Loren's List of Claims

1) Claim 29.05.43 Maj. L.G. McCollom 56th Group 61st Sqn. 0 - 1 - 0 Me 109G 15.50 ca: S.E. St. Moen
2) Claim 30.07.43 Maj. L.G. McCollom 56th FG HQ Flt. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 109G 10.20 ca: Arnhem
3) Claim 17.08.43 Lt.Col. L.C. McCollom 353rd FG HQ Flt. 1 - 0 - 0 Bf 109G 10.28 ca: S. Diest
4) Claim 10.10.43 Lt.Col. L.G. McCollom 353rd FG HQ Flt. 0 - 1 - 0 Me 110 15.35-50: Rheine
The information lists the date of his claim, his rank and name, unit he was flying with, type of claim (destroyed, probable or damaged), type of enemy aircraft, time and location. His loss information is as follows:
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* Cat.E 25.11.43 Lt.Col. Loren G. McCollom: P/W 353rd FG HQ Flt. P-47D-2 43-8395 YJ-S Flak: St. Omer/Fort Rouge This information lists the category of loss or damage, date, rank and name, fate, unit, type of aircraft, bureau or serial number, tactical code, cause and location.

Claim # 3 Heinz Kemethmüller

Heinz Kemethmüller was born on 26 June 1914 at Nürnberg. Unteroffizier Kemethmüller served with 8./JG 3 from December 1940. He claimed his first victory on 29 June 1941. Feldwebel Kemethmüller was to claim considerable success during the summer of 1942, including 11 victories in July 1942 and 13 victories in August 1942. On 31 August he was awarded the Ehrenpokal. He claimed 23 victories in September 1942, including three on 11 September (43-45) and four on 18 September (50-53). On 2 October he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 59 victories. The next day he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. Oberfeldwebel Kemethmüller was shortly afterwards transferred as a Schwarmführer to 7./JG 26. He was wounded on 4 February 1943, when his Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr. 0142 438) was written off in an emergency landing at Neuf-Bequin after receiving engine damage in aerial combat with RAF Spitfire fighters. It is likely that he was the victim of 2/Lt Nils Jorstad (7 confirmed, 2 probable and 5 damaged victories) of 331 Sqn, (Norwegian) RAF. 7./JG 26 was stationed in Russia from 28 February through July 1943 where he recorded an additional 10 victories, including three on 21 May (63-65). On 17 August he was wounded when his Bf 109 G-4 “White 6” (W.Nr. 19 216) was shot down in aerial combat over Leopoldsburg by Lt Col Loren G McCollom (1 confirmed, 2 probable and 1 damaged victories, prisoner of war 25 November 1943) of the 353rd FG, USAAF. He returned to combat duty with 9./JG 26. Leutnant Kemethmüller was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 26 on 24 April 1944. He recorded nine victories on the Invasion Front, including six USAAF P-47 fighters. On 4 November he was wounded during a landing accident in Fw 190 A-9 “Blue 6” (W.Nr. 205 206) at Greven airfield. On 21 November he was recommended for the award of the Eichenlaub. He was appointed Gruppenadjutant of I./JG 26 on 19 March 1945. He died on 20 February 1984 at Bonn-Beuel. Heinz Kemethmüller flew 463 missions and claimed 95 victories of which 70 were on the Eastern Front, including 26 Il-2 Sturmoviks and 25 were on the Western Front, including five four-engined bombers. He was wounded seven times during his career.