Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann

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Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann - lost on 27.01.1944

Hi,

Could anyone provide information on the loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann who was killed in an air death on the 27th January 1944?

Was he lost in the 'Baby Blitz'?

Thanks

Rick

http://www.100-years-of-history.com/...-06-13-208.jpg

Re: Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann - lost on 27.01.1944

Normal training flight:
1944-01-27, FFS B 15, He 111P-2, 1592, CT+NM, Fl.Pl. Bourges, Absturz infolge Bordwaffenbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.
Flugschüler Fhr Harries, Werner, +
Bordfunkerschüler Uffz Eschenauer, Karl, +
Bordmechaniker Fw Neumann, Franz, +

Matti

Re: Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann - lost on 27.01.1944

Bonjour Rick,

Neumann bomber was shot down by RCAF Mosquitoes FB VI from No.418 Sqdn

Newspaper excerpt:

Four Canadian Mosquitos Bag 7 Nazis in 8 Minutes

An R.C.A.F. Fighter Station Somewhere in England, Jan. 27, 1944 - (CP) - Raiding more than 100 miles inside France, four of the R.C.A.F.’s swift Mosquito intruder planes, led by W/C Don Macdonald of Vancouver, today destroyed seven German aircraft in an action lasting only eight minutes. Macdonald himself set the pace for his fliers, shooting down a Heinkel 111 and a Heinkel 177 after leading 26 missions without seeing one enemy aircraft. "Just think, after 26 trips without seeing a thing and then bingo, we get two," said Macdonald's observer, P/O Stan Wilson, an Englishman.

F/L Johnny Johnson of Omemee, Ont., with F/O Jimmy Gibbons of Vancouver as observer, and F/O Johnny Caine of Calgary, with F/S Earl Boal of Regina as observer, shared in the destruction of four Junkers. (Charlie Scherf [RAAF] and his Navigator) F/O Al Brown of Winnipeg, shot down the seventh enemy plane, a Focke-Wulf, to give Canadian fighters their best day since Dec. 20, when Spitfires destroyed eight German planes. Johnson's pair brought his total of victims to four and Caine, a comparative newcomer to the squadron, raised his to three. "There is no question about them being definitely destroyed." Macdonald said. “They went down and poofed. We saw three of them explode and go up in smoke.” Brown thought the "most interesting part of the whole show was the way those Jerries blew in pieces when they hit the deck." "It is a sight I'll always remember — just like lighting fires at home.”

Best regards,
Frederic

Re: Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann - lost on 27.01.1944

Combat reports shows W/C Macdonald claimed a He111 and a He177, F/L Scherf a Fw200, 2 Ju34s destoyed and a Ju 86 damaged were shared by F/L Johnson and F/O Caine, and a further 2 Ju88s one each to F/L Johnson and F/O Caine.
The French magazine Avions shows the victims as from FFS B7 Ju88A7 2177 4 dead, Ju88A7 3713 2 dead, W34 1407 1 wounded two dead, FFFS B7 W34 213 3 dead, B16 He177A1 5245 4 dead 1 wounded, He111P2 1592 3 dead. Also lost was Fw200 of 9/KG40 on a transfer flight to Merignac with five killed,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Information concerning loss of Feldwebel Franz Neumann - lost on 27.01.1944

Bonjour and thanks a lot for this answer, Brian. I can add that He177 and He111 belonged to FFS(B)15 with crews from 2. and 3. Staffeln. I have a copy of the FFS war diary. If you want the excerpt for January 27, feel free to ask.

Best regards from France.
Frederic