RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Hi

On 07/12/44 during an attack on Drontheim by Beaufighters,Mosquitos and mustang,what were the actual losses and claims ( RAF and JG5 ).

Thanks in advance

michel

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Try this:

Mustang ‘C’ 315, two Mosquitoes ‘O’ flown by Flying Officers William N. Cosman DFC (RCAF) and his navigator Flying Officer L.M. Freedman; Cosman had already completed one tour of duty before joining 248 Squadron at Portreath in June 1944.

The second Mosquito ‘Z’ PZ346 from 248 Squadron with Flying Officer K.C. Wing and navigator Pilot Officer V.R. Sheild and Beaufighter ‘R’ 489.

There was jubilation from pilots of 315 Squadron who claimed four Bf. 109s shot down, one probable, and three Fw190s as probable. German documents confirm only four losses. Later came the news after the battle at Gossen that two German pilots wee missing from III/JG.5 both perished during the battle Officer Harry Bernhardt of 10 JG. 5, flying ‘Schwarz 11’ (Wr. 410818) was seen to come down in the sea by one of his comrades while attempting to crash land and Officer Raimund Bruscagin from 11 JG. 5 in ‘Glebe 11’ (Wr. 410816) had gone down into the water near Gossen.

Months later on 29 January 1945, 315 Squadrons intelligence officer received confirmation from Fighter Command of four being shot down during this dogfight.

Regards

Andy Bird

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Thereforce four losses of each "side":a balanced result in fact,which is far from the case of the claimed victories,it seems,in particular for the JG5 (as usual):12 beaufighters and 2 mustangs !
I don't have the identity of the "winners",apart Rudolf Glockner,but his 31.and 32. "abschuss" seem to be unfounded.
when you says officer Bruscagin,officer it's for Uffz ?

michel

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

What was the fate of Andrzej Czerwinski ?

I dont find him listed in the CWGC ?
Did he become POW ?

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Details about this combat are available here: http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.../dec_7_44.html

F/O Andrzej Czerwinski (Service No P/2232) was killed. He flew with 308 Sqn before joining 315 Sqn in May 1944 and had claimed 4 kills.

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Thank you very much
That's exactly what I'm looking for.
Apart Baasch,von Podewils and Glockner,I assume that the others claims are unknown as usual with JG5.

michel
best regards

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Gossen had jammers, that's the reason why the radio communication was out of order.

It might be an enormours blunder from the intelligence, but 10./JG5 and 11./JG5 had just arrived from the North and was barely installed at Gossen, when this forced happened to run in to the most dangerous spot on the north west Norwegian coast.

Re: RAF losses during attack on Drontheim the 07/12/44
 

Before you ring praises sadly text / story on the site is not accurate.

Andy Bird