Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Hello,

I have a note about a Ju 88 A-4 of KG 3 shot down by Soviet AA fire near Brody, Ukrain, on 31 March 1944. The crew was posted missing. The code of the bomber was 9K+MN.

I would like some more details to complete my database, like the Staffel, WNr, and the crew names.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Laurent,

I think the code 9K was used by KG 51, not KG 3. If the code 9K+MN is correct, the aircraft would belong to 5./KG 51. From january 8th 1944 untill april 1944 II./KG 51 was stationed at Lublin, Poland. Seems rather far away from Ukrain.

I've cheked Wolfgang Dierich's book on KG 51 but there is no loss for that date.

Regards,
Rudi.

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

As far as i know the only Luftwaffe airfield in Lublin neighbourhood, where heavy planes could operate was Świdnik called in documents: Świdnik, Swidnik, Zwidnik , Lublin-Swidnik or just Lublin, like in this case.

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

1944-03-31, 7./KG 3, Ju 88A-4, 301444, 9K+MN, Südwestlich Brody, Flakbeschuß um 10.30 Uhr. Bruch 100 %.
F Ofw Rees, Max, vermißt
Kb Ogfr Thönes, Werner, vermißt
Bf Uffz Orzessek, Willi, vermißt
Bs Ofw Ritter, Adam, vermißt

Matti

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Thanks to Konrad to have ressurected this thread, and to Matti to have replied my question !

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Target was east from Brody. Hungarian Ju 88 bombers also attacked it and reported very heavy anti-aircraft fire.

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Csaba: If possible, can you please add details like military type and location on this "target" you mentioned above?

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Jörg,

All related German and Hungarian KTBs are lost. I have a short diary entry and a longer reminiscence about this sortie, since a Hungarian Ju 88 was damaged by a Soviet fighter. But no very details about the target. Reminiscence says 'Soviet positions in the limit of a town'. Even the type of the attacking Soviet fighter was not mentioned.

But generally, the weather was very bad, massive clouds over 1000 m. So the bombers were very vulnerable for AA fire, since they had to fly under the clouds. Despite of this, the Hungarian Ju 88s even strafed the targets after the bombing.

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

OK, thanks anyway. Strafing targets in a Ju88 seems crazy indeed...

Re: Ju 88 loss Ukrain 31 March 1944
 

Hungarians strafed with Ju 88 frequently. It was a unique unit (with unique losses...)