Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hello to all!

I'm searching for informations about Feldwebel Wilhelm Schmidt from the E/KG66, who is MIA on the 27.03.1944 on a bomb-raid on Bristol. He flew a Ju 88 S1 with the serial 301509 and the markings Z6 + FN.
I'm interested in informations about the raid and the destiny of the crew.
He was the cousin of my grandfather.

Kind regards

Schalabeer

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Ju 88S-1 WNr.301509 of E-St./KG 66, coded Z6+FN, Flugzeugführer Fw. Wilhelm Schmidt, Beobachter Uffz. Heinz Kunczak & Bordfunker Uffz. Franz Kraus, MIA 27.March 1944 with crew, cause unknown, location unknown.

Sorry I cannot provide more, GRM

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hello Schalabeer,

I have in our records the WASt NVM + letters from Staffelkapitan to the family Schmidt, I also have a poor quality photo of the crew but I do not know who is who? Can you send me a PM with your e-mail address, I would be happy to send you what I have.

Kind regards

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

The cause of his lost is unknown?
I'm searching for informations about his time on the eastern front. I want to know in which KG he was member of. In the document of WAST was only KG2 and KG66 mentioned. He was in January 1943 in Russia. How could I find out which KG it was

Kind regards

Schalabeer

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

As he was in Russia in January 1943 is there anything from WAST to indicate that he was with 15/KG6, who flew supply missions in He111s to Stalingrad in the last half of the month. From what I gather 15/KG6 flew the He111, Do217 and Ju88S ceasing as a unit in August 1943, with crews going to III/KG6/KG66,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

His EKM 58214/258 is from 5./KG 2 and possibly given before February 1943.

Matti[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JRJEST%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JRJEST%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG]

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hello Matti,

sorry but I can't see the files.

Kind regards

Schalabeer

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

On his NVM it shows his basic flying training would have been done at FFS A/B 3 at Guben.

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

My message contained no files. My computer sometimes adds funny things to the message and I don't know why and how I could prevent it.

Matti

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hi Schalabeer,

Welcome to this forum! I'm working on a book ("Chronik") about the history of I./KG66, the Zielfindergruppe to which Wilhelm Schmidt's Ergänzungsstaffel belonged. I can not add much to Wilhelm Schmidt's personal details as I got most of my info myself from Melvin Brownless (for which a huge thanks again, Melvin!).
However I can add that your relative would have used the so called "EGON-Verfahren" technique to mark the target. With this technique, the aircraft's transponder (FuG25a IFF) is interrogated by 2 Freya radars and it's course plotted on a huge glass table. Corrections are then passed on from the ground station to the aircraft using coded radio or Morse signals.

Regarding the raid itself: The raid on Bristol (target being the Docks area with a subsidiary attack on London) can be regarded as a total failure. Of the 139 bombers sent, 112 were plotted over England and 13 aircraft were lost. Target marking was poor and as a result the bombing was scattered all over Southern England, not a single bomb of the 100 tonnes of bombs hitting the intended targets...

Apart from the Ju 88 S-1 of the Besatzung Schmidt, I./KG66 also lost a Ju 188E of 2./KG66 due to Flak and nightfighter damage, the Besatzung of Lt. Fara finally bailing out near Dunkirk in France. Another Ju 188 of 2./KG66 had to abort the mission because of engine failure.

Hope this helps. I would be very interested to hear from you, please see the PM I sent to you.

Best regards,

Marcel

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hi Marcel,

I hope the work on your Chronik is going well, I have had contact with Schalabeer and he is a very nice guy whom I am sure will help you further!

Best wishes,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Are there any relics of Montdidier airfield?
Are there any descriptions or something about it?

Kind regards

Schalabeer

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Hi Schalabeer,

[quote=schalabeer;126880]Are there any relics of Montdidier airfield?

I'm no expert, but I thought so.. Have you tried Google Maps? Maybe one of our French members can help? Is there still an active airstrip or flying club today?

Are there any descriptions or something about it?

I have an Allied intelligence document including aerial photographs describing the airfield. You can have a copy if you want.

Best regards,

Marcel

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Go on to Google Earth and enter the name Fignières (this is a village just north of Montdidier itself). If you look very carefully, you can see that there are lighter strips in the fields to the south of the village, corresponding to the three runways which intersected in a star shape.

Aerial photograph Flugplatz Montdidier Then & Now
 

Thanks Nick! With some help from a friend, here's an aerial photograph of Montdidier Then & Now. Original photo was taken on 17 July 1944, for bomb assessment. What a typical shape it had!

http://www.gearthhacks.com/dlfile311...-July-1944.htm

Regards,

Marcel

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

Thank you for help!

@ Marcel: Is there a list of members of 15./KG 6 in "Wir flogen gen Westen" Vol. 1 ? I've got Vol. 2.

Kind regards

Schalabeer

Re: Lost during operation Steinbock
 

No, both volumes are complementary. Volume 1 deals with I., II. and III. Gruppen.

Best regards,

Marcel