Dogfights: Death Of The Luftwaffe Part 5

January 1, 1945, The German Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a last desperate attempt to break loose the Ardennes Offensive that had been halted at Bastogne. Approximately 800 German fighters are sent to attack 15 allied forward air bases. At some bases the Luftwaffe attack is devastating, destroying aircraft and rendering airstrips useless. At other fields only a few fighters found their targets and damage was minimal. But at Asch the result was unlike anything the Luftwaffe had imagined. The attack on the Asch airbase, known as Y-29, was a total disaster. When the 11th Jagdgeschwader reached Y-29 they found 8 Thunderbolts of the 390th Fighter Squad, 366 Fighter Group circling the field and 12 Mustangs of the 487th Fighter Squad, 352nd Fighter Group just taking off. The ensuing battle came to be know as the "Legend of Y-29". This battle was only one of many battles that took place on new years day 1945. But in no other battle did one unit distinguish itself so well from such a disadvantage. For their courage and performance in the face of overwhelming odds, the 487th earned the only Distinguished Unit Citation given to a fighter squadron in the Northwestern European Theater of Operation.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Luftwaffe
• Bodenplatte
• Ardennes
• 11th
• Jagdgeschwader
• 390th
• 366
• 487th
• Fighter
• 352nd
• Group
• Legend
• of
• Y-29

[Alexpi101]

I feel sorry for the German guy... He had the skills to live, yet he didn't.

[wilb6657]

@Leparas Yes! The "badass German" was most likely Major Gunther Specht. Specht WAS in the the Luftwaffe formation described in this episode, and he was listed as "Missing In Action", after this operation. So yeah, th German pilot probably was Specht. Good catch, sir!

[Raubritter1488]

@adolfhilter

It was the Oberfeldwebel Franz Meindl,an 33 kill ace from JG 11.

[focks77]

"Only the spirit of attack, bourne in a brave heart will bring success to any fighter aircraft. No matter how advanced it may be."

Surely most of you have heard this quote before as well as who said it?

This visual depiction of this battle epitomizes it's meaning in every way (but typically American glorifying) and the 109 Pilot perished in a way best befitting his profession. Allied pilots could fly a tour and go home, the LW could not. They had to fight or die, the majority did both. 

[coldfarted]

@All2Meme How can he be assuming anything when he is telling history???

[coldfarted]

@M1LS572 The P-51s ate 109s for lunch. If the Germans were that good they would have got more kills. The 109s were good if they had a good pilot but they had some things that could have been improved on.

[M1LS572]

I don't believe a fuck about that only one US fighter got killed. The Germans where overall way better than them.

[normison69]

@coel3 What about Himmler and Goebbels and SS?

[333muller]

The Pilot was Oberfelwebel (sergeant) Franz Meindl a 31 victory Ace, a very good experienced pilot, unlike most encountered by the US airman at this stage of the war, most luftwaffe pilots at this stage were inexperienced and easy targets for the Mustangs.

Major Specht flew a Fw190 this day so it couldn't have been him, according to a book i read on Operation Bodenplatte it was Meindl in the Bf109

[KGero478]

@1973c0g True, their acts of chivalry and bravery are admirable, yet the fact the were flying in support of someone who could do things no sane man would turns their reputation sour.