Bf 109 G-14/AS III./ JG 300 - ebay photo find 292

Pilots of 9./JG 300 seen in September 1944 in Jüterbog alongside Bf 109 G-14/AS  "yellow 12". Standing third from the right is the ace of 9. Staffel Fhr. Klaus Grothues, third from left is Lt. Otto Köhler. Obfhr. Arnulf Meyer far left (standing) had been badly burnt earlier in the year and his face is dark brown from the numerous applications of antiseptic ointment. Note that some of the pilots are wearing life vests - despite being based in central Germany more than one JG 300 pilot had drowned after bailing out and coming down in a lake or reservoir...

Grothues was shot down and killed in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G 14/AS “Yellow 2” on 14 January 1945 north of Rathenow during the course of a huge 8th AF raid over Berlin. Credited with 17 victories he was the last ace of III. Gruppe. His disappearance, coming as it did one month after the loss of Lt. Otto Köhler - along with the losses in combat that day - had a profound impact on his comrades. In the space of thirty minutes on 14 January 1945, Jagdgeschwader 300 and 301 lost at least 90 fighters; 68 pilots, either dead, wounded or missing — 39 of whom belonged to JG 300 — were hors de combat! For Jagdgeschwader 300, aircraft losses, amounting to at least sixty machines , approached 50% of those committed during the course of the day...

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