Need Info On Luftwaffe After Action Reports
 

I need info on where to find Luftwaffe after action reports, or any other documents regarding the German pilot(s) & plane(s) involved in downing US B-17 from the 306th BG near Wilhelmshaven on May 21, 1943. (I believe it was near Canarienhausen, Jever, Waddewarden and Emden- flown by Lt Max Judas). If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.
Art Castle
ab_castle@hotmail.com

Re: Need Info On Luftwaffe After Action Reports
 

By the way, my name is Art Castle and I've been researching my uncle - 1st Lt Foster G Daniels. He served with the 303rd BG 360th BS (attached to the 11th BG, 99 BS) during the battle of Midway from Hickam Field as Bombardier on recon/search & destroy missions, his B-17 went down on June 15th, 1942 in the Pacific, two men died the rest were rescued days later. Transferred to the 306th BG 368th BS & flew 24 combat missions from Thurleigh, but was KIA on May 21, 1943 on return from Wilhelmshaven. His records were destroyed in the fire at NPRC and his IDPF has not had much helpful information. I seem to have hit a wall as far as information is concerned.
I was hoping the Germans kept some type of records after shooting down enemy planes and capturing/killing aircrew. I would be interested in seeing any reports on May 21, 1943 Wilhelmshaven area if they exist (pilot's name, type of plane, what happened to the rest of crew, etc.) I would also like to find the exact area where the B-17 crashed. If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Re: Need Info On Luftwaffe After Action Reports
 

Hello,

you will find some details about the 21st May 1943 in my book "Die Jäger der Graf Zeppelin" ISBN 3-0000-8220-4.
This book is a much enlarged and refined version of my original Sea Eagles published by Air Research in 1994, now long out of print.
See
www.marshall-verlag.homepage.t-online.de
for more details

Francis

Re: Need Info On Luftwaffe After Action Reports
 

Art,

you need MACR 16173. A/C crashed near Canarienhausen/Waddewarden near Emden, Germany. 3 KIA, 7 POW. Probably shot down by 2./JG 27. See also link to Tony Wood site here on this site.

Regards,

John

Re: Need Info On Luftwaffe After Action Reports
 

Hello,
I have a German report which gives the identity of a crashed Fortress as 23214, so this is certainly the one that came down at Canarienhausen which is a tiny hamlet NE of the village of Waddewarden, itself NE of Jever.
The report gives few details, 6 prisoners, 2 dead and the time as 12:46.
You are unlikely to find any precise details about Luftwaffe claims for this day. 12 bombers were shot down and over 20 claims made. Many of these were at 6000 or 7000m altitude, so assigning specific losses to specific pilots is very difficult, very little of the documentation survived the war, some of this is to be found in archives in the UK, the USA and even some in Germany.
Good luck in your research, the US archives are as good a place to start as any.

Francis