26 November 1944: Misfortune of the Liberators
The next US major operation against German oil targets, on 25 November, was almost unopposed. However, when the 8th performed 1741 effective sorties (1073 heavy bomber and 668 fighter) against oil and communication targets on the 26th, the battered I. Jagdkorps again sent its pilots into almost cloudless skies.
The first German fighters to scramble were those of II. Jagdkorps - JG 3, JG 26, JG 27 and IV./JG 54. They were instructed to form one concentrated Gefechtsverband, but this plan was thwarted through the intervention of US fighters. I./JG 26, with five Fw 190s, joined III./JG 26 over the airfield at Fürstenau. But shortly afterward they were attacked by 364th FG's Mustangs, which split up JG 26's formation and prevented it from fulfilling its mission.
JG 27, scrambled at 1010 hours, formed up with IV./JG 54 and engaged 1st BD's B-17s on their return flight from the Misburg petroleum facilities. A violent clash broke out as both Mustangs and Thunderbolts attacked JG 27's Bf 109s and IV./JG 54's Fw 190s from all directions. III./JG 27 failed to reach the bombers and lost eleven of their own number. IV./JG 27 and IV./JG 54 managed to break through to the bombers, claiming three B-17s shot down, but then these two Gruppen also became embroiled in clashes with Thunderbolts and Mustangs, resulting in 13 Germans and five American fighters going down. Total losses for JG 27 and IV./JG 54 were a frightening 38 fighters.
The Fw 190s of I./JG 1 and JG 301 were lucky to catch 2nd Bombardment Division's Liberators just above their target at Misburg. The Fw 190s went through the B-24s in repeated waves, knocking down 20 heavies - 15 from the 491st Group and five from 445th BG.
However, the 600 US fighters which were in the vicinity were not late to come to the aid of their "big friends".
"Again the inexperience of some Luftwaffe pilots was evident," wrote Roger A. Freeman.
JG 301 paid a terrible price for its initial success against the Liberators. When the battle finally was over, no less than 51 of JG 301's pilots had been shot down. Although many of these were destroyed by US bomber gunners (2nd BD claimed to have shot down 12 German fighters), the superiority of the Mustangs was unquestionable. The 356th FG claimed twenty-one, and 361st FG twenty-three victories - without any loss to either group. Lt Jack Daniel of 339 FG reportedly shot down five Fw 190s in what was his very first combat.
III./JG 6 sacrificed another 11 fighters, bringing the day's total to a stunning 119 losses for the Luftwaffe day fighters in Germany.
US 8th Air Force recorded 130 victory claims for 26 November 1944 (114 by the fighters and 16 by the bombers) against 53 own losses (42 heavy bombers and 11 fighters).
Go to next page: 27 November 1944: Not even a single bomber is shot down