Identity of Ju88 shot down by 'friendly' Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 on 12-13 October 1943?
 

Dear all,

According to the Luftflotte 6 report for the night operations on 12-13 October 1943 over the Central sector of the Eastern Front, one of the Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 employed shot down a 'friendly' Ju88 in error, which was the only German loss for this night. Who can give me details on the identity of this shot down Ju88?

Cheers and thanks for any info,

Theo

Re: Identity of Ju88 shot down by 'friendly' Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 on 12-13 October 1943?
 

Hello Theo,
maybe these incisets are connected...
Night 12-13.10.43:
A-20B-1 “Boston” crew (pilot: Podpolkovnik V.A. Borisov, navigator Mayor I.I. Kindyushev and gunner-radio operator Chief Petty Officer Kurochkin) of 26 guard air regiment (2nd guard air division, 2nd guard air corps ADD) took off at 23:40 hrs from it´s base on the airfield of Lipitsy (Serpukhov) and was to patrol Mogilev airfield – where the base of Ju.88 nightbombers was assumed - in the period from 00:30 to 01:00 hrs at a height of 300-400 meters with another A-20B-1 from the same regiment. As German aircraft were returning and landing in intervals of 3-5 minutes, Borisov joined the landing pattern, sight was 5km. He attacked an enemy aircraft from 75m at a height of 50m firing two bursts of his 4 and 2 MGs after which the a/c crashed beyond the limits of the airfield, probably damaged. Then Borisov saw as the second „Boston“ crew attacked another e/a, that caught fire and crashed. Thereafter the rocket signals stopped. Then Borisov attacked the KP with 4 „PC“ rockets and gunned the revetments from a height of 200m in a second approach. Thereafter the electric lights of the landing pattern was switched off, the remaining fires were turned off after 10-12 minutes. No night landings were carried out at Mogilev A/D thereafter.
On the return leg at 1,300m a Bf.110 attacked from a distance from 50-70m from behind and 10m beneath near the front-line. The top gunner opened defensive fire and a reciprogal burst passed above the „Boston“. Then the Bf.110 turned away and presented it´s belly to be hit by the top-gunner. The long burst damaged the Bf.110, which crashed in the Lyubin region. The whole flight took 5 hours.
Mayor I.I. Kindyushev was awarded HSU on 19.08.44 and had flown 215 missions between 26.07.41 and June 1944 in DB-3F/Il-4 and Boston A-20 bombers on North-West, Leningrad and Stalingrad Fronts, over Kursk, Sevastopol, Belorussia, Poland, later bombed Helsinki, Königsberg and Berlin (with 19 GBAP).

Balss gives two losses for 12.10.43:
Ju.88C-6 Wnr.750398 of 3./NJG.100 crashed S of Schkloff (Shklov) after air combat (100%), crew baled out unhurt.
Ju.88C-6 Wnr.750394 of 3./NJG.100 damaged by gun fire (50%) Flugplatz Orscha-Süd, crew unhurt.
Loss recorded on 12.10.43: AE. Orsha: 6./KG3 (LF.6); Ju88A-4; WNr.4691; 100%; Flak Fire; crew save.
Loss recorded on 13.10.43: AE. Orsha: 9./KG1 (LF.6); Ju88A-4; WNr.800922; 25%. Crash on landing.

Greets

Monaco

Re: Identity of Ju88 shot down by 'friendly' Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 on 12-13 October 1943?
 

Thanks a lot Monaco for sharing these interesting details on the events on the night of 12-13 October 1943. Most of the Nachtjäger action occurred on the evening/late evening of the 12th October, so the 6./KG3 Ju88 loss may possibly fit the bill in the 'friendly fire' incident.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Ju88 shot down by 'friendly' Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 on 12-13 October 1943?
 

Dear Monaco,

I have one additional question re. the above story -where can I find the Lyubin region, where the Boston gunner claimed a Bf110 shot down?

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Ju88 shot down by 'friendly' Nachtjäger of I./NJG100 on 12-13 October 1943?
 

The known locations named Lybin are far off from Mogilev, maybe it is Lyubuzh some 10km E Mogilev as the fronline was E of Mogilev in October 1943....
Any other ideas welcome!

Cheers, Monaco