JU88A of KG51 lost on 17 Jul 1940
 

In "Then and Now" (p.541) Peter Cornwell records the loss of a I/KG51 JU88A in combat over the Channel crewed by Oblt Rechenberg and three NCO's.

In BBCA Vol.1/p.76 this is given as a 1 Staffel/KG51 JU88A lost without trace with Oblt Dieter Rechenberg and three airmen.

I have a JU88A of 3/KG51 lost on this date with
Oblt (FF) Hans-Dietrich Rechenberg (56B/65105) born 28 May 1915 at Waldenburg (body recovered 21 Aug 40 near Quend (?) Plage and buried there)
Flgr (Beob) Hermann Müller (391/1/Fl.Ausb.Regt.14), born 28 Jun 1919 at Tscherepowetz/Russland (body recovered near Berneval sur Mer/Dieppe area on 20 Aug 40) later promoted Uffz. I believe he was a trainee Beobachter.
Gefr (BS) Rudolf Bank (62B/65105), born 14 May 1919 at Lebenstedt/Bruchmachtersen /Braunschw. (body recovered 2 Aug 40 at Retheville, east of Cherbourg)
Gefr (BF) Horst Herold (34/65113), born 16 Mar 1921 at Jütrichau/Anhalt (body recovered 18 Aug 40 near Janval/Dieppe)

Please can somebody confirm the QMG data for the unit and aircraft, I suspect that 3 Staffel is correct as 9 or more wartime WASt cards for these 4 men all give 3 Staffel with no exceptions.

thanks Peter

Re: JU88A of KG51 lost on 17 Jul 1940
 

Hi Peter,

don`t use BBCA as a source of German losses. This books are full of errors concerning German Luftwaffe.

Regards

Robert

Re: JU88A of KG51 lost on 17 Jul 1940
 

This is what I have, Cull lists the same crew.

Mason - 1969 - Battle Over Britain - p. 135
3./KG 51 - Junkers Ju 88A - Combat Mission - Shot down by Spitfire of Saunders of 92 Sqn., near Bristol at 19.25 hrs. 100% damage. Obit. Dieter Rechenberg + two killed; one missing.

Ramsey/Cornwell - 1980 - BoB Then and Now - p. 541
I/KG51 - Junkers Ju 88A - Shot down in combat over the Channel. Obit. Rechenberg and two NCOs killed, one NCO missing. Aircraft lost.

Parry - 2016 - BoB Combat Archive - Vol. 1 p. 76
17 July - Other Operational Luftwaffe Losses - 1/KG51 - Ju88A - Lost without trace. Obit Dieter Rechenberg and three airmen missing.

Cull - 2017 – Battle for the Channel - p. 98
I/KG51 - Ju88 - FTR: Oblt Hans-Dietrich Rechenberg (pilot), Gfr Rudolf Bank, Gfr Orst Herold, Flg Hermann Muller (all killed); possibly victim of 236 Sqn.

Balss - 2018 - Luftwaffe Losses & Claims - Vol. 3 p. 158
I./KG 51 - OP - Frankreich
Take off Melun-Villaroche - Near Le Havre - Shot down
Ju 88A - 100% damage
P N.N. KIA, B Oblt. Hans-Dietrich Rechenberg KIA, Bf N.N. KIA, Bs N.N. KIA

Entry from the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries, deZeng and Stankey
RECHENBERG, Dieter. 17.07.40 Oblt., 3./KG 51 KIA - Ju 88 A shot down by a Spitfire near Bristol. – this confirms the 3 Staffel allocation.

Claims were made for Ju 88s on this date by Spitfires of 92 Squadron, Hurricanes of 145 Squadron, and Blenheims of 236 Squadron.

Peter

Re: JU88A of KG51 lost on 17 Jul 1940
 

Thanks Robert

Thank you Peter, excellent