Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

Hello all

I need HELP to clarify(?) these puzzles

Credited with 5 victories..an ACE..by Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries

Unknown as ACE in ACES vol.4 (Matthews/Foreman)

4 vict in Luftwaffe Night Fighters Combat Claims (Foreman/Matthews/Parry)

3 vict in Nachtjagd Combat Archives (The Boiten)

3...4? vict in T.Woods list

Among these vict(?)

5-6 May 1944:
6./NJG4 oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer B-24 (3.)(without mention of place) 00.43 (Foreman/Mathews/Parry

6 May 1944:
Oblt Schaffer 6/JG4 B-24 15km N.Roana (N.Vicenza ) Italy 10.43

J have a french source about this:
5-6 may 1944
6/NJG4 Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer B-24 (3.) Mably 5 km ROANNE (FRANCE)

Nothing on this date by Teo Boiten!! ah!

7-8 May 1944
6/NJG4 Oblt Schaffer Stirling LJ-55 off Ushant (island d'ouessant) by T.Wood and Foreman/Mathews/Parry

7-8 May 1944
6/NJG4 Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer Stirling (3.) 10 km S.Charolles.....nothing to do with Ushant! source Theo Boiten

HELP
Thanks in advance
Michel

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

The only night fighter unit in the Italian theatre at that time was II./NJG 6.
II./NJG 4 was based in Eastern France.

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1691

The confusion arises due to an error of omission by the clerk and the washed-out entry that was hard to read. This is the best I can do in tweaking the page. The relevant claim is #4.

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

After downloading the Bundesarchiv page and giving it some drastic Photoshop processing, I agree with you that the location is Roanne, northwest of Lyon. It doesnt help that Schaffer's unit is given there as 6./JG 4 (II./JG 4 was not established until July) does it?

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

I assume this is about Oblt. Karl-Heinz Schäffer, with an Umlaut.

According to the flight log of his crew member, Schäffer accomplished four Abschüsse in 1944. I don't know how many were confirmed.

On May 6th, Schäffer took off at 00:03 from Tavaux, and returned at 01:26. A Liberator is claimed that night. The time corresponds with the record in RL5/1449.

On May 8th, Schäffer was operational from 00:07 from Tavaux. They claimed a Short Stirling. Briefly after 01:00 the crew abandonned their Do217 through parachute because of an engine fire.

Kind regards,
Mathias

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

Very interesting gents, I must have missed out on this Abschussmeldung when plowing through the microfilmed records in a less than optimally lighted microfilmreader in the early stages of the NCA research. I must admit that the digitised films are often far better readable than the old microfilms that I worked with back in the days ..

I have checked the Anerkannte Abschussübersichte for 6./NJG4 and noted that Schäffer's claim on 6 May 1944 was officially confirmed on 18 august 1944.

Best regards, Theo

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

Well,the "fog" seems to be clearing a little,I deduce that his score is 4 and not 5 vic.

the B-24 of 5-6 may is n° 42-63798 406th night leaflets squadron 801st BG

Thank you all
michel

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

Thanks Michel -the 406 BS Liberator is indeed a 100% match to the Schäffer claim.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

A question for Mathias: would you be so kind as to post the sortie entries in the Flugbuch of one of Schäffer's crew members for the four Einsätze when he achieved his Abschüsse in 1944:
-5/6 February 1944
-24/25 April 1944
-5/6 May 1944
-7/8 May 1944

An open question for me is also why Karl-Heinz Schäffer did not add any more victories to his tally after being shot down on 7/8 May 1944; were his injuries so severe that he was declared unfit for further operational flying duties after 7/8 May 1944?

Best, Theo

Re: Oblt Karl-Heinz Schaffer NJG 4
 

Hi Michel

Mikrofilms clearly show 6th May 1944 claim 0043 hrs with 6./JG 6, however it's obviously an error, anerk.nr for 6th May is "5", for that of 8th May "6" i.e in perfect sequence for 6./NJG 4.

Kind Regards

Johannes