppen to meet the incursion, while the Zerstrer & Nachtjger units were kept on the ground. A total of 417 fighters saw action. Once radar had detected the force of bombers & fighters heading for northwestern Germany, the Jagdgruppen based in 7 Jagddivision's aera were ordered into the Frankfurt/Main area to reinforce 3 Jagddivion. 24 Messerschmitts of II/JG53 scrambled from Eschborn at 12.49 p.m. After take off the Gruppe once again linked up with II/JG27, whose 23 aircraft had been joined by another eight from I/JG5 on this day.
Once assembled, the battle unit was vectored toward the Harz Mountains, where it was supposed to join two Gruppen of JG1 to form an even larger battle unit. The two elements missed each other, however and consequently the units of 3 Jagddivision were vectored alone into the Braunschweig Wolfsburg area.
There, at 1.45 p.m, they engaged several eastbound formations of heavy bombers and their escort of P-51s. The Gruppe succeeded in breaking through to the bombers, all the while under heavy pressure from the P-51s and following its return reported two Liberators shot down.
Unfortunately the Gruppe suffered heavy losses in tough dogfights with superior American fighter escort; when it was all over 4 Messerschmitts were missing and three pilots had been killed. Lt. Liebig, temporarily leading the 6th Staffel in place of the wounded Lt. Hammer, was shot down and killed in combat with American escort fighters not far from Husseringen near Uelzen, while Lt. Steinmuller, also of 6/JG53, crashed to his death near Unterluss near Weyhausen after combat with enemy fighters. Friedrich Steinmuller had come to II Gruppe with 11/JG2 at the end of 1942 and since then had raised his victory total to about 15.
4 Staffel reported the loss off Uffz. Hans Albers, who was shot down near Glusingen and died in the crash of his machine.
The pilot of the fourth Me 109 shot down in combat was more fortunate, as he escaped injury and was able to parachute to safety......
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Wnr.410312 Uffz. Hans Albers shot down in combat with American fighters at Gluesingen. 100% destroyed.
Auskunft der Wehrmachts Auskunft Stelle Berlin (WASt)
Truppenteile:
24.08.1941 3. Kompanie Flieger-Ausbildungs Regiment 32
- Erkennungsmarkenausgabe -
15.07.1943 Flugzeugf¸hrerschule A/B 115 Wels
30.10.1943 3. Staffel Jagdgruppe S¸d
08.04.1944 4. Staffel Jagdgeschwader 53 - gefallen
Todesort Glusingen bei Wittingen/Niedersachsen
Source: Ruediger Kaufmann, Museumsverein fuer Technik- und Luftfahrtgeschichte e.V
Unteroffizier Hans Albers (via Kaufmann)
