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June 1944 began without any further defensive missions for III./JG 11. When the Allied landings in Normandy began on 6 June, the Gruppe remained behind in the Reich, where, alongside II./JG 27, they were given the task of acting as a so-called "collection group" to control the supply of pilots to France. Accordingly, on 20 June the Gruppe had in its first inventory 104 pilots though only 18 were considered ready for combat operations. The training and test-flight operations up to 20 June resulted in a single total loss and three damaged Fw 190s, all without any personnel losses. However, on 24 June III./JG 11 surprisingly received the order to immediately move to the central section of the Eastern Front, where the Red Army's big summer offensive "Operation Bagration" had begun two days earlier. While posted to the East 9./JG 11 was led by Oblt. Herbert Planer whose Staffel would claim 12 victories during August. Planer was to become a high-scorer who accounted for five of them, thereby reaching 16 confirmed victories. Of the claims filed during the month up to 20 August would be four Il-2 Stormoviks, the aircraft type that used to hit their base at Nemaksiai damaging three of the III. Gruppe's Fw 190s. One of the aircraft damaged, in the wings and cockpit area, was this 'Black 11'. This machine was repaired and continued to be flown by Fw. Otto Keck. While fighting the Soviets the III. Gruppe claimed 129 Abschüsse (25 of them by the 9. Staffel) up to early September for own losses of 23 Fw 190s, 11 of them in air-combat. With them were 12 pilots killed and another eight wounded in action. When III./JG 11 returned back to Germany for rest and refit their rest was interrupted by the start of the Allied airborne operation near Arnhem and Nijmegen on 17 September 1944. As a result the Gruppe had to move to Achmer the next day and from there in the battle group under the leadership of Stab/JG 11 supported the army and was used against the Allied airborne troops. The Gruppe flew a series of ground attack missions with bombs and by strafing runs but also to Jabo interceptions missions over the hot spots of the fighting around Arnhem and Nijmegen. It was here over Arnhem on 29 September 1944, that Fw. Otto Keck would fly his last combat mission, shot down and killed in this machine. He thus became one of the six Fw 190s lost this day. More serious for III./JG 11 was the loss of five pilots killed and missing with another wounded all for a single claim of a Spitfire. 'Black 11' was built
by AGO Oschersleben in July 1944. Its factory-applied distinctive
large size fuselage mottling has been modified with the application
of RLM 76 over the fuselage and tail national markings. This
feature is typical for JG 11 during their earlier posting to
Home Defense duties. Note that that this machine is lacking other
markings such as the Gruppe badge seen on other machines while
they were fighting in the West. |
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