[nickle]

Gents, thankyou for such prompt and informed replies.

Brian, the paint pattern would seem a likely reason for believeing the a/c to be black. And with where the swastika usually is, in just a quick look but without actually seeing it, a number, I guess, could easily be mistaken for a swastika. But if a Staffel colour is red, what part is actually red? The lettering? I can recognise German a/c easily, but when it comes to detail like that, I wouldn't have a clue.

Chris, my 'eye witness' accounts turned out not to be so, but just what "probably" happened. Even as I listened to them, I was wondering why an He 111 would be heading for the deck instead of the low clouds having been found by absolute chance by an RAF fighter, see the tall chimneys in Petworth and take a well aimed shot at one of them as it tries to slip the fighter. And if that were so, I'd be looking for a crash report of an He111, as you said, in my limited understanding, it would have been suicidal. So all highly unlikely, but which eventually turned from probability into fact over the course of almost 70 years.

Could the timings of raids from specific bases and types of a/c put Faulhaber and Lucke into the pilots seat of that Ju88 do you think? It would be an educated guess on your parts gentlemen and I'll be following your evidence. Where can I go to find out about these two men, I mean, who do I contact in Germany as the internet will only give me so much. I've researched crews on KG55 and found it very difficult without the knowledge you both clearly have.

Many thanks,

Nick