Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

As an addition to Nick's comments, the Crash report (courtesy Nick and Brian) also states that this was the first "of the sub-type 'F'" to crash in this country.) I assume that the F stands for Fern (long-range) and refers to the plumbing for the two 300l drop tanks it carried.

Also the numbers at the base of the rudder and rear fuselage are interesting. I can see that the "42" would be the first two numbers of the a/c serial, 420 445. Does anyone have an idea of what the "750" might mean? As a quicky thought, could it be the weight in Kg to be placed at the jacking point when the a/c is trestled for compass swinging or gun harmonization?

In addition, one of the radio units IDed in the crash was an FuG 101A radio altimeter. A very unusual instrument for an Me 410, but comforting to have if you're doing low-level work.

One small point in your excellent book, Nick, I beg to question and that is when you mention, on page 320, that "The 2nd Bomb Division's B-24s were followed home by the Gruppe's Me 410s ...." That is also the view of Ian McLachlan in "Night of the Intruders," but I would think that the Germans, being aware of whom they had been ordered to chase home would have claimed at least one B-24. Yet all their claims, in this part of the evening, are Halifaxes. And, Balke, in his comments on that evening says only that "14 a/c attack the RAF ground organization facilities in the Cambridge area, ... and returning a/c reported 9 certain and one probable victory over taking-off and landing aircraft ...." It seems to me from that comment to have been considered a pretty normal evening for the intruders, except for the larger-than-normal number of bombers shot down, and not a special mission such as tailing home returning USAAF bombers. Just my thoughts on that topic, the details of which have bothered me for some time.

I'm not familiar with this book, Brian. Do you have further details on it?

All the best,
George

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

Hi George,

Book published in 2004 ISBN 0-9538061-4-6 E-Mail :- contact@redkitebooks.com,

Regards

Brian

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

The plot thickens. According to this Portuguese website found by the ever resourceful Mike H, Maj Puttfarken was shot down near Canterbury (miss spelled Cantenbury in the original) which makes him a lot further south than any other report of his demise. So exactly where did he and Uffz Lux meet their end?

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

Thanks for that info, Brian.
All the best,
George

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

Unless something new comes up Puttfarkens fate is likely to remain unsolved. According to the Red Kite book Me410 crews claimed Halifax's over the UK between 2204 to 2226 hrs. Radio intercepts from II/51 were recorded under Gilze Rijen control between 2323 to 2352hrs. probaly the 410's returning. It is also noted that Puttfarken claimed his 4th and 5th victories two Halifax's this night but with no time shown, did he return note his victories but have no time to fill in a full report because of the second mission. Some reports say a second Me410 flew off damaged from the attack on the B24's after Krugers loss, so did Puttfarken come down in the N.Sea on the return.
On the other hand a second attack was launched in the early hours of the 23rd and the NVM gives Puttfarkens loss as the 23rd while Kruger is shown on the 22nd. Radio intercepts gives traffic from II/KG51 between 0528 to 0737 hrs under Eindhoven/Soesterberg control which would put them over the UK approx. 0400 to 0500hrs. We know an Albermarle was shot down by a N/F around 0400hrs crashing at Kirton Fen Lincolnshire, but there is a question as to whether this was a 'Friendly Fire' incident. Strangely some reports said the Albermarle came down off Lowestoft some 80 miles south, could this have been Puttfarkens aircraft if he was on the second mission or did he attack the RAF machine and his aircraft was hit by debris.
Although Luftwaffe reports talk of 14 Me410's in the first attack and 8 in the second the Home Office report for the night reports only 8 bombers operating over East Anglia and Lincolnshire.
As George pointed the 410's had the use of a Radio Altimeter, perhaps Puttfarken went in at low level with no one else involved, I dont believe his or his Bf's bodies were ever found. There were no reports of a crash near Canterbury that night.
Unless a log book a KG 51 Veteran or diary comes up this one has no definite answer at present.

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

Thank you Brian. Two missions that night/morning? That could be seen as "pushing your luck.."

Edited to say: So no claim was made by the RAF/Army AA for for Puttfarken/Lux?

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

George, you probably didn't know that I split hairs for a living, so you don't catch me that easily! I didn't say the Germans knew what they were doing. "Followed" doesn't necessarily imply knowledge or purpose, simply that one event succeeded another. "Arrived over England in the wake of" might have been a better form of words but I had a limit to keep to.

Sadly this operation doesn't seem to have shown up in ULTRA, ops reports from II./KG 51 seem to appear first in May 1944.

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

OK, your comment is a fair one, Nick. And I hadn't been trying to catch you, simply attempting to find out whether the Me 410s were deliberated following the B-24s home. Should I assume then that you are saying that these were 2 separate actions whose a/c happened to meet in the Cambridge area?

Thank you for your response, Nick.

All the best,
George

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

There's things you could catch me on but not that one! I too would like to know just how far II./KG 51's operations were launched to coincide with returning Allied raids or whether they just went out on the assumption that something would be airborne over Eastern England after dark.

Maybe on 22 April they just got lucky but it would have been possible for a control centre (e.g. Arnhem-Deelen) to radio to II./KG 51 the information it surely had about an American raiding force heading back over the North Sea. But were the Germans that well co-ordinated?

Re: Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.
 

In completing a fast scan through Ian McLachlan's excellent book on the air battle of 22/23 April 1944, "Night of the Intruders," I noticed a map labeled as the one showing air fleet movements for the USAAF and II/KG 51. It was based on "intruder movements picked up by eavesdropping on German transmissions and from Royal Observer Corps reports." Can anyone verify the accuracy of this map? It is interesting though, and is from page 200 of the book.

And one last item. Was Soesterberg actually the base that the II/KG 51 aircraft took-off from?