Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Hi,

Trying to establish details on a reported encounter between a Wellington of No.149 Squadron and a Me110 over the North Sea between 19.00 and 19.30 hours. The crew submitted a detailed report having fired 950 rounds from the rear turret. Damage was claimed to the Me110 that was seen with a smoking starboard engine. The damage to the Wellington was extensive, it later crashed at Honington.

Any possible units or claims this night from the German side?

Steve

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Hello Steve,

As the number of nightfighter units in the Netherlands was still quite small, I am quite confident that it must have been a nightfighter of the II./NJG 1 or I./NJG 2. The last mentioned unit had still some Bf110's but is better known as the Ju88 operating German 'intruder' unit which flew offensive nightfighter missions over the UK (Ferne Nachtjagd).

There is a chance that this encounter is documented in Ab A. Jansen's triology 'Wespennest Leeuwarden' or Theo Boiten's excellent NCA-books. Will look in both later today and let you know.

Best regards, Marcel

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Dear Marcel,

I did check in Theo's excellent book, nothing recorded.

Any pointers welcome.

Steve

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Just a thought: 19.00–19.30 British Summer Time in early October would be at the end of twilight on the ground but a lot lighter 3,000 or 4,000 metres up, so is a German day unit a possibility?

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Could be 9/NJG 1 Bf 110 D-1 Wnr. 3308 craschlanding due to engine damage after Feindflug 80% damaged at Stendal airfield. Crew unhurt.
Junker

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

The NJG1 a/c is a nice theory until you find where Standal is (60m W of Berlin) and that the a/c crashed on take off

Martin

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

The trouble with so many of these combats was that bomber crews were overly optimistic while the German crew not seeing a crash would not have submitted a combat report. Only chance would be a logbook or war diary and I am sure Theo would have had access if they existed

Re: Me110 encounter Oct 7th 1940
 

Is the aircraft in question Wellington L 7896 LN-G? If that is the case, then is was participating in the attack on Berlin the night of October 7 / 8 1940, and was with 99 Squadron, borrowed from 149 Squadron acc. to Chorley. Theo Boiten covers that instance in NJCA The Early Years page 34: " one [Nahnachtjäger] reporting an indecisive Feindberührung with 99 Squadron Wellington L 7896 over the North Sea".


Theo is a regular visitor of the Forum, he may be able to provide more details about the report.


Kind regards,
Mathias