Lt.Otto Bach - JG1

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=984983" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="0fbb05a3.gif"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1b9582f0.gif" border=0 width="88" height="47" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></b></div> <bR> <div> <I>(Scroll Down for more)</I></div> <div> <B>U.S. GROUPS</b></div> <div> <B>NAVY</b></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lt. Ernest L. White, USN"><U>Lt. Ernest L. White, USN</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Capt. Robert L. Gurnee, USS REDFISH"><U>Capt. Robert L. Gurnee,  USS REDFISH</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>ARMY AIRFORCE</b></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sgt. Mike Szewyck, 95th Bomb Group"><U>Sgt. Mike Szewyck, 95th Bomb Group</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2Lt. James Eppenberger, 390th BG"><U>2Lt. James Eppenberger, 390th BG</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sgt. Ersel L. Hall, 493rd Bomb Group"><U>Sgt. Ersel L. Hall, 493rd Bomb Group</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>ARMY</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>GERMAN GROUPS</b></div> <div> <B>LUFTWAFFE</b></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lt.Otto Bach JG1"><U>Lt.Otto Bach - JG1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Uffz. Heinz Shaller, ZG1"><U>Uffz. Heinz Shaller, ZG1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Uffz. Waldemar Kraft, KG27"><U>Uffz. Waldemar Kraft, KG27</U></A></div> <div> Heinz Denneller, FJR. 16</div> <bR> <div> <B>HEER</b></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Uffz. Karl Kohler, 15 Pz.Div."><U>Uffz. Karl Kohler, 15 Pz.Div.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Hermanns, IR 453"><U>Karl Hermanns, IR 453</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>KRIEGSMARINE</b></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ernst Wurges"><U>Ernst Wurges</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>BRITISH GROUPS</b></div> <div> <B>ROYAL NAVY</b></div> <div> John Smith </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336633" FACE="CG Omega" ><B>WWII MILITARIA</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC99" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT>|   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WWII MILITARIA"><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="03cf4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lt.Otto Bach - JG1 - <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Verdana" >ME109 & FW190 Fighter Ace</FONT></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="180" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1966 WIDTH="168"><div>                                    <IMG SRC="05b96d30.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="211" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bachbyplane.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuil"><U>full-size image</U></A></div> <div> <I>Bach next to his FW190 fighter. Notice the Tatzelwurm emblem - insignia of JG1.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="05d96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bach_medals.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuil"><U>full size image</U></A></div> <div> <I>Bach's Fighter Clasp on Gold, German Cross in Gold, Iron Cross 1st Class, and Pilot's Badge (Juncker).</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="40996e10.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I>Nice photo of Bach wearing his decorations.  Note: his DKiG was awarded posthumously.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="05f96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> f<A HREF="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bach_urkunden.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/sitebuil"><U>ull size image</U></A></div> <div> <I>Bach's Award Documents: Fighter Clasps in Gold and Silver, German Cross in Gold, EK1, Hand-made made by his Staffel after his sixth victory, letter of congratulations upon his promotion to Lt., letter to Bach's wife awarding Bach the DKiG - posthumously.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="06196710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I>Various unpublished photos of Bach.</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="0e796590.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> f<A HREF="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/Images/phillipsignature.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://richardwhite1.tripod.com/Images/p"><U>ull size image</U></A></div> <div> <I>From Bach's </I><I><U>Fighter Clasp in Gold </U></I><I>Award document:  Original signature of Hans Philipp, Geschwaderkommodore of JG1.  Philipp was the 12th leading German Ace of WWII with 206 </I></div> <div> <I>victories.  Phillip was KIA on </I><I>October 8, 1943, </I><I>less</I></div> <div> <I>than two months after he signed this document.</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="40297fa0.jpg" border=0 width="151" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I>Bach during fighter school training</I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="40b96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I>A very young Otto Bach during his RAD service.  Original signature of Bach appears on the photo.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >              </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Lt. Otto Bach's Military Career:</b></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>O</b><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Verdana" >tto Bach had a long and distinguished career as a fighter pilot.  I am still in the process of researching the details of his Luftwaffe service. I do know that he was with JG2 for a time prior to being transferred to JG1.  In his photoalbum are a few pictures of him while serving with JG2 including one photo where the top of the JG2 "R" emblem is just visible below his Me109's canopy.  Bach was one of the more seasoned fighter pilots who flew with  JG1 and  served as a steady and  reassuring influence over the many green pilots entering his Staffel.  Indeed, I possess a poem about Bach which his fellow pilots jokingly  entitled, "The Oldest Fighter Pilot."  </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="414" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 275 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="48b900d0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="269" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 65 WIDTH="408"><div> <I>Bach after a successful mission.  This picture is from a Luftwaffe newsreel that I am in the process of aquiring in original form.  I hope to make it available on this website in the near future.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="260" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 216 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3f3fad20.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="210" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 WIDTH="254"><div> <I>Bach with an unidentified JG2 comrade during the early days of his career</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="256" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 174 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3f5faa80.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="168" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 WIDTH="250"><div> <I>Bach at the controls of his Me109 during service with JG2</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> During his time with JG1, he served on 12, 4, and 5 Staffel.  Around May 1943, he transferred to 5./JG 1.  Bach was fortunate to escape injury on 29 May 1944 when his Fw 190 overturned on landing when he ran into a bomb crater.   He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 1 on 15 July, 1944.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="356" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 244 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3fa5eee0.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="238" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div> <I>Bach as Staffelkapitan of 7./JG1 with two ground personnel.</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="201" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 304 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3f7c82a0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="298" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="195"><div> <I>Bach  and Wegner</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Verdana" >Fritz Wegner, another JG1 pilot, remembers the day he was assigned to 5./J.G.1 as a fresh recruit. "I was nominated as wingman to Oberfeldwebel Otto Bach. He came straight to the point: being a green pilot, I only had one thing to do - remain glued to him. 'You get on my wing and stay there.' It wasn't always very easy, but both our lives depended on it. So we would go through the masses of Viermots [four engined bombers]. I, thinking we would fall to the bursts of steel, he showing me not only the way to attack, but also the way to survive." Thanks in part to Bach's willingness to mentor his young comrade, Wegner would survive the war, finally reaching the rank of Leutenant-General in the 1970s (</FONT>Mombeek, Eric, <U>Defending the Reich).</U></div> <bR> <div> It is interesting to note that records indicate that Bach almost certainly flew against the 8th Air Force mission over Munster on 10.10.43.  This is the same mission that  <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sgt. Mike Szewyck, 95th Bomb Group"><U>Sgt. Mike Szewyck, 95th Bomb Group</U></A> (also in my collection) was shot down on.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="337" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 457 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="48e40c30.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="451" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 65 WIDTH="331"><div> <I>Bach's </I><I><U>Fighter Clasp in Gold </U></I><I>Award document:  Original signature of Hans Philipp, Geschwaderkommodore of JG1.  Philipp was the 12th leading German Ace of WWII with 206 victories.  Phillip was KIA on October 8, 1943, less than two months after he signed this document.</I></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Otto Bach's Victory List:</b></div> <bR> <div> Bach is credited with appx. 25 victories.  The following is a list of the ones I have been able to verify.   If you know of others, please <A HREF="mailto:psychotherapist@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:psychotherapist@hotmail.com"><U>email me</U></A>.  Note that the victory numbers do not denote his <I>actual </I>victory number but  simply the order in which ones for which we have information are listed here.  For example, it is known that his victory on February 26, 1943 was probably his fifth victory.  However, information concerning his previous four are not known....yet  :)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="465" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 1</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="83"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> Feb., 26, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="83"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> 1041 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="83"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> 12./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="83"><div> VICTORY:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> 100 km NW Terschelling </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="83"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="382"><div> At  10:00 hours IV gruppe of JG1 scrambled from their base in  Deelen, Holland.  Bach's was one of 3 victories that mission.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></b></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="465" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 2</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="81"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> May 14, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="81"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1312 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="81"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Tholen, NL</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 906 WIDTH="81"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <div> The US 95th and 94th Bomb Groups dispatched a total of 42 B-17s against the former Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp, Belgium.  Of the 42 heavy bombers, only 38 were effective.  At 12.52 hours, II Gruppe of JG1 sortied 29 Fw190s to meet the bomber force and its complement of 118 P-47s of the U.S. 4th and 78th Fighter Groups.  Within 20 minutes from takeoff,  the pilots were engaged in fierce action. Bach was credited with his sixth victory, a B-17.</div> <bR> <div> It is almost certain that this bomber was B-17 42-3115 of the 95th Bomb Group piloted by 1st Lt. James McKinley.  McKinley's B-17 was the only bomber listed as shot down on the Antwerp raid.  It was his and his crew's first operational mission, the second for the 95th BG as a whole. </div> <bR> <div> Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 4908 states the following: </div> <bR> <div> <I>"B-17F 42-3115 piloted by 1</I><I>st</I><I> Lt. James E. McKinley, was seen to be hit by enemy fighters after leaving the target over the island of Zuid Beveland.  The aircraft was seen spinning down followed by enemy aircraft.  The aircraft pulled out at 10,000 feet and headed towards the Island of Zuid Beveland, and at 1330 hours it was last seen smoking on this island.  One chute was seen to leave the ship prior to it's landing."</I>  The report was filed by Capt. David Oisson, Asst. Operations Officer of the 95th BG on May 16. </div> <bR> <div> The crew roster consisted of:</div> <div> Pilot          James E. McKinley</div> <div> Co-Pilot          James L. White</div> <div> Navigator     James M. Smith Jr.</div> <div> Bombardier     John A. Payne</div> <div> Radio Op.     Frank A. Skwait</div> <div> Top. Turret Gun.     Cecil G. Trent</div> <div> Ball Turret Gun.     Russell B. Reading</div> <div> Left Waist Gun.     Arthur R. Pascoe</div> <div> Tail Gunner     James A. Conlin</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="489f1ff0.gif" border=0 width="241" height="255" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="468" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 3</b></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="32" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="384" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="84"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> May 26, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="84"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="84"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> Spitfire </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> in Eeklo - grid square 3281</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 147 WIDTH="84"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> II./JG1 was engaged in the late afternoon in  fierce combat with a group of 40 P47s and Spitfires in in Eeklo - grid square 3281.  Bach was credited with shooting down a Spitfire as was Fw. Flecks.  Strangely, Allied Fighter Command records list nothing about this engagement.  Prien also states that the individual P47 Squadron records do not mention it either.</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="409" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 278 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="40590100.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="272" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 66 WIDTH="403"><div> <I>Nice photo of Bach (second from right) and other pilots of JG1 - including RK Trager Heinz Bar (far left, facing Oesau) - at attention in front of  Gruppenkommandeur Oesau .  Krebs can be seen to Oesau's left.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="468" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 4</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="84"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> July 26, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="84"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1145 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="84"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="84"><div> VICTORY:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 05 Ost S/FT-4/7 </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 65 WIDTH="84"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> Allied bombers were attacking Hamburg and Hannover.  Bach must have had at least 2 other victories by this date as an award document lists him having 6 victories by 7/43.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="466" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 5</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="82"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> August 12, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="82"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 0954 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="82"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Bonn, Germany</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="82"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 300 B-17s were spotted over Ruhr area.  While over Soligen,  the allied formation was disrtupted by intense Flak. It was at this moment that Bach and  the rest of  II Gruppe attacked.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="359" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 225 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="4075edb0.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="219" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="353"><div> <I>Bach dismounting from his Fw190.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="463" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 6</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="79"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> August 12, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="79"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 0934 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="79"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Bonn, Germany</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="79"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 300 B-17s were spotted over Ruhr area.  While over Soligen,  the allied formation was disrtupted by intense Flak. It was at this moment that Bach and  the rest of  II Gruppe attacked.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="462" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 7</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="78"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> August 17, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="78"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1530 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="78"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17, HSS</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Bonn, Germany</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 131 WIDTH="78"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> <B>"The Day of the Fighters."</b>  On August 17, the 8th AF sent their largest raid of bombers to date.  The mission consisted of two 2 waves: 1 -Regensburg, 2 - Schweinfurt (ball bearings works).  II Gruppe, JG1 sortied against the Schweinfurt wave from Woensdrecht.  At 14:30 hours  they  attacked a formation of 100 B17s.  Shortly after 15:30,  7 HSS and 5 B-17s shot down were  reported.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="346" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="40d50fa0.jpg" border=0 width="336" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="340"><div> <I>Bach at  the controls of his Fw190</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></b></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="460" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY  8</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="76"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> December 11, 1943</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="76"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1235 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="76"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> FW 190 A-6 black 5 </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Emden, Germany</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 49 ><NOBR><div> DETAILS:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> The LW force reached the Allied bomber formation a t 12:00 hours.  Hauptmann Koch also claimed a B17.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="350" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 209 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="4192ccb0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="203" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="344"><div> <I>Bach and Knight's Cross with Swords winner Heinz Bar resting between missions.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="464" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 9</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="80"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> March 6, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="80"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1200 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="80"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> S Delmenhorst, Germany </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 98 WIDTH="80"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> This was this date of the<B> first 8thAF daylight raid on Berlin</b>.  The combined might  of  two fighter divisions - the 2nd and 3rd - would pit over 100 fighters against the Allies.  Out of the Allied force of 630 bombers and 801 fighter escorts - 80 did not return.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="464" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 10</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="80"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> April 8, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="80"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1351 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="80"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-24</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> SW Salzwedel, Germany </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="80"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="384" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="463" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 11</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="79"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> April 11, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="79"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1100 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="79"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> Fw190 A-7 black 2 WNr 643948</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> VICTORY:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> N Braunschweig, Germany </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="79"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="384" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="261" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 367 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="412fa690.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="361" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="255"><div> <I>The sign over the door reads "Clubhaus German-Fighters" - probably taken at the II / JG1 base at Deelen, Holland.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="472" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 12</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="88"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> April 22, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="88"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1852 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="88"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 5./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="88"><div> VICTORY:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> P-47 Thunderbolt</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> N Beckum-Hövel, Germany </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="88"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> The Allied force consisted of 804  bombers</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="470" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 13</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="86"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> May 24, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="86"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 1852 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="86"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> 4./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> Fw190 A-7 white 2 WNr 643949</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="86"><div> VICTORY:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="384"><div> NE Berlin, Germany </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 48 WIDTH="86"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 10 FW-190s of II.Gruppe formed up with JG3 for</div> <div>  this mission.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="207" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 334 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="416c8480.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="328" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <I>Bach as Staffelkapitan of 7 Staffel.</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="454" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#333333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 ><NOBR><div> <B>VICTORY 14</b></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="87"><div> DATE:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> May 29, 1944</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="87"><div> TIME:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> 1235 hours</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="87"><div> UNIT:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> 4./JG1</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> AIRCRAFT:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> unknown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="87"><div> VICTORY:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> B-17</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> LOCTAION:</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> Görlitz/Bautzen, Germany</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 148 WIDTH="87"><div> DETAILS:</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="367"><div> At 11:01 hours II Gruppe sortied and headed  towards Paderborn.  At mid day they located the enemy.   The fighters flew parallel for several minutes before increasing speed and turning for a characteristic frontal attack.  Five  B-17s shot down as well as   4 HSS  reported.  Bach and two others, short fuel, landed at Cottbus.  Bach was wounded on landing having overturned his plane on bomb crater upon landing.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Bach's victory on May 29 was, according to official records, his 16th.  It is beleived that he had nine other victories after this date but, as of yet, no official records of them have been uncovered.  Please contact me if you have additional information.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Last Flight</U></b></div> <div> On 26 November 1944, II./JG 1 intercepted 1,137 USAAF bombers attacking targets in the Ruhr area. The bombers were escorted by almost 700 fighters. Overwhelmed by superior numbers, Bach, then Staffelkapitan of 7th Staffel, was shot down and killed in combat with P-51 Mustangs over Stendal, Germany in Fw 190 A-9 (WNr 205186) Yellow 15.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="385" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3f190200.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <I>Report of Bach's death from original JG1 Loss Table</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="250" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 203 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3eefac50.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="244"><div> <I>Bach's Death Notice</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="156" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 191 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="40f96b90.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="185" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="150"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="150" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></b></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Copyright </b>© <B>2001, Richard P. White. All rights reserved.</b></div> <div> <B>Reprinting of text or images is prohibited without written permission</b></div> </td> </tr></table></body>