The Abbeville Boys

Chapter 20: The Dying Days

      Eberhart and Kurt decimated the bomber formation along with other members of the Abbeville Boys. As the Boys pulled off, the bombers had to go through flak. There more fighters on the other side of the flak. It was estimated over twenty percent of the bombers were downed, a devastating blow to the Americans. Three ME 109’s were shot down, none of them from JG 26.

      The Boys got back and had themselves a party in the Abbeville town square. At this point they didn’t realize they could shoot down all the planes coming across the channel and it wouldn't matter. The Americans had amazing industrial capacity. The planes would quickly be replaced and more added. The Americans also had a fighter plane being shipped to England that could escort the bombers all the way to Berlin, the P-51. The air superiority of the Luftwaffe would soon be challenged, even for the Abbeville Boys.

      Joseph continued to toil away at Dachau. If anyone could ever have luck in a concentration camp, Joseph had it. He was promoted to a lead carpenter building barracks. The Germans desperately needed the buildings, so he was relatively safe from being shot.

      The new prisoners coming in were telling of many struggles the German army was having on the Russian front. It showed in the camp. The guards were tense, and food rations decreased. The killings continued day and night. The smoke from the ovens filled the air. The smell was terrible as the inmates covered their faces with urine soaked rags.

      By early 1944 the B-17’s came across the channel and the Luftwaffe went up to meet them. This time they were met with P-51 Mustangs escorting the bombers. The Mustangs were sleek with inline engines. The engines were powerful and again surprised the Abbeville Boys with their speed. It was a beautiful plane. Their maneuverability was amazing. The Mustangs were aggressive and there were hundreds of them. The Americans also had massive firepower. The 109’s were not ready for them.

      As the hundreds of 109’s formed up they flew in to meet the bombers and P-51’s. Eberhart was experienced and saw what was coming. He figured there would be two P-51’s on their tail. Eberhart said in the radio, “Split up, Wolf you stay with me on my tail.”

      The Schwarm split and went towards the B-17’s. The P-51’s attacked. Eberhart told Kurt, “Follow me. We’ll turn and get on their tail. Do what you need to do. Take them down.”

      Kurt acknowledged. What Eberhart and Kurt didn’t know was there four P-51’s on their tail not two. Eberhart pulled up with Kurt following. Kurt pulled up and over coming down now seeing the four planes. He yelled into the radio, “Boss, we got four on our tail. Get out of there.”

      There was no acknowledgement from Eberhart as the P-51’s spread out and blasted Eberhart’s 109. The plane exploded and went down. There was no parachute. Kurt watched in disbelief. He became furious and swooped down behind the trailer and began shooting bullets into the Mustang. It exploded. Kurt flew through the debris not caring. The next Mustang was in sight, and he blasted it. Again, smoke came from the plane. Kurt never looked for a parachute. He went after the next plane. The Mustang pilot decided it was time to go home. He was accelerating away but Kurt was on him. It was intense as he pulled the trigger on his stick. The bullets pierced the metal fuselage, and the plane rolled over crashing into the ground, and exploded. The fourth plane had turned tail and ran for England.

      Kurt turned his 109 towards the formation of B-17’s and came up from underneath. He started pulling the trigger on his stick, weaving back and forth spraying several bombers. There was smoke everywhere from the American planes. He dove again and pulled up. He sprayed more bullets into other planes. There was more smoke as his machine guns stopped. He was out of ammunition. He was almost out of fuel.

      Kurt headed back to Abbeville and landed. He was upset and distraught. He got out of his 109 and put his face in his hands as he leaned on the wing for several minutes. He took his fist banged on the wing screaming. Two other 109’s from JG 26 were shot down. No parachutes were seen. The Boys were overtaken, not by superior pilots but by sheer numbers. The P-51’s filled the sky. Where did the Americans get so many planes. Not only were the planes superior in flying ability they had superior firepower.

      The mood in the bar that night was sullen. The boys drank into the night. They had seen the future, and what was coming, it wasn’t good. Something had to be done.

      Eberhart was gone and they assigned Kurt as Schwarm leader. Marcel Mueller became his wingman. This was a difficult time for Kurt. The Abbeville Boys had been invincible. The leader and his best friend in the group was gone.

      Kurt was now thinking about the direction of the war. The Americans obviously had more industrial power than anyone thought. What’s next.

      For the months leading into 1944 the American bombers persisted along with the P-51’s. It became a beat down for the Abbeville Boys. They lost more planes, but not as many as the other squadrons.

      Kurt was now a leader of JG 26. He has sixty seven victories and is promoted to Oberst (Colonel). The B-17 assaults along with the P-51’s are relentless. Kurt’s Schwarm attacked the Allies with a ferociousness never seen. Many allied planes were shot down. The allies had to cross the channel and fight. By the time they had to fight they were already fatigued. This was a great advantage to the Luftwaffe. The P-51 was formidable. They gave the Boys as good as they dished out. More planes in JG 26 were lost. Kurt continued to mount up his kills. He was now at seventy eight and was a respected ace in the Luftwaffe with an impeccable reputation.

      The high command led by Hermann Goering wanted to know what was going on. By this time Adolf Galland was transferred to another squadron. The new commander of JG 26 was Colonel Gerhart. He told the Reich Marshall they needed more planes. Goering said more planes were coming. They never did.

      The Boys took off one morning and fought off a small group of B-25’s and P-51’s. They lost one plane, but the parachute opened, and he landed in German controlled territory. Kurt shot down a B-25 and a P-51. They returned to base and there was five new ME-109’s sitting by the hanger. They were the ME-109G. The plane could keep up with the P-51. There was more fire power. Kurt and his wingman were assigned to the new planes.