Due to be hampered by bad weather the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 300 flew ten day, often in limited number in December. Indeed, on only four days was the Gruppe airborne and abel to score while intercepting enemy formations. Successes were despite this considerable with 20 USAAF aircraft downed, 15 of them 4-engine bombers.

The Gruppe however also sustained numerous losses during the month with 13 Messerschmitts lost in air combat with another 15 aircraft damaged due to all causes. The personal losses in December ended up with five pilots killed and another wounded in combat.

However things would turn for the worse for the defenders of the Reich. As on 14 January 1945, a mixed formation of JG 300 and JG 301 fighters were attacked by USAAF escort fighters during an interception against bombers of the USAAF's 3rd Air Division heading to bomb oil targets in central Germany. During this clash, the pilots of JG 300 filed claims for 36 four-engine bombers, three P-51 Mustangs and a single P-47 Thunderbolt, while JG 301 claimed a meager two B-17s, one P-51 and a P-47.

However, the day's losses would show a rather one-sided battle as the mixed formation lost a staggering 94 aircraft with 50 pilots killed and another 16 wounded. Of those losses JG 300 filed 65 fighters lost, with 32 pilots KIA and another seven wounded. The 357th Fighter Group had a field day claiming over 50 Luftwaffe fighters.

One of the pilots to be shot down in this gigantic air battle was Lt. Bruno Klostermann. After taking off late from Jüterbog at 12:25 he was one of the pilots in JG 300 who claimed a B-17 Fortress North of Rathenow for his third and final abschuss. Soon thereafter he was bounced by P-51 Mustangs and was shot down and killed in his "Green 2" over Scherau close to Stendal.

The surviving Jagdwaffe pilots that participated in this combat, had, for the most part, been scattered by the violence of the combat, and withdrew in total disorder to land at whatever base they could find. The only conclusion that can draw regarding this air battle is that the Jagdwaffe on this day suffered one of its largest defeats while attempting to defend the Reich´s air space.

The pilot of this "Green 12" was an accomplished pilot, claiming his first on 20 July 1944, a B-17 downed in the Chemnitz area. His second. a B-24 Liberator fell before his guns on 11 September.

What is interesting is that Klostermann was the German cousin of the French ace Pierre Clostermann. As Clostermann comment in an intervjue: "My cousin was indeed a pilot for the Luftwaffe and it gives us a sharp perspective regarding the absurdity of some wars. His name was Bruno Klostermann spelled with a K in the German language but with a C in Alsatian."

The two relatives was to be raised along to the river Rhine, Clostermann on the French side and Klostermann on the German side ,a fact that illustrates the absurdity of war. Note the rust red Reichsverteidigung fuselage band, after to be exchanged with the new Blue white Blue JG 300 fuselage band in late December 1944.

Regarding Profile Book No 14. This week I have manage to make more than half of the layout for Profile Book No 14, ahead of scedule.

Includes in the Profile Book No 14, the reader would find, Four Bf 109 A and B:s, 17 Bf 109 Emils, 27 Bf 109 Fs, 23 Bf 109 Gs, and another 13 late war Bf 109 Gs including K-4s. When it comes to the Focke Wulfs: 30 Fw 190 A-1 to A-8 would be included and seven Fw 190 Doras, another late war Fw 190 prototyp, one He 162, and another Me 163, This together with a Macchi 202 flown by Marseille. Finally, four Me 262 and a captured P-51B Mustang is included.