Klaus Mietusch was born on 5 August 1918 at Posen. After completing his flying training he was transferred to 2./JG 234, which was later redesignated 2./JG 26 on 1 September 1938. On 23 September 1939, Leutnant Mietusch was transferred to 7./JG 26. He participated in the Battle of France but, on 8 June 1940, was shot down in his Bf 109 E-1 (W.Nr. 2746) by a RAF Hurricane fighter near Neufchatel. He force-landed behind French lines unhurt, but was then shot in the buttocks by a French civilian. He became a prisoner of war of the French. He was released at the fall of France. Reunited with 7./JG 26, Mietusch gained his first victory on 31 May 1940, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane near Dunkirk. By the end of 1940, he had added a second victory and been promoted to Oberleutnant. In January 1941, 7./JG 26, under the leadership of Oberleutnant Joachim Müncheberg (135 victories, RK-S, killed in action 23 March 1943), was relocated to Sicily. Mietusch gained three victories over Malta before 7./JG 26 were briefly deployed to participate in the assault on Yugoslavia. Mietusch gained a single victory over Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, when he shot down a Fury biplane over Podgorica for his sixth victory. Redeployed over Malta, Mietusch added a further three victories, including a notable RAF ace. On 13 April, Mietusch attacked a Hurricane that had attacked four Bf 109s and shot it down for his eighth victory. The Hurricane was flown by Flying Officer E M “Imshi” Mason (15.4 confirmed and 3.6 damaged victories) of 274 Sqn, RAF who ditched his stricken aircraft in the sea having suffered wounds to his hand in the aerial combat and a broken nose in the ditching. Mietusch also saw combat over North Africa gaining a single victory in the battles around Tobruk. By September, 7./JG 26 was relocated back to the Channel front. On 19 September 1941, Müncheberg took command of II./JG 26 following the death in aerial combat with RAF Spitfire fighters of Hauptmann Walter Adolph (25 victories, RK) the day before. As a result Mietusch became Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 26. On 19 August 1942, he shot down two RAF Spitfire fighters over the Allied landings at Dieppe for his 20th and 21st victories. Hauptmann Mietusch led 7./JG 26 to Russia in February 1943 where it replaced I./JG 54. The Staffel was based at Krasnogvardeisk-Gatschina, west of Leningrad. From the end of February until June 1943, when 7./JG 26 was sent back to the Western Front, the Staffel shot down 63 Russian aircraft. Mietusch himself gained 15 victories during this period. However, on 20 March, Mietusch suffered engine failure on take-off from Gatschina in Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr. 7147). The aircraft turned over and was destroyed. As a result, Mietusch was out of action for two months. On 18 June, Mietusch downed five Russian fighters (38-42).
Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 26 Klaus Mietusch in the Stab`s
Bf 109G-6 "Black 20". Spring 1944
On 5 July 1943, Mietusch became Gruppenkommandeur
of III./JG 26. He recorded a victory over an USAAF B-17 four-engine heavy
bomber on 25 July, the first confirmed victory of 16 four-engine bombers
he was to shoot down. His 50th victory was a B-17 shot down over Cambrai
on 20 October. On 8 March 1944, the 8th Air Force, USAAF raided Berlin.
Mietusch claimed a B-17 Herausschuss as the bombers made their way to Berlin
for his 60th victory. However, when attempting to attack the withdrawing
bombers, Mietusch was shot down in Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 162 032) “Black 21”
near Meppen by the USAAF P-47 fighter escort. He baled out and landed safely
but had suffered injuries destined to keep him in hospital for the next
few weeks. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his 60th victory on 26 March
1944. He received promotion to the rank of Major in April. While landing
at Rouvres-Étain on 12 April, Mietusch’s Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 162 345) “Black
24” hit a bomb crater and overturned. He suffered injuries that put him
back in hospital for three weeks. Mietusch shot down a USAAF P-38 twin-engine
fighter near Chartres on 4 July to record his 70th victory. On 17 July,
Mietusch was shot down in Bf 109 G-6/U4 (W.Nr. 440 640) “White 20” by an
RAF Spitfire. He baled out but did not return to his base until the next
day. He was promptly sent to hospital in Germany. Mietusch was engaged
in combat with USAAF P-51 fighters on 17 September 1944. After gaining
his 75th, and final victory, he was shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-6
(W.Nr. 441 646) “Black 25” in the vicinity of Rath-Aldekerk by the American
ace, Lieutenant William Beyer (9 victories) of the 376th Fighter Squadron
of the 361st Fighter Group, USAAF. He was posthumously awarded the Eichenlaub
(Nr 653) on 18 November.
In 452 combat missions Klaus Mietusch gained 75
victories. He gained 60 victories over the Western
Front including 13 four-engine bombers.
He was wounded several times and was shot down ten times.
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31.5.1940
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | Dunkirk | Hurricane of 213 or 264 Sqn, RAF |
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31.8.1940
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | Chelmsford | Spitfire of 19 Sqn, RAF |
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26.2.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 10km S Malta | Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF |
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22.3.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 40km N Malta | Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF |
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22.3.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 40km N Malta | Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF |
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6.4.1941
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Fury | 7./JG 26 | Near Podgorica | Avia BH-33E of Ind Fighter Esk, 81 (Bomber) Grupa, JKRV flown by Narednik Djordje Cvetkovic, killed |
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11.4.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 20km N Malta | Hurricane of 261 Sqn, RAF |
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13.4.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 4km NE Kalafrana | Hurricane (Z2838) of 261 Sqn RAF flown by F/O EM Mason (15.4/0/3.6 victories), ditched, wounded |
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13.5.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | 2km SW Ta Venezia | Hurricane of 185 Sqn, RAF |
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17.6.1941
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Hurricane | 7./JG 26 | SE Sidi Omar | Hurricane of 1 Sqn, SAAF |
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21.8.1941
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Maryland | 7./JG 26 | Gambut | Maryland of 12 or 24 Sqn, SAAF – not confirmed |
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18.9.1941
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | SE Le Paradis | Spitfire of 452 Sqn, RAF |
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21.9.1941
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | Berck-sur-Mer | - |
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21.9.1941
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 20km WNW Somme Estuary | - |
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8.12.1941
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | Berck-sur-Mer | - |
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12.4.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | SE St Omer-Arques | Spitfire of 71 Sqn, RAF |
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12.4.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 12km WNW Dunkirk | - |
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30.4.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 3km W Somme Estuary | Not confirmed |
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3.5.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | Calais | Spitfire of 174 or 303 Sqn, RAF |
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5.5.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 3km NW Popinghe | Spitfire of 122 Sqn, RAF |
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19.8.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 3km NE Dieppe | Spitfire of 19 or 121 Sqn RAF |
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19.8.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 10km NW Dieppe | Spitfire of 19 or 121 Sqn RAF |
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27.8.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 15km SW Calais | - |
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27.8.1942
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 20km WNW Cap Gris Nez | - |
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22.9.1942
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Boston | 7./JG 26 | 3km E Ostend | Boston of 226 Sqn, RAF |
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9.10.1942
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Stirling HSS | 7./JG 26 | Lille | B-17 of 301 BG, USAAF – not confirmed |
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9.10.1942
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B-17 | 7./JG 26 | NE Lille | B-17 of 301 BG, USAAF – not confirmed |
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13.1.1943
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B-17 | 7./JG 26 | Lille | B-17 of 305 BG, USAAF – not confirmed |
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20.1.1943
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 4-5km S Margate | Spitfire of 91 Sqn, RAF |
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20.1.1943
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | Ardres | Spitfire of 91 Sqn, RAF |
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22.1.1943
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Spitfire | 7./JG 26 | 10-15km Gravelines | - |
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21.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | N Lake Chapolovo | - |
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21.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | Near Dolgovo | - |
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21.5.1943
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Pe-2 | 7./JG 26 | Cape Ustinski | - |
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21.5.1943
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I-153 | 7./JG 26 | 3-4km S Lavansaari | - |
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27.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 00264 | Yak-7B of 86 GIAP, VVS |
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30.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | Lake Ladoga | - |
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31.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 00243 | - |
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17.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | 5km NE Volkhovstroi | LaGG-3 of 29 GIAP, VVS |
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18.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | Near Kinderovo | - |
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18.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | N Podborovye | - |
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18.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 00264 | - |
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18.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 00292 | - |
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18.6.1943
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Yak-7 | 7./JG 26 | Lake Ladoga | - |
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22.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 90134 | - |
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22.6.1943
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LaGG-3 | 7./JG 26 | PQ 90164 | - |
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25.7.1943
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B-17F | III./JG26 | 10km N Hamburg | - |
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17.8.1943
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | SE Schleiden-Eifel | - |
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17.8.1943
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | S Lake Laacher | - |
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19.8.1943
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | NW Breda | B-17 of 303 BG, USAAF |
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19.9.1943
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Spitfire | III./JG 26 | Near Popinghe | Spitfire of 41 Sqn, RAF |
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27.9.1943
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Spitfire | III./JG 26 | 10-15km SW Poix | Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF – damaged |
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3.10.1943
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Spitfire | III./JG 26 | NE Beauvais | Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF – damaged |
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20.10.1943
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | Cambrai | B-17 (41-24629) “VK-G” of 303 BG, USAAF flown by 1st Lt JW Hendry, 2 killed, 8 POW |
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29.11.1943
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B-17 HSS | III./JG 26 | W Oldenburg | - |
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30.11.1943
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | North Sea | P-38 of 20 FG, USAAF |
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1.12.1943
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | Freilingen-Vorneburg | P-38 of 77FS 20 FG, USAAF |
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20.12.1943
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | NW Wilhemshaven | - |
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14.1.1944
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Spitfire | III./JG 26 | SSW St Omer | Spitfire of 308 Sqn, RAF |
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14.1.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | St Pol | P-47 of 356 FG, USAAF |
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25.2.1944
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | 4km SW Charleville | B-17 of 306 BG, USAAF |
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25.2.1944
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B-17HSS | III./JG 26 | E Pirmasens | - |
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6.3.1944
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Typhoon | III./JG 26 | 5km N Amiens | Typhoon of 3 Sqn RAF |
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8.3.1944
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B-17HSS | III./JG 26 | S Zwolle-Braunschweig | B-17 of 381 BG, USAAF |
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12.5.1944
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B-17 HSS | III./JG 26 | Bastogne | B-17 of 452 BG, USAAF |
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4.6.1944
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Typhoon | III./JG 26 | NW Romilly-sur-Seine | P-51 of 361 FG, USAAF |
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8.6.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | NE Le Havre | P-47 of 371 FG, USAAF |
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8.6.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | Le Havre-Yvetôt | P-47 of 371 BG, USAAF |
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14.6.1944
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | NW Paris | P-38 of 55 FG, USAAF |
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14.6.1944
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B-17 | III./JG 26 | E Paris | B-17 of 384 or 401 BG, USAAF |
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15.6.1944
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B-24 | III./JG 26 | SW Chartres | B-24 of 392 BG, USAAF |
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23.6.1944
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | E Chartres | P-38 of 55 FG, USAAF |
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23.6.1944
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | SE Chartres | P-38 of 55 FG, USAAF |
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4.7.1944
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P-38 | III./JG 26 | W Évreux | P-38 of 370 FG, USAAF |
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17.7.1944
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Spitfire | III./JG 26 | SW Caen | Spitfire of 602 Sqn, RAF |
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18.8.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | NW Paris | P-47 of 358 FG, USAAF |
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26.8.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | Rouen | P-47 of 50 FG, USAAF |
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26.8.1944
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P-47 | III./JG 26 | W Rouen | P-47 of 50 FG, USAAF |
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17.9.1944
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P-51 | III./JG 26 | N München-Gladbach | P-51 of 361 FG, USAAF |
Victories : 75
Awards : Ehrenpokal (26 April 1941)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (15 October 1942)
Ritterkreuz (26 March 1944)
Eichenlaub (18 November 1944)
Units : JG 26