Luftwaffe Loses
 

Dear all,

My first post on this forum concerns a claim made by Flt Lts Welch and Shuttleworth in a 23 Sqn Mosquito on 8 December 1942. According to Shuttleworth's log book they destroyed a JU 87 and a Bucker 133 and damaged a FW 200 and a Bucker 133 during a sortie to attack Bourges, Avord and Bricy and Chateaudun airfields. Can anyone confirm the claim or point me in the direction where I can find out?

Thanks in advance

Rgds

Jonny

Re: Luftwaffe Loses
 

The following might fit:
1942-12-08, IV/KG 76, Go 145A, WNr 1311, Bei Fl.Pl. Orleans-Bricy, Notlandung infolge Feindbeschuss. Bruch 30 %.
1942-12-08, IV/KG 40, FW 200C-1, WNr 13, Bei Patay, Bauchlandung infolge Feindbeschuss. Bruch 40 %.
FF Uffz Theobald Niehus verletzt

Best regards,
Matti Salonen

Re: Luftwaffe Loses
 

+ a kl35 of IV.KG76 2 dead

rt

Re: Luftwaffe Loses
 

Yes, if we accept, that the pilot has reported Kl 35D as Bu 133 or Ju 87.

1942-12-08, IV/KG 76, Kl 35D, WNr 1184, Saran, Jägerbeschuß, Bruch 95 %.
FF Uffz Franz Mohr KIA
BO Uffz Ferdinand Fischer KIA

Best regards,
Matti Salonen

Re: Luftwaffe Loses
 

Hi All

To ID enemy aircraft was among the toughest prospects during WW2.
Many factors played a great role, not only ignorance. Look at the Klemm 35 (a very slowmoving aircraft compared to a Mosquito)and also consider the altitude and the weather at the time. The most visible features of the Klemm 35 is its slight Gullwing and fixed undercarriage. The same most visible features as the Ju 87. How many seconds were there to ID a victim such as this while also keeping a sharp lookout for other nasty surprises.
Not much!
I see no problem at all that a crew misidentifies a Kl 35 for a Ju 87....

We also have what I call the "big-game-hunter-syndrome" to consider.
When you go out hunting for elephants it is nothing much to come back home and say you shot a couple of rats!
In a pilots case you WANT your kill to be BIG and IMPORTANT, so your mind rather select the bigger and better claim than a smaller and less
important opponent.

Cheers
Stig