Mission: “Operation Bodenplatte” Mass attack on Allied airfields.
Date: 1st January 1945
Unit: 16 Staffel./Jagdgeschwader 53
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14
Werk Nr.462829
Coded: 2 + (Blue)
Location: Near Waldweisdorf, France.
Pilot: Gefreiter. Alfred Michel. 59741/775 – Captured POW. Born 26.06.1922 in Fulda.
Date: 1st January 1945
Unit: 16 Staffel./Jagdgeschwader 53
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14
Werk Nr.462829
Coded: 2 + (Blue)
Location: Near Waldweisdorf, France.
Pilot: Gefreiter. Alfred Michel. 59741/775 – Captured POW. Born 26.06.1922 in Fulda.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Extract from Jochen Prien’s JG53 Unit history January 1944 – May 1945.
IV Gruppe suffered its first casualty. “Blue 2” flown by Gefr. Michel of 16 Staffel developed engine trouble and he was forced to belly-land the aircraft near Waldweisdorf. He ended up with a large bump on his forehead (probably from striking gunsight) but otherwise was unhurt. This was Alfred Michel’s first combat mission and it ended with him a prisoner of the Americans, after soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division rushed to the scene and “pocketed” a German airman.
A well known photograph showing Alfred, his “Blue 2” and American captors (Jeckel)
Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with thanks to Jochen Prien and Horst Jeckel June 2013.
