Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

Dear all,

two Czech pilots (F/O S. Masek, Sgt. A. Elbogen) flying Spitfire V´s on daylight Ranger to the Netherlands/Germany borders claimed destruction of one Do-217 close to Nijmegen on Aug 8, 1944. It was the last aircraft destroyed by 310 sqn in WWII. Their adversary was not identified to date in the available literature, although they witttnessed its complete destruction as described in their combat reports.
Recently even a very clear combat footage from this action became available on IWM website.

https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/25171
starting at 25:34 (combat film 8960 - S. Masek with 8961 of A. Elbogen following).

Does anybody have any information regarding identification of destroyed aircraft and fate of its crew? Could this be an aircraft from non-combat unit?


Kind regards.

David

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

The only records of Do 217s that day are an accident by II./KG 2 at Münster and an operational loss over the Normandy beaches by III./KG 100 neither of which are anywhere near Nijmegen

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

Hello David,

According to the Luftwaffe Losses by Michael Balss, a Dornier Do 17P of the 4./Fliegerzielgeschwader 2 with Werknummer 833 and coded PF+YE performed a 'Bauchlandung infolge Bordwaffenbeschuß', or a belly-landing due to enemy aircraft fire in the Arnhem area. The name of the Bordmechaniker (flight engineer) was recorded: Obergefreiter Johann Masurek.

It was noted he was killed, but can't find anything substantial for that name in the Volksbund database...

Kind regards,
Timon

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

SE of Westervoort. Ogefr Johann Masurek (F), Gefr Karl-Friedrich Reinhardt (BF) and Ogefr Joachim Landsmann (BM) all killed

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

Surely Chris, WNr 833 was an old E-model?

All sources claim that (also Gerhard's list in your latest Do 17 book)

Why is it listed by Balss as a P-model? Can't believe such conversions were made?

Cheers
Stig

PS: Looked at the film and it looks very much like an early Do 17 flying very low.

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

I doubt the location, because according to the Dutch Airwar Research Group, in the evening of 7 August, Mosquito HK230 crashed at Fort Westervoort (https://verliesregister.studiegroepl...rea=&airfield=).

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

We are checking the Loss Register, it seems we have missed this one. Crew was buried at Arnhem. Crash was 500 mtr SE Westervoort.

John Manrho.

Re: Do-217 claimed by 310 sqn on Aug 8, 1944
 

Wonderful, thanks gents.
I wouldn´t be suprised to find out that Masurek or Landsmann were born in Sudeten and had their own Czech connection.

Kind Regards.

David

Just a short note about the fate of victorious pilots from 310 Sqn:
F/Sgt. A. Elbogen was killed only three days later during another "Ranger" to Netherlands, see:
http://www.oorlogsslachtofferswestbe...lsen-1944.html

F/O S. Masek died from brain cancer on July 22, 1945.