Uffz. Arno Zimmerman 7/JG54 2.9.40

[Bill Haldane]

Hi Everybody, The hunt goes on ! Uffz. Zimmerman claimed a Spitfire kill at 13.45 on 2.9.40, can anyone give a location for this ? Also does anyone have a list of sorties flown by 9/JG54 on this date. All help appreciated.

Best Wishes, Bill

[Kevin Huckfield]

Hello Bill,
According to The Battle Of Britain Then & Now by Winston G Ramsey a Spitfire of 72 Sqdn returned to base damaged following an attack on DO-17's & their fighter escort at 1245 over Herne Bay. Pilot Officer Douthwaite was unhurt and aircraft was repairable.
At the same time another Spitfire (X4105), again 72 Sqdn, was also damaged in the same area after combat with Bf-110's, while another 72 Sqdn Spitfire (K9938) crashed at Garrington Farm near Bekesbourne Emergency Landing Ground at 1300 following combat over Herne Bay.
The only other Spitfire listed at approx that time (allowing for the time difference) was R6752 (XT-E) which landed with undercarriage up due to damage sustained in combat with Bf-109's over the Thames Estuary at 1335.

As for 9./JG 54 there are no entries for losses on September 2nd. JG 54 entries for that day are for II Gruppe, Stab/III Gruppe and 7 & 8 Staffel.

[Bill Haldane]

Hi Kevin, Thank you for all that, I've just got the same book myself after another member suggested I should get it. It is really informative but doesn't help with the original query I had about who shot down a Hurricane at 12.50 our time on 2.9.40 over the Thames Estuary. I thought I'd be able to get all the claims from the Luftwaffe, check those against the RAF kills and that would be it but no, I have 50 claims confirmed by OKL against 20 RAF losses and I think 4 times are the same !!! There has got to be an easier way to do this but I can't think of it but thanks again. Kind regards, Bill

[Kevin Huckfield]

I don't know what other sources you have tried but the O.K.L. Fighter Claims
Chef für Ausz. und Dizsiplin Luftwaffen-Personalamt L.P. [A] V OKLs just states the following...

02.09.40 Uffz. Arno Zimmermann: 1 7./JG 54 Spitfire - 13.45 OKL+JFV d.Dt.Lw. 4/II-95B

There are three claims, all against Spitfires, for 7./JG 54 at this time and none of them provide a location of the kills. There is a later claim for a pilot of 7./JG 54 on the same day at 1730 in the vicinity of Dover/Folkestone.

[Bill Haldane]

Hi Kevin, Yes the OKL lists were the obvious choice. As you see, three claims at the right time but all for Spitfires. Also 4 claims from various staffel of JG3 but no times given. One of them even claims a Hurricane so is a distinct possibility but how do you find out where JG3 was at that time ? I guess I'll have to try again with a query about Ofw. Max Buchholz 1/JG3.
Thanks again and if anything else crops up do get in touch. Kind Regards, Bill