During January 1944 I./JG 2 was hastily dispatched to the Mediterranean Front, deployed to counter 15th USAAF bombing raids. Following the Allied landings at Anzio Italy, the Gruppe was scrambled on 27 January over the Toulon-Hyeres region in the south of France against an incoming fighter sweep by 52nd FG Spitfires airborne from Calvi in northern Corsica. Four of these were claimed, three of them by Fj-Ofw. Lemke, 1./JG 2 Staffelführer.
On 25 February 1944, I. and 4./JG 2 moved from the south of France to the banks of Lake Trasimeno in northern Italy. Lemke distinguished himself during his unit's short two month stay in northern Italy, being credited with eighteen victories. He was awarded the Ehrenpokal in March 1944, the DKiG in April followed by the Ritterkreuz in June.
On 19 March Lemke - by now with the rank of Leutnant - repeated his feat of 27 January. According to an article in an issue of Frontzeitung "Luftflotte Süd" the date March 19, 1944 is an odyssey in itself in the career of the ace of 1./JG 2. His exploits - including the downing of three more 52nd FG Spitfires - featured in a PK war correspondent's report. Lemke came down at sea, spent some time in his dinghy, then elected to swim ashore - spending five or six hours in the water - at least! En route he swam past his one of downed US opponents who was in his dinghy. Lemke carried on swimming and reached the shore. He then walked to the nearest fishing village and apparently passed out from fatigue,. When he came to, he commandeered a boat, rowed back out to sea to rescue the US aviator still in his dinghy.. (!!)
A feat that borders on the miraculous and I'm guessing that Shores and co. left this episode out of their 'Mediterranean air war' account because there is probably no way of verifying any of it..
Lemke was subsequently 'interviewed' by a war correspondent and this rare personal account has been translated by Nick Beale - see link below. " - Leutnant Lemke tells how after three victories in one day, he was shot down over the sea, swam ashore and still took an enemy pilot captive .."
Lemke's claims for March 19, 1944
34th claim
19.3.44/0750
Spitfire
5km W of Moltalto di Castro
35th and 36th claims
19.3.44/0953 and 1002
Spitfire
20km W of Tarquinia/20km W of Moltalto di Castro
Two Spitfires from 52nd FG lost this date, while a third was damaged: EF703/VF-Q of Lt. Robert C Boyd, EE858/VF-E of Capt. Eugene C Steinbrenner and Lt. Charles E DeVoe was WIA (damaged)
The full story of the deployment of I./JG 2 over Italy during early 1944 is told by Nick Beale on his Ghost Bombers site here
Lemke's own account of his March 19 feats as told to a war reporter translated by Nick Beale here
Also on this blog;
Siegfrie Lemke's award of the Ritterkreuz, June 1944
