Stuka losses to 31st Fighter Group

[Barrett]

On the 15th Air Force's second Operation Frantic shuttle mission, the 31st Fighter Group claimed 27 of approximately 40 Ju 87s encountered near Mielec, Poland on 25 July 44. I've been unable to identify the Stuka geschwader online and wonder how many were airborne and how many actually were downed.

Any info or leads gratefully received.

[Orwell1984]

According to this thread:
http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic ... 40&t=22194

III./SG 77
... 25 Jul 44: the entire Gruppe was jumped this date over eastern Poland by a large formation of some 33 USAAF P-38 Lightnings from 82d Fighter Group and 34 P-51 Mustangs from 31st Fighter Group and virtually eliminated. The U.S. fighters were returning to Italy from a temporary stay in Ukraine (Operation “Frantic III”) and had just strafed Fp. Mielec/108 km ENE of Kraków where they claimed 12 fighters on the ground and 3 in the air. A few minutes later they happened upon the III./SG 77 formation and claimed 27 of the 44 Stukas encountered, including one Staffel of 9 that was annihilated.

[Barrett]

Many thanks my friend. The 31st FG claimed 26 Ju 87s destroyed and the 82nd one. Other claims ran the total to 43, the third-highest day for 15th AF fighters.

[NagaSadow]

The Bewegungsmeldung certainly indicates a bad month for III./S.G. 77:

http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/schlacht/biiisg77.html

21 total losses by enemy action in July 1944, nearly as much as the total losses by enemy action in the first half of 1944 combined.

[Njorl]

Hello Barret,
For more information please see Warplanes over Southeastern Poland Part One: the Slaughter of Stukas on 25 July 1944 by Przemysław Chorążykiewicz published in Przemyśl 2004.

This book (ca 180 pages) is solely devoted to events you're interested in, ie. "Great Stuka shooting". And it is in English.

Regards
MJU