Luftwaffe losses over Britain 4th/5th July 1941.
 

Hi, Researching my relative who was killed whilst on a Night time exercise Night of 4th July - Very early hours 02.45 hrs of 5th July 1941 Crashed only a few miles from 10 O.T.U. R.A.F. Abingdon, Plane was a Whitley Mk v Bomber Z6667 From 10 O.T.U. Abingdon, Official reports say it broke up in flight and crashed but I Was always told it was shot down and through investigations and accounts from a Canadian whom new a crewmember on that flight states it was a German "Sneak raider" [Intruder?].
I Would like to have oppinions on who might have shot the Whitley down?

I Have a possible match for this but would welcome any thoughts, Another possibility is that the Sneak Raider/Intruder was then shot down failling to return home thus no kill was recorded ! Many thanks, Ian.

Re: Luftwaffe losses over Britain 4th/5th July 1941.
 

Hello.

The Nachtjagd war Diaries volume one by Boiten gives the following on page 45 on the night of 4-5 July 1941:
"...In all probability, concerns the loss of a 10 OTU Whitley, which reportedly crashed on fire just to the East of Abingdon, following an exchange of tracer fire, possibly with a Ju88"

Ofw. Heinz Strüning of 1./NJG 2 claimed a Wellington 10 Km east of Nothingham/ Bircham Newton at 1:50/ 1:57

Some info about Strüning from lufwtaffe.cz http://www.luftwaffe.cz/struning.html

Kind regards.

Thijs

Re: Luftwaffe losses over Britain 4th/5th July 1941.
 

Hi Thijs, Wow thanks, just found out the price ands way out of my money situation [Unemployed] The person I Had in mind was Ofw. Heinz Strüning but his claim of a Wellington and area had me doubtful, Is the exchange of fire credited to someone or a mystery, Should I Also be looking for Luftwaffe planes shot down after the Whitley itself was downed in them early hours? Many thanks, Ian.

Re: Luftwaffe losses over Britain 4th/5th July 1941.
 

Hello Ian,

This is the only information I have about this incident is what I've written in the previous post. Hopefully someone else may be able to help you with finding more details.
The books are expencive indeed but very good!

Kind regards,

Thijs