1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

On the 19th September 1940 a Ju-88A-1 (W.Nr 2151) was shot down by F/O J. Kowalski (302 Sqdn) and crashed in a school field at Culford Park in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
I have the relevant details from The Battle Of Britain Then & Now and have obtained the forenames of the three crew members killed in the crash via the Volksbund Database but can anyone tell me please whether the pilot, Uffz Etzold, survived his wounds and became a PoW and also what his forename was?
Also, does anyone have a photo of the crash site and/or the particular aircraft in service prior to this crash (3Z+GH)?

A local man who was a schoolboy and who went to that school at the time of the crash has contacted me to see what details I can provide. So far I have passed him all I have been able to find out.

Any further details would be much appreciated.

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

What type of aircaft was RAF 302 SQ flying on this occation?
*One curious omissions with many of such queries appearing on TOCH! is that often the fighter type or other indentity is not stated, and not all can look this up quickly.

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Uffz. Ernst Etzold, POW (info from Matti Salonen / NVM WASt)

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Hello,

This is the revised report compiled by Peter Cornwell, so it is more current than the published version in his books on the Battle of Britain.

According to the EoE Loss Listing DB: 19 September 1940: 1./KG77 Junkers Ju88A-1 (2151). Shot down by ‘B’ Flight of No.302 Squadron during sortie to London and crashed at Culford School, Bury St Edmunds, 11.00 a.m. Claim submitted by F/O J. Kowalski. BO Uffz Paul Dorawa, BF Gefr Erich Schulz, and HS Gefr Heinz Scholz all killed, FF Uffz Ernst Etzold captured wounded. Aircraft 3Z+GH 100% write-off.

I know of four photos that exist of this badly crashed and burned out wreckage. However, these are not mine to share. The person who owns these will see this post and if he wishes them to be shared he will authorize me to do so.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Again, what type was the RAF machine (Hurricane MK.I) type/serial/code that clamed shot it down? Is "EOE Loss DB" research not more precise than that...

Otherwise, L.H., now "news" is possibly this side. This Ju 88 A-1 (not crumpled togeather "Ju88A-1" as practised by some) Dive-Bomber (Stu.Ka.) aircraft is (by me) suspect have possibly had W.Nr. 088 6141 - as RAF report says it (3Z+GH "White G") made by "NDW in April 40" (sic), but same RAF report does not mention or qoute the W.Nr. (2151) - perhaps it was not visible nor found - but the Ju 88 A-1 088 6141 (lost same day - on same target) was ( when new ) made up from NDW fuselage/tail parts and HWO main wings, but as Ju 88 A-1 088 2151 was AFW/HFW made - on assembly (new) that is - possible exception be if quoted factory indenty was taken from some spare or replacement part fitted on it - so suspected switched indentities are ; with other 1./KG 77 loss same day ; i.e. 2151 vs 6141, "inadvert switch" can quite possibly have been made by clerk at GQu 6.Abt or at unit level (difference was only 3Z+GH versus 3Z+CH and W.Nrs are very similar too).

Finding "the wrong" aircraft has actually happened in archeology circles, and it simply was because the crew took another aircaft to fly, because theirs intended one was unserviceable, but (RAF Operations Diary in this case ) still contains the intended one to fly, as the one crashed.

Regards
-ed

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Ed,

I don't have the a/c type of the a/c that shot this Ju88 down. The DB is what it is. I'm sure some RAF experts can answer your question.

Three of the photos of the wreckage clearly show that the W.Nr. was 2151, which was painted in white on the upper part of the fin on both sides.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Many thanks for the answers.

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

302 'Poznan' Sq. was a Polish Hurricane Squadron during the BoB. (Source: "Ace's High".)

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Here is one of the five images I have of this crash.

As Larry Hickey says, 2151 very clearly on tail.

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

As I wrote: "RAF report says it (3Z+GH "White G") made by "NDW in April 40" (sic), but same RAF report does not mention or qoute the W.Nr. (2151) - perhaps it was not visible nor found - but the Ju 88 A-1 088 6141 (lost same day - on same target) was ( when new ) made up from NDW fuselage/tail parts and HWO main wings, but as Ju 88 A-1 088 2151 was AFW/HFW made - on assembly (new) that is - possible exception be if quoted factory indenty was taken from some spare or replacement part fitted on it".

Ok, I see that them parts (cockpit area) where Arado plate supposedly was located at, has totally exploded and burnt, and the qouted indentity (plate) possibly then read is from other makers flap(s), ailerons or tail parts, possibly an salvaged part from other wreck(s). Also "NDW April 40" does not fit A-1 2151 production period at all. "Parts travel" was considerable after major battles, Like the BoB was.

-Ed

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Thanks for the photo, the local guy will appreciate that very much.

Re: 1./KG-77 Loss in Suffolk 19th Sept 1940
 

Hello,

The photo that Andy posted is MCN3479 in the EoE MCN photo DB. There are three others of similar content in the DB, confirming that the W.Nr. appeared on both sides of the fin. If he has five photos of this wreckage, Andy apparently has one that isn't in the DB. Interestingly, the tail of the a/c does not contain the large white vertical stripe that was applied to the tails and top wing tips of many I./KG77 Ju88s in early Sept., 1940, at least not that I can see in any of the views that I have. Other than the tail wreckage, the rest of the aircraft was utterly destroyed and burned out. Any's posted photo shows the best overall starboard-side view of the crash. Other close-up views of the tail wreckage leave no doubt as to the info that the W.Nr. was 2151.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator