Action off Den Helder on 2 August 1943
 

Hello

9./JG 54 was in action against Beaufighter twin-engined aircraft attacking a convoy off Den Helder on 2 August 1943. The Staffel claimed five Beaufighters but lost two fighters and one pilot killed and one wounded in aerial combat with the escorting Spitfire fighters. It appears that the Beaufighters were from 143, 236 and 254 Sqns, RAF. Did these suffer any losses? Many thanks!

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Action off Den Helder on 2 August 1943
 

There was a lot going on this day.

Commencing at 1054 hours, 36 Beaufighters (12 of which were torpedo carrying) of No.16 Group C.C., escorted by 51 Spitfires V (L.R.) of 118, 402, 416 and 611 Squadrons, made R/V over Coltishall, and proceeded according to plan to attack a southbound convoy. This target, consisting of 18 ships steaming in 3 lines, was sighted south of Den Helder and attacked, one merchantmen of 2,000 tons being sunk, another probably sunk, one escort vessel sunk, another probably sunk and a third badly damaged. the escort engaged 8 Me.109's, 2 flying at the south end of the convoy and 6 more flying at the north end, with the result that 118 probably destroyed 1 Me.109, 402 destroyed 2 Me.109's, 416 destroyed another and shared another destroyed, all without loss.

Apparently no losses to the Beaufighters.

Stephen

Action off Den Helder on 2 August 1943
 

Hello Stephen

Many thanks for your prompt response. I was suspecting that was the case... 9./JG 54 suffered the following losses in the engagement:

Bf 109 G-6 "Brown 9" (W.Nr. 16 139) flown by Unteroffizier Gotthard Obst, killed, shot down in aerial combat with Spitfire fighters five kilometers northwest of Texel, 100%

Bf 109 G-6 "Brown 6" (W.Nr. 18 200) flown by Feldwebel Werner Sadrina, wounded, emergency landing due to enemy fire at Texel, 20%

I have also seen the surname of the latter pilot given as Sardina. The body of Obst washed up at Borkum on 10 August 1943.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Action off Den Helder on 2 August 1943
 

Hallo,

the sunken ship was Fortuna (!!) a 2700 GRT with an iron ore cargo plus a flak trawler, all by torpedos. According to the book Strike Wing 5 Beaufighter were damaged and 1 crash landed in England

regards

Alessandro