Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Hello. Does anyone have any information on the following. It is an English translation of a report by Horst Geyer on his claim of a photo reconnaissance Mosquito on 6th November 1943 in a Me-109G adapted for high altitude flying. He took off from Achmer.
Below is an unedited extract. [Square brackets are mine].


So I was in haste to come in an acceptable shooting position at about 200m distance I released my gun-fire but there was only one shoot, my gun was frozen and I had to reheat the system. With a second attempt I had visible success, different parts of the Mosquito nearly touched me and a strong smoke from the right wing obviously the engine stayed behind the aircraft. After some seconds the Mosquito disappeared in the big clouds. It was impossible for me to follow because some ice has been developed at my wingtips.
My copilot [wingman - Uffz. Herzog] who did not understand or follow my warning continuing the flight into the clouds and missed since then.
Navy-observer at the beach of Helgoland have reported 2 aircraft (1 two-engine, 1 single-engine) plunged direct out of clouds into the sea.
This reconnaissance ‘Mosquito’ was the first shooten-down by fighter-aircraft over Germany. It was my 27. victory. For this I was awarded with ‘Deutsches Kreuz [German Cross] in Gold’ by Reichsmarschall Göring who was to visit (and inspect) the Erpr.Kdp 25 on Nov.17.1943.
He was accompanied by General Adolf Galland and members of his staff.

I cannot find any ref to this Mosquito. Any help identifying it would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Closest loss I have from my totally inadequate Mosquito database:Mosquito PRIX LR420,10/26/43, 540 Sq -Missing

BTW the kill location was AN-6 10,000m [meters] 20 km N. Nancy.

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Hello,

Some info on 540 Sqn Mosquito PR.IX LR420:

26 October 1943
540 Squadron, Leuchars.

Acting Squadron Leader R. A. Lenton MC DFC and Pilot Officer R. S. Haney in Mosquito PR IX LR420 took-off at 1100 hours on a sortie to the Trondheim area but failed to return.

Reginald Arthur Lenton MC, DFC, s/n 42315, age 28, son of Edward and Lucy Lenton. Died on 26 October 1943 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Robert Shirley Haney, RAFVR, s/n 146288, son of John and E. Margaret Haney of Earlsdon, Coventry. Died on 26 October 1943 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

See;
RAF Benson A Diary of Wartime Losses.
Ottaway,Reginald H.
Andover:Speedman Press,2010.
p.88.

Col.

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

On numerous occasions Mosquitos were mistaken for Me 410s and attacked by Allied fighters. It is possible this was a case of friendly fire. Were there any Me 410s missing around Nancy at 11.35 hrs that day? Time and place rules out:

43.11.06 BM ErpKdo 25 Schwerin Fahrwerkschaden Me 410 A2 2330 25 -/-/-

Jim

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

1409 Flight Mosquito sent to Münster reported being damaged in attack by three Fw190s on 06.11.43 but made it back safely. Heligoland is a long diversion from a route from Münster to Oakington

Regards

Martin

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

540 Sqn and 544 Sqn carried out no operational flying on 06 Nov 43 so there is no possibility of Geyer intercepting one of their aircraft but it getting home.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Thanks for your replies. It seems it remains a mystery which is strange for such an important claim which resulted in a significant award.
I understand that records of losses are not complete, but I have a suspicion that this event may not have occurred. There must have been tremendous pressure to provide results to justify the time and money spent on experimental aircraft.

Horst's words:
'In connection with LW-Ministry and Messerschmitt on my request 2 Me-109G have been reconstructed and specialised for higher performance. All unnecessary items with weight and resistance was removed, the engine-power improved especially for high altitudes by GM-1.'

However, I will keep on searching for Horst's Mosquito.

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Amanda,

Thank you for providing Horst's quotes. From his description, it appears that his aircraft may have been a preliminary version of the Bf 109 G-5/U2, a high-altitude sub-type of the 109 equipped with with GM-1 nitrous oxide boost. More knowledgeable people on this forum may clarify this technical point.

Regards,

Dan

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Hi Amanda

Geyer did indeed claim a Mosquito at 1135 hrs 20km North of Nancy at 10000 metres on 6th November 1943. I count this as his twenty-third confirmed claim, it was a v.n.e-a.s.m claim....probably no air-witness, or something similar. He was born on 12th March 1913, and died on 8th November 1996. He states this as his twenty-seventh claim, this probably includes a few unconfirmed. He flew jets at the end of the war including the He162. DKiG was indeed awarded just after his Mosquito claim on 17th November 1943. He would have been JG 25's highest claimer with eight confirmed claims(seven B-17's) of which apart from the Mosquito one was o.z-a.s.m and another A.S.M.

I give him a total of twenty-four confirmed claims, and know of two that were unconfirmed. Eleven of his claims were over Sowiet aircraft. Claims with Erg./JG 25 were:-

25th June 1943 B-17 45km North of Nordeney 0904 hrs 1500 metres Nr.17
25th July 1943 B-17 Hamburg area 1642 hrs 7500 metres Nr.18
28th July 1943 B-17 East of Meppen 1022 hrs 7500 metres o.z-a.s.m Nr.19
28th July 1943 B-17 Lathen area 1627 hrs 4000 metres A.S.M Nr.20
28th July 1943 B-17 Buzancy/Vouziers 1040 hrs 7800 metres Nr.21
8th October 1943 B-17 South of Verden 1530 hrs 7000 metres Nr.22
6th November 1943 Mosquito 20km North of Nancy 1135 hrs 10000 metres v.n.e-a.s.m Nr.23
26th November 1943 B-17 1307 hrs 8000 metres Nr.24

He was Kommandeur of JG 25 from 26th May 1943 until March 1944. Post war he joined the Bundes Luftwaffe and reached the rank of Oberstleutnant.

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Horst Geyer claims Mosquito
 

Hello Johannes,

How many Mosquitoes did JG 25 and JG 50 claim in total? I remember reading that it was very few.

Regards,

Dan