Unternehmen Bodenplatte

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Operation Bodenplatte
Part of Battle of the Bulge, World War II

Overview of the operation.
Date 1 January 1945
Location Belgium, Holland and France
Result Pyrrhic German tactical success, German strategic failure.
Belligerents
Flag of the United States United States
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Flag of Canada Canada
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Flag of Poland Poland[1][2]		 Flag of Nazi Germany Germany
Commanders
Flag of Nazi Germany Germany Generalleutnant Joseph Schmid(Luftwaffenkommando West)
Major General Dietrich Peltz (General Kommando II. Jagdkorps)
Strength
Flag of the United States Eighth Air Force
Flag of the United States Ninth Air Force
Flag of the United Kingdom 2nd Tactical Air Force		 About 1,035 aircraft, including 929 fighters and fighter bombers[3].
Casualties and losses
305 aircraft destroyed, 190 damaged;figures from Allied loss records[4] A further 25 Allied Aircraft were shot down [5] Aircraft: 271 Bf 109s and Fw 190s destroyed and 65 damaged, 9 Ju 88s destroyed and 4 damaged
143 pilots killed, 70 as Prisoners of war, and 21 wounded[6][7][6]
v • d • e
Western Front (World War II)

Unternehmen Bodenplatte (German: "Operation Baseplate" or "Operation Ground Plate"), launched on January 1, 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries of Europe. It was a last ditch effort to keep up the momentum of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge (Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein). The operation was a pyrrhic success for the Luftwaffe as the losses suffered by the German air arm were irreplaceable. The losses of the Allied Air Forces were replaced within weeks. The operation failed to achieve Air superiority, even temporarily, and the German Army continued to be exposed to air attack. This operation has mistakenly been referred to as Operation Hermann (see below).

Contents

[edit] Bodenplatte

[edit] The plan

On 14 December GeneralLeutnant Dietrich Peltz of the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe High Command) initiated plans for a major blow against the Allied air power in northwest Europe. This plan was worked out with the help of all of the Luftwaffe's Jagd-Geschwaderkommodore. It was originally scheduled to support the Battle of the Ardennes, the German Army's offensive, which began December 16, 1944. However, the same bad weather that prevented the Royal Air Force, United States Army Air Force, and other Allied air forces from supporting the ground troops, also prevented the Luftwaffe from carrying out the attack. It was, therefore, not launched until 1 January 1945 in an attempt to help regain the momentum of the struggling ground troops, supporting the second phase of the offensive, Operation North Wind (Unternehmen Nordwind).

The plan of Operation Baseplate called for a surprise attack against 17 Allied air bases in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The object was to destroy or cripple as many Allied planes, hangars and airstrips as possible. Every fighter and fighter-bomber unit currently occupied with air defence along the Western Front was deployed, and additional units of Junkers Ju 88 and Junkers Ju 188 night-fighters and bombers acted as pathfinders. The strike planes themselves were mostly single-engined Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. It was hoped that the speed with which the attack could be carried out would offset the relatively small bomb loads such aircraft could carry. It was also hoped that by flying low and fast to the targets maximum surprise would be achieved. The attack was timed to be carried out at 0920 hours.

In a major oversight, the planners had set flight paths which took many units over some of the most heavily defended areas on the Continent; namely the V2 launch sites around The Hague. These sites were studded by large numbers of Flak units, none of which had been warned about the operation. As a result many of the German fighter units lost aircraft to "friendly fire" before the attacks could be initiated.[8]

Another problem was the fact that many of the Luftwaffe pilots were very poor marksmen and lacked flight skills. By late 1944 there were no safe areas in which pilots could be trained without the possibility of air attack. Aviation fuel supplies were at a premium and there was a lack of experienced instructors. Many of the training units (eg JG 104) were forced to fly front-line operations in order to bolster the front-line Jagdgeschwader. Allied personnel who witnessed the attacks frequently remarked on the poor aim of the strafing aircraft, and many of the Luftwaffe aircraft shot down by Allied anti-aircraft fire were caught because they were flying too slow and too high. Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson:

"The shooting was atrocious, and the circuit at Evere reminded us of more of a bunch of beginners on their first solos than pilots of front-line squadrons."[9]

[edit] The units deployed and their targets

In all, 1,035 aircraft were deployed[10] from several Jagdgeschwadern (JG - fighter units) Kampfgeschwadern (KG - bomber units) and Schlachtgeschwadern (SG - ground attack units);[11] of these approximately 900 aircraft were fighters and fighter-bombers. Facing the German aircraft were the (predominantly British) Second Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) and the American strategic Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. Most of the airfields used by the Allied air forces had been previously built and used by the Luftwaffe, as a consequence of which the layout of them was well known.

The targets for the various units were:

Target Luftwaffe unit (wing) Allied forces Effect
Antwerp-Deurne (B.70)[12](Belgium) JG 77 Mostly Typhoon squadrons, 2nd TAF Light damage
Asch (Belgium) JG 11 four Spitfire squadrons, 2nd TAF; US 352nd Fighter Group (P-51s; US 366th Fighter Group (P-47s) minimal damage
Brussels-Evere (B.56) JG 26 and JG 54 A large number of US and 2nd TAF fighters and bombers heavy damage
Brussels-Grimbergen (B.60) JG 26 and JG 54 Only six aircraft were present Medium damage
Brussels-Melsbroek (B.58) JG 27, JG 54 and JG 4 Three reconnaissance squadrons, 2nd TAF; three bomber squadrons, US Eighth Air Force Heavy damage
Eindhoven (B.78) (Netherlands) JG 3 eight Typhoon squadrons and three Spitfire squadrons, 2nd TAF Heavy damage
Ghent/Sint-Denijs-Westrem (Belgium) JG 1 three Polish Spitfire squadrons (No. 302, 308 and 317), 2nd TAF Heavy damage, intense dogfights
Gilze-Rijen (B.77) (Netherlands) JG 3 and KG 51 Two Boston squadrons (N°. 88 and 342), one Mitchell squadron (N°. 226), 137 wing 2nd TAF Medium damage
Heesch (B.88) (Netherlands) JG 6 five Spitfire squadrons, 2nd TAF No effect
Le Culot (Belgium) JG 4 Thunderbolt squadrons, Ninth Air Force Airfield not found, no damage
Maldegem (B.65) (Belgium) JG 1 485(NZ) Sqn., Spitfire IXe, 2nd TAF Heavy damage
Metz-Frescaty (France) JG 53 About 40 Thunderbolts, 365th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force Medium damage
Ophoven (Belgium) JG 4 Thunderbolt squadron, Ninth Air Force Light damage
Sint-Truiden (Belgium) JG 2, JG 4 and SG 4 Thunderbolt squadrons, Ninth Air Force Medium damage
Volkel (B.80) (Netherlands) JG 6 56 Sqn., 486(NZ) Sqn, Tempest, 2nd TAF. 486(NZ) Sqn in the air. Light damage
Woensdrecht (Netherlands) JG 77 Five Spitfire squadrons, 2nd TAF, all in the air No effect
Ursel (B.67) (Belgium) JG 1 Spitfire squadrons, 2nd TAF Medium damage

[edit] Aftermath

Allied airfield after the attack.
Allied airfield after the attack.

A total of 495 Allied aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Most of the targeted airfields remained out of action for up to two weeks following the attack. Due to Allied fighter counter-attacks, and surprisingly numerous Allied anti-aircraft guns — intended to prevent V-1 attacks — the Luftwaffe lost 280 aircraft, 271 of which were fighters or fighter-bombers, with a further 69 aircraft damaged. Allied fighters claimed 62 destroyed, Allied anti-aircraft guns claimed 88, and 84 were lost to friendly fire. (Due to the secrecy required for the mission, German flak commanders had not been briefed on the mission and the crews opened fire on their own planes, both on the way to and from the targets.)

While "a bold stroke",[13] achieving tactical surprise, it was undone by poor execution and low pilot skill.[9] The Luftwaffe lost 143 pilots killed and missing, while 70 were captured and 21 pilots wounded, including three Geschwaderkommodore, five Gruppekommandeure, and 14 Staffelkapitäne.[14] - the largest single-day loss for the Luftwaffe[6] Thus, Bodenplatte was a very short-term success but a long-term failure, for while Allied losses were soon made up (within weeks), lost Luftwaffe aircraft and pilots were irreplaceable, leaving the Luftwaffe "weaker than ever and incapable of mounting any major attack again".[15] Bodenplatte was the final major Luftwaffe offensive in World War II.

A Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 of 10./JG54 (Leutnant Theo Nibel), downed by a partridge which flew into the radiator near Brussels on January 1st 1945.
A Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 of 10./JG54 (Leutnant Theo Nibel), downed by a partridge which flew into the radiator near Brussels on January 1st 1945.

[16]

[edit] Y-29

One notable failed attack was on the airstrip at Asch. The leader of the 487th squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, Lt. Colonel John Meyer, anticipated German activity and had a flight of twelve P-51s about to take off on a combat patrol when the attack began. They took off under fire, and with the help of eight P-47s of the 366th (already in the air), the 487th shot down 23 German fighters out of 61 attackers. Several pilots made 'Ace' status that day; two had four confirmed kills apiece. No P-51s were lost, two were damaged, and one P-51 was damaged on the ground. The 336th Fighter Group lost 3 P-47s shot down[17], two of the pilots were uninjured, the third, 2./Lt Brunetti, was killed by a Bf 109[5]

The unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, the only one awarded to a fighter group in Northern Europe.[18] The 366th was credited with eight kills, and anti-aircraft guns with seven more, though some double-counting is likely. Luftwaffe records indicate JG 11 lost 28 fighters. Four German pilots (two were wounded) made it back to German-held territory, while four were captured, the remaining twenty were killed[19]

Of the German pilots killed that day was Günther Specht, a 34 victory ace. Pilot Officer Dave Johnson had claimed he destroyed a Bf 109 over Y-29 and that the Messerschmitt had "belly landed" not far from the field. After being shot down himself, Johnson then drove over to the wreck. The Bf 109 was still intact, but the pilot was dead. Johnson claimed that the dead pilot's Identification Card named him as a Lieutenant Colonel (Oberst) Specht. The claim has been disproven by German records that indicate Specht flew Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wknr. 205033, and that he was ranked as a Major. Johnson's actual victim that day was Oberleutnant August Engel[20].

According to JG 11 records the following were lost[19]:

Name Rank Unit Aircraft Type Wnr Number Fate Cause
Günther Specht Major Stab./JG 11 Fw 190A-9 205033 Black 4 MIA unknown
Sophus Schmidt Unteroffizer Stab./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 737946 unknown MIA unknown
Alwin Doppler Leutnant 2./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 680728 Black 8 KIA shot down by P-51/P-47
Heinrich Wiethoff Fahnenjunker 3./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 171742 White 10 MIA shot down by P-51/P-47
Günther Hoffmann Unteroffizer Stab II./JG 11 Bf 109K-4 331510 unknown MIA shot down by P-51/P-47
Herbert Huss Unteroffizer 6./JG 11 Bf 109K-4 330474 Black 3 POW shot down by P-51/P-47
Peter Reschke Feldwebel 6./JG 11 Bf 109G-14 785119 Black 5 KIA AAA/shot down by P-51/P-47
Herbert Kraschinski Feldwebel 7./JG 11 Bf 109G-14/AS 785787 Yellow 3 KIA unknown
Harald Schwartz Feldwebel 7./JG 11 Bf 109G-14 785751 Yellow 5 KIA crashed into trees evading AAA
August Engel Oberleutnant 8./JG 11 Bf 109G-14 784958 Blue 14 KIA shot down by P-47 of 366th FG
Franz Meindl Oberfeldwebel 8./JG 11 Bf 109G-14 784765 Blue 11 MIA unknown
Alfred Tempel Feldwebel 8./JG 11 Bf 109G-14 785770 Blue 3 POW unknown
Horst-Gunther von Fassong Hauptmann Stab III./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 682792 Blue 8 MIA shot down by P-47 of 366th FG
Gunther Vowinckel Major Stab III./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 960552 Blue 4 MIA unknown
Hans Fiedler Oberleutnant Stab III./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 739250 Yellow 9 POW AAA Fire
Gerhard Neumann Leutnant Stab III./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 737932 Yellow 2 POW shot down P-51/P-47
Armin Mehling Unteroffizer Stab III./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 unknown unknown Returned-turned over on landing P-47 of 366th FG
Gerhard Bohm Gefreiter 9./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 172663 White 3 MIA P-51 of 352nd FG
Kurt Nussle Unteroffizer 9./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 734007 White 13 KIA shot down P-51/P-47
Walther Gattner Unteroffizer 10./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 732208 Black 3 MIA unknown
Xaver Giese Oberfeldwebel 10./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 733970 Black 11 MIA shot down P-51/P-47
Ernst Noreisch Unteroffizer 10./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 961063 Black 10 KIA shot down P-51/P-47
Karl-Heinz Sistenich Oberfeldwebel 11./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 738231 Yellow 6 MIA unknown
Robert Spreckels Oberfeldwebel 11./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 unknown unknown WIA - Returned. Bailed out near Aachen shot down P-51/P-47
Paul-Heinrich Dahne Oberleutnant 12./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 unknown unknown Returned - Bailed outover German territory shot down P-51/P-47
Hermann Barion Unteroffizer 12./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 738271 Yellow 6 KIA AAA Fire
Karl Hiller Oberfeldwebel 12./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 960298 Blue 11 POW shot down P-51/P-47
Karl Milkreiter Unteroffizer 12./JG 11 Fw 190A-8 732210 Blue 15 MIA shot down P-51/P-47

[edit] Total Allied Aerial Losses

Allied aerial casualties directly related to Bodenplatte[21]:

Name Rank Unit Aircraft Type Serial Code Fate Cause
Howard P. Gibboms Flight Lieutenant 168 Squadron RAF Hawker Typhoon MN486 QC-D KIA shot down by JG 3 Fw 190s
Don Webber Flying Officer 183 Squadron RCAF Hawker Typhoon EK497 HF-? KIA shot down in error by 352nd P-51
Waclaw Chojnacki Flight Lieutenant 308 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MJ281 ZF-P KIA shot down by JG 1 Fw 190s
Stanislaw Bednarczyk Warrant Officer 308 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK756 ZF-? Uninjured shot down by JG 1 Fw 190s
Josef Stanowski Flight Sergeant 308 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK888 ZF-? Uninjured ran out of fuel
Tadeusz Szlenkier Flying Officer 308 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK888 ZF-? Uninjured ran out of fuel
Stanislaw Breyner Sergeant 308 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK346 ZF-K Uninjured ran out of fuel
Tadeusz Powierza Sergeant 317 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK190 ZH-P KIA shot down by JG 1 Fw 190s
Zenobeusz Wdowczynski Warrant Officer 317 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MJ883 JH-R Uninjured ran out of fuel
Czeslaw Mroczyk Flight Lieutenant 317 Squadron (Polish) Supermarine Spitfire MK948 JH-Y Uninjured shot down by JG 1 Fw 190s
L Rose Sergeant 329 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire NH541 5A-? Uninjured engine trouble
David Harling Flight Lieutenant 416 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire SM304 DN-? KIA shot down by JG 26 Fw 190D-9
Peter Wilson Flight Lieutenant 438 Squadron Hawker Typhoon PD556 F3-Q KIA shot down by JG 3 Fw 190D-9
Ross Keller Flying Officer 438 Squadron Hawker Typhoon PD503 F3-R KIA strafed and killed during take-off JG 3 Fw 190s
Hugh Fraser Flying Officer 439 Squadron Hawker Typhoon RB281 5V-X uninjured damaged by JG 6 Bf 109. Wheels up landing at Volkel airfield[22]
Samuel Angelini Flying Officer 439 Squadron Hawker Typhoon MN589 5V-? KIA shot down by JG 6[23]
Len Wilson Flying Officer 442 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire NH369 Y2-F uninjured shot down by JG 6
Don Gordon Flight Lieutenant 442 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MH728 Y2-? WIA shot down by JG 6
Donald Brigden Flying Officer 442 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MK420 Y2-? KIA shot down by JG 6
William Whisner Captain 487 Fighter Squadron, 352 Fighter Group P-51 Mustang 44-14237 HO-W uninjured fighter crippled by JG 11 - made "wheels down" landing[24][25]
Dean Huston First Lieutenant 487 Fighter Squadron, 352 Fighter Group P-51 Mustang 44-14801 HO-L uninjured minor damage
James Hall Second Lieutenant 366 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG53 Bf 109
Dofel Brunetti Second Lieutenant 366 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt 42-28565 unknown KIA shot down by JG53 Bf 109
William Schubert First Lieutenant 367/358 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG53 Bf 109
David Johnson Jr Flight Officer 366 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt 42-76176 unknown uninjured shot down by JG11
John Feeney First Lieutenant 366 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG11
John Kennedy Second Lieutenant 390 Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG11
D.K Neil
Other crew: Crew Sgt. Owen Stafford WIA; William Fletcher KIA		 Lieutenant 125 Liaison Squadron Stinson Vigilant unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG4
Pilot and Observer unknown 27th Field Artillery Artillery Spotter unknown unknown both KIA shot down by JG53
Pilot and Observer unknown XX. Art Corps Artillery Spotter unknown unknown KIA shot down by JG53
? Harvey unknown A.D.L.S Flight Auster unknown unknown uninjured shot down by JG53 (bailed out)


[edit] Total German Losses

German casualties related directly to Bodenplatte[26]:

Unit KIA or MIA POW wounded Average number of aircraft deployed Percentage of staff lost
I./JG 1 7 3
II./JG 1 10 1 1
III./JG 1 1 2
18 6 1 80 31%
Stab./JG 2 1
I./JG 2 9 6 1
II./JG 2 3 1 1 1
III./JG 2 10 3 2
22 11 4 90 31%
I./JG 3 3 5
III./JG 3 3 2
IV./JG 3 4 1
10 6 2 70 26%
I./JG 4 3
II./JG 4 8 3 1
III./JG 4 1
IV./JG 4 6 2
18 5 1 55 42%
Stab./JG 6 1
I./JG 6 4 1 1
II./JG 6 5 2
III./JG 6 6 3
15 7 1 70 33%
Stab./JG 11 2
I./JG 11 4
II./JG 11 6 2
III./JG 11 9 2
21 4 65 38%
I./JG 26 5 3 2
II./JG 26 4 4 1
III./JG 26 3 1 1
12 8 4 160 38%
I./JG 27 6 1
II./JG 27 1 1
III./JG 27 2 1
IV./JG 27 2 1
11 3 1 85 18%
II./JG 53 5 2 1
III./JG 53 2
IV./JG 53 5 2 1
10 4 4 50 36%
III./JG 54 5 4 1 17 60%
IV./JG 54 2 1 25 12%
7 5 1
I./JG 77 2 1
II./JG 77 1 1
III./JG 77 3 3
6 5 105 10%
Est./JG 104 1 3
Total (day fighters) 150 65 19 875
Stab./SG 4 1
III./SG 4 2 1
3 1
FlüG 1 1
NJG 1 9 2
NJG 3 3 1
NJG 101 1
13 3
KG (J) 51 2
Total (other units) 19 4
Grand Total 169 69 19

[edit] Jagdgeschwader 27

JG 27s losses on 1 January 1945 numbered 18 pilots overall. However only 15 pilots of this unit were lost as a direct result of Bodenplatte[27].

Name Rank Unit Aircraft Type Wnr Number Fate Cause
Braun, HeinrichHeinrich Braun Unteroffizier 2./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 344 KIA shot down Spitfire
Diesing, ArnoArno Diesing Gefreiter 4./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 395 KIA shot down Spitfire
Dudeck, Hanns-HeinzHanns-Heinz Dudeck Hauptmann (Gruppenkommandeur) Stab IV./JG 27 Bf 109 G-14 490 644 White 3 POW unknown
Fink, FerdinandFerdinand Fink Unteroffizier 1./JG 27 Bf 109 G-14 462 677 White 17 KIA shot down Spitfire
Frickmann, HeinrichHeinrich Frickmann Unteroffizier 11./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 332 314 Yellow 4 KIA flew into trees avoiding AAA Fire
Gäbel, GertGert Gäbel Feldwebel 3./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 502 Yellow 1 KIA shot down Spitfire
Gisevius, PetermichelPetermichel Gisevius Unteroffizier 7./JG 27 Bf 109 G-14/AS 785882 White 1 KIA shot down by Spitfire, 403 Sqdn
Härtlein, JohannesJohannes Härtlein Unteroffizier 7./JG 27 Bf 109 G-14/AS 780319 White 7 POW AAA
Heymann, ErichErich Heymann Obergefreiter 10./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 377 Red 4 MIA unknown
Mannchen, AlfredAlfred Mannchen Feldwebel 16./JG 27 Bf 109 G-10 130 361 Blue 2 KIA unknown
Maus, HeinrichHeinrich Maus Unteroffizier 12./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 wounded unknown
Rehak, KarlKarl Rehak Unteroffizier 13./JG 27 Bf 109 G-10 490 702 White 10 KIA unknown
Stechow, Joachim vonJoachim von Stechow Leutnant 2./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 401 Red 5 KIA shot down Spitfire
Theisen, OttoOtto Theisen Fähnrich 2./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 331 493 Red 8 POW AAA
Wiese, HeinrichHeinrich Wiese Leutnant (Staffelkapitän) 11./JG 27 Bf 109 K-4 330 285 Red 1 KIA shot down Spitfire

A further fighter was destroyed; that of Oberleutnant Eberhard Schade (Kdr) in and unidentified Bf 109. He had collided with a Spitfire and crash landed at Rheine airfield in German-held territory[28].

[edit] Jagdgeschwader 104 (Einsatzstaffel)

Name Rank Unit Aircraft Type Wnr Number Fate Cause
Schmoll, HeinzHeinz Schmoll Oberfähnrich (Est.) 1./JG 104 POW unknown

[edit] Schlachtgeschwader 4

Losses as a result of Bodenplatte[29].

Name Rank Unit Aircraft Type Wnr Number Fate Cause
Druschel, AlfredAlfred Druschel Oberst Stab./SG 4 Fw 190F-4 584 400 MIA AAA Fire
Fye, RudolfRudolf Fye Feldwebel 9./SG 4 Fw 190F-4 584 233 Brown 12 KIA shot down by 366th FG P-47
Heinz, RichardRichard Heinz Feldwebel 7./SG 4 Fw 190F-4 586 450 White 3 MIA unknown
Schmieder, HansHans Schmieder Oberfeldwebel 7./SG 4 Fw 190F-4 933 433 Yellow 14 POW unknown

The unit lost a further 2 Fw 190F-4s destoyed. Unteroffizers George Rischbieter and Hermann Gottschalk crashlanded in German held territory, the former as a result of engine failure. Both survived uninjured[30].

[edit] Galland's alternative - the "Big Blow"

Adolf Galland, holding the office of Commander of Germany's Fighter Force (General der Jagdflieger), argued strenuously against Operation Baseplate. Galland envisioned striking a "Big Blow" (Große Schlag) against the Allied bombers, which he saw as a greater threat and less replaceable by the enemy. Throughout 1944, Galland strove to accumulate a large reserve of men and aircraft to attack the bomber raids in massive waves. Galland argued this would cause far fewer pilot casualties then the offensive sweeps of Operation Baseplate, as German pilots forced to bail out or crash land would do so over Germany, and therefore be able to fly again. In late 1944 and early 1945, the main concern of the Luftwaffe was not a lack of aircraft, it was a serious shortage of experienced pilots.

Following the operation, Galland and other high-ranking pilots and commanders of the Luftwaffe joined in the so-called "Fighter Pilots Conspiracy", in which they protested the pointless sacrifice of so many valuable men and machines. They were also protesting against the constant barrage of abuse being unjustly thrown at the pilots of the Jagdwaffe by their Commander-In-Chief, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. The high-ranking officers who joined in this protest were mostly removed from their positions and either sent back to combat units or sent into exile out of the front lines. Galland himself was removed by Göring as Commander of Germany's Fighter Force and, after having to endure a couple of weeks of forced leave, was reluctantly offered a posting as a front-line fighter pilot in command of an Me 262 unit, which Galland was to call JV 44.[31]

[edit] Operation Hermann

Following the raids, the Allies retrieved several log-books from crashed German aircraft. In several of these, the entry "Auftrag Hermann 1.1. 1945, Zeit: 9.20 Uhr" was translated as "Operation Hermann to commence on 1 January 1945, at 9:20am." This led the Allies to believe the operation itself was named Hermann, and named for the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring.[32] In fact, the word "Hermann" was a standard term for the time of the attack, similar to the term "H-Hour" in Allied terminology.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Peszke 1980, p. 134
  2. ^ Agreement #4 of the 11 June 1940 between the United Kingdom and Poland recognised the Polish Navy and Army as sovereign but that of the Air Force was refused. Agreement #7 reversed this decision in June 1944, and the Polish Air Force was "returned" to full Polish jurisdiction (with the exception of combat assignments, although the Poles retained the right to veto).
  3. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 276-277; figures from Luftwaffe order of battle strength report, 1 January 1945. records
  4. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 272
  5. ^ a b Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 290: 31 Allied aircraft were lost. However four ran out of fuel, one was lost through engine trouble and another was lost to friendly fire
  6. ^ a b c Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 273
  7. ^ 13 Kommodore, 5 Kommandeure and 14 Staffelkapitäne were lost.
  8. ^ Caldwell, 1991, p. 311
  9. ^ a b Johnson, Wing Leader, p.272-3.
  10. ^ Situation report entry for January 2, 1945 in the Wehrmacht War Diary, ISBN 3-88199-073-9
  11. ^ For Luftwaffe unit designations and content see Luftwaffe Organization
  12. ^ The Allied forces used alpha-numeric designations for airfields (captured from the Luftwaffe or built by Allied forces) in Europe. Prefixes were A (American) and B (British)
  13. ^ Johnson, Wing Leader, p.272.
  14. ^ Note: It needs to be emphasised that Geschwaderkommodore (roughly equal to RAF Group Captain and USAAF Colonel) Gruppenkommandeur (RAF Wing Leader/USAAF Lieutenant Colonel) and Staffelkapitän (RAF Squadron Leader/USAAF Major) denoted position not rank; the Luftwaffe generally allowed officers of lower rank than the RAF and USAAF equivalents to take command postings. For example Adolph Galland became a Geschwaderkommodore while holding the rank of Major, the rough equivalent of a Squadron Leader in the RAF.
  15. ^ Weinberg, A World At Arms, p.769
  16. ^ Caldwell, 1991, p. 312
  17. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 148
  18. ^ The Legend of Y-29
  19. ^ a b "Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 281."
  20. ^ The similar but differing meaning of Oberleutnant and Oberst may have contibuted to the miss-understanding. It is not clear whether Johnson himself said Specht's name was on the ID card. Johnson passed away in 1976 and the authors were unable to confirm this; Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 149.
  21. ^ Manrho & Putz 2004, p. 291.
  22. ^ Note: According to the 439 Sqn. log Fraser claimed two German aircraft shot down.Squadron Log 1 January 1945Retrieved: 3 February 2008
  23. ^ 439 Sqn Book of RememberanceRetrieved: 3 February 2008
  24. ^ Whisner's Combat LogRetrieved: 3 February 2008
  25. ^ Manrho & Pütz confirm Whisner engaged enemy aircraft after being hit. Despite damage from 20mm fire which destroyed some of his control surfaces Whisner destroyed two Bf 109s and two Fw 190s, p. 290.
  26. ^ Girbig, p. 229-230.
  27. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 282-283.
  28. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 282.
  29. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 284.
  30. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 284.
  31. ^ Note: An account of the "Conspiracy" and its aftermath can be found in Forsythe, 1996. p. 47 to 93.
  32. ^ Johnson, in Wing Leader, goes so far as to presume Göring himself planned it, p.269.

[edit] Bibliography

  • Bekker, Cajus. Angriffshöhe 4000. ISBN 3-453-87098-0
  • Caldwell, Don.JG 26; Top Guns of the Luftwaffe. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991. ISBN 0-8041-1050-6
  • Forsythe, Robert. JV 44; The Galland Circus. Burgess Hill, West Sussex, UK: Classic Publications, 1996. ISBN 0-9526867-0-8
  • ,Girbig, Werner. Start im Morgengrauen. Germany: Pietsch-Verlag Paul Pietsch Verlage GmbH + Co, 1997. ISBN 3-613-01292-8
  • Manrho, John, Putz, Ron. Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope–The Attack on Allied Airfields, New Year's Day 1945. Ottringham, United Kingdom: Hikoki Publications, 2004. ISBN 1-902109-40-6
  • Peszke, Michael Alfred. "A Synopsis of Polish-Allied Military Agreements During World War Two", Military Affairs, v 44, n3 (Oct. 1980), pp. 128-134.
  • Prien, Jochen & Stemmer, Gerhard. Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in World War II. Atlgen, Germany: Schiffer Military History, 2002. ISBN 0-7643-1681-8
  • Weinberg, Gerhard. A World At Arms, Cambridge University Press: 2 edition, 2005, ISBN 978-05216182-6-7
  • Zaloga, Steven J., Gerrard, Howard. Battle of the Bulge (2). London: Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-810-3

[edit] External links