Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Hello again everyone

I have another RAF Bomber Command combat report, this time from November 19th 1943, from Halifax II JD469 of 102 Sqn. The rear gunner claimed two Ju-88s at 20.06 and 20.15 hours, at a height of 15,000 feet, course 272º at 170 knots. The position for the second one is given as 50.55ºN, 05.20ºE, which is between Liege and Namur. (The position for the first is seemingly mis-typed, being given as 50.55ºN, 46.10ºE, which is somewhere NNE of Volgograd...).

The first Ju-88 attacked the Halifax from the rear and below, but the rear gunner returned fire, and the combat report states that the "enemy aircraft broke away to starboard and then burst into flames. Enemy aircraft was seen to explode on the ground by both gunners and the Engineer."

The second Ju-88 attacked the Halifax from the starboard beam and below, and the rear gunner once again returned fire. The Ju-88 "was seen to spin towards the earth with a motor on fire."

Are there any Luftwaffe losses that may tie in with the two claims?

Many thanks.

Regards

Simon

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Just a quick bump to see if anyone has any info.

Regards

Simon

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Hello Simon ,

According to my info no JU-88 was lost over Belgium that night.

Regards
Alain57

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

I researched this for my book on 102 Sqn. The crew of Flt Lt D H Phillips in JD469/DY-U claimed a probable at 2015 hrs and a destroyed 2006 hrs ; I could find no Luftwaffe loss

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Hello ,

Found something in the following books :

The book Nachtjagd War Diaries by Dr Theo Boiten says on page 301 that the reargunner of N° 102 squadron Halifax JD-469 shot down a Ju-88 west of Leverkussen at 20.06 hrs( The 1st Jagdkorps reported the loss of one BF-110.

The book Die personellen Verluste der deutschen Nachtjagdgeschwader 1940-1945 gives the following information

19-11-43
C9+RP Bf110
6/NJG5
Between Erfurt and Weimar

Steckert Hans Fw. pilot + Auerbach 07/01/1920
Schemm Heinrich Gefr. bordfunker + 07/05/1920 Heeren-Werve

“ Notlandung Explosion des Flugzeuges beim Aufsetzen auf einer Sturzacker “
“ Crashlanding in a plowed field , aircraft exploded “

Regards
Alain57

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

This was lost on a non-combat mission and not due to enemy action and location is nowhere near Leverkusen

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Hello Simon,

Checked this one, but no luck I'm afraid, no matching Nachtjagd losss found. Cheers, Theo

Re: Luftwaffe nightfighter loss (losses?) 19th Nov 1943?
 

Thank you for all the replies everyone - much appreciated.

The rear gunner of JD469, George Forster Cairns, was born in Longframlington, Northumberland. He was awarded the D.F.C., which was gazetted in the London Gazette on August 1st 1944. The citation specifically mentions this action:

"As air gunner, Pilot Officer Cairns has taken part in a large number of sorties and has displayed a high standard of skill and determination throughout. On one occasion he was a gunner in an aircraft detailed to attack Leverkusen. On the homeward flight the bomber was intercepted by 3 enemy aircraft. The first attacked from astern below but was struck by an accurate burst of fire from Pilot Officer Cairns's guns and fell to the ground, where it exploded. Almost immediately the second fighter closed in. Pilot Officer Cairns met it with a devastating burst, setting one of its engines on fire. The third enemy aircraft then flew off without attempting to attack. In this spirited action this gallant gunner defended his aircraft with exceptional skill. He has invariably displayed a high standard of courage and devotion to duty."

There's an account of the night's action here, written by the Navigator of JD469, Tom Maddock:

http://www.102ceylonsquadron.co.uk/memTomMaddock.html

Cairns also claimed a single-engined fighter over Berlin on January 20th 1944, flying with the same crew in Halifax HX153 DY-U. Time was given as 19.36 hours at 18,000 feet, heading 165º. The fighter was last seen by the Second Pilot 'diving below the Halifax in flames.'

Regards

Simon