Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi all

I am following the careers of Ernst Weible and Alfred Schmittka, previously mentioned in a thread on KGzbV 106. By summer 1941 they were flying with 2./KG 54. I would be very grateful for details if anyone has further information or reports on the following incidents:

1. 22nd June 1941 Ju 88 B3+BK landed in Lublin at 09:50 having been hit in the left wing.

2. 23rd June 1941 Ju 88 B3+BK landed in Lublin at 16:55 having been hit in the cockpit, suffering significant damage to instruments

3. 27th June 1941 Ju 88 B3+BK landed in Lublin at 19:00 having been hit by anti-aircraft fire after attacking the Luck-Korzek road.

4. 18th July 1941 Ju 88 B3+EK landed in Hranowka at 19:04 following attacks on railways and trains in the Kiev-Cherkasi area with the bomb aimer having been shot in the head.

Any information will be gratefully received.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Tim O
Ofw. Ernst Weible KIA 44-03-24 3./KG 54 Channel
Frans A

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Frans

Thanks for your post. I was aware Weible was posted missing in Ju 88-A4 Werk-Nr 301295, coded B3+XL, on 24th March 1944 during a mission to London. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross posthumously.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Tim,

I've checked my files but I don't seem to have anything on the above. My I ask where this info is coming from?

Regards,
Rudi.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

No doubt the logbook but damage must have been too slight for recording

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Rudi

Thanks for looking. As Chris mentions, the comments come from Alfred Schmittka's Flugbuche.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Here's a possibility for 22-Jun, though it seems unlikely since they were flying 'BK' again the next day.

22-Jun-41, , Ju 88A-5, 8145, n.n., , KG 54, I., , , , KP+VE, , Enemy fire., , , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5; Radtke, KG 54, p.349, Medcalf, Swidnik/Lublin, 20%, F

Any ideas on who the observer was who was hit on 18-Jul? There might be a NVL report that might help in identifying the aircraft. (There isn't a likely casualty listed in Radtke for the 18th.)

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Jim

Thanks for this. Unfortunately the only crew I have recorded are Weible (pilot) and Schmittka (radio operator).

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Thanks to Rudi for pointing out that the record I mention for 18th July when the Observer was wounded in the head should be for 21st July 1941 following attacks on railways and Palkawa airfield in B3+MK.

Apologies for the error.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Tim

I think there is no error. It is clear from the information you have posted that mission on 18 July unrelated to the loss record for 21 July (target and aircraft code differs). In fact there could be no loss record if the Beobachter of B3+EK was only superficially wounded and his wounds had not prevented him to continue with his flying duties.

"Palkawa" - target for the mission on 21 July, is most probably Poltawa

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Thanks Andrei. Poltawa noted.

The injury to the Observer does relate to 21st July. I checked the Flugbuch entry and it was my error. The two missions are next to each other in the Flugbuch.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Tim regarding the mission on the 21.7.41 was the code of this a/c B3+EK or
B3+MK. Ive got a little lost with this.

Best regs,
Steve.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Hi Steve.

Apologies. The mission when the observer was shot in the head was on 21st July 1941 and involved B3+MK. The crew had been attacking railways and 'Polkawa' (probably Poltawa) airfield.

Re: Damage Reports 2./KG54 Summer 1941
 

Thanks very much Tim, all clear now!
Kindest regs,
Steve