Statistics are only part of the story, . .and a fuzzy part at that

[Daniko]

"Foot Note:  As the 354thFS (P-51) had shot down 26-Me-110's in this same area, just two days before, The Luftwaffe would disband III/ZG-76 (Me-110) within weeks. The ME-110 had a poor reputation in the Luftwaffe, but to the Americans it was a formidable foe. It's mission against the Allied Bombers was extreemly dangerous and difficult. Equipped to carry four 21 cm, Werter-Granate rockets, weighing 249-pounds each with a 90-pound warhead, they were very effective at breaking up the closely packed bomber formations. These rockets could be fired from 6-thousand feet, 50%  grouped in 97-ft. circle, with the in a 200-ft. circle. Further more, close examination of Allied fighter losses will surpriseingly show that a disproportionate numbers of fighters that were shot down were lost to Me-110's. This includes the early 2-top aces of the 20thFG, James Morris and Lyndol Graham, and other notable personalities such as Royal Frey and Walker Mahurin. "  

I found a lot of great interviews/personal stories information from guys in the war on this website, . .just wanted to share the link...


http://www.ww2airmen.com:8000/Web%20Pages/introFrame.html

[Wotan]

Great link Daniko

[Daniko]

here a few more excerts from the stuff

"9.) Do you have any sentiments towards foreign-built fighter planes?

Sentiments: The Jap Zero made fools of us with its great operational range and superchargers, as did the German Me-109 with its splendid engine. The stupidity of the US military for not using their own invention, the supercharger, was criminal. Only the P-38 and F4F Wildcat went into production with them. The F4F did well with them against the Zero at Guadalcanal, but had no range. Remember that the Zeros had come 600 miles to get in the fight from Rabaul.

26.  How good was intelligence on enemy tactics and capabilities?


Intelligence: Expected flak was always briefed. Fighter activity was more speculative as that was at the whim of German Fighter Directors. Scouts would provide a view of enroute, target, weather and winds. We were always disappointed in the knowledge of German fighters and flak guns. Seeing a modified fighter like the long nosed FW-190 or a Me-109 at 40K for the first time was spooky. We were told that 88mm AA guns could not cut fuses below 12K and light 40mm couldn’t reach that altitude – wrong. 88’s could cut fuses right out of the mussel and 40mms often hit us at 12-15K.  We would get nothing but looks of disbelief when reporting this, even though our A/C damage was very different. Ground fired rockets and jet A/C, too"

[Guppy]

Thanks for the link - some very nice stories in there.

That editor's footnote after Art Heiden's story seems a bit odd, though - how could Lindol Graham count as "lost to an Me 110" when Heiden's account makes it clear that he accidentally crashed into the ground well after the Zerstorer had been forced to ditch?

[brady]

Cool stuff thanks:)

[Heinkel]

Here's my favoite link for stories:
http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/aces.htm

The one I like the most is here:
http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/yugoslavia.htm

Good link Daniko....some intresting stuff

[Daniko]

Guppy, i read that story over a few times just trying to find reference to Lyndol Graham, . ..but ,...no where do i see that Red leader 1, the guy who crashed and died in his 38 shortly after the me110 engagement is Lyndol Graham??...,  ...please let me know where i'm missing it.. thanks

[Guppy]

Just re-read it and you're right, Daniko; the interview doesn't identify him.

Another reference which I have a copy of, "P-38 Lightning Aces of the ETO/MTO", states that Graham was Heiden's flight leader on that mission. From page 74:

"The 77th FS ran into Bf 110s on 18 March and shot down three of them. These victories were not without cost, however, as P-38 ace Capt. Lindol Graham was killed in action. He and his wingman, Lt Art Heiden, were hard on the tail of an evading Zerstorer when the pilot put his twin-engined fighter down in the snow. Heiden then watched in disbelief as Graham made a pass at the fleeing German crew, misjudged his altitude and clipped the snow-covered ground, before turning over and crashing."

The same book also identifies the fighter which shot Morris down as an Me 410:

"The seven remaining victories scored on 7 July fell to the 20th FG, although they lost a single P-38. That latter happened to be none other than the ranking Lightning ace in northern Europe, Capt. Jim Morris, who was in the process of shooting down an Me 410 when the fuselage-mounted rear guns of the mortally damaged German aircraft hit his P-38 and forced the ace to bale out."

[Daniko]

cc, thanks for the info...