[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

WNr.8318 (28.May.43) crashed due to motor failure 20 km SW Azov on return flight.
Borchert and Gasch had tried to cross Azov Sea in inflatable boat but were seized also 29.May.

WNr.160424 (11.Jun.43) has tried to bomb the bomb depot (GAS-2011) but was downed by the depot guard (1 avia-MG BS and 4 ex-German MG34). The whole crew KIA, the plane crashed in the close proximity of bomb depot.

Thank you for the additional information, Andrey!

Did aircraft WNr.8318 crash somewhere near Кру́глое (english: Krugloe) coordinates 47°00'N 39°14'E in Rostov Oblast, Russia? It is just 35 kilometres from there to Бессергеновка (Bessergenovka) on the northern shore of Taganrog Bay, which was still under German control at that time, as far as I understand. Borchert and Gasch must have thought they had a good chance to make it across the bay.

Was the головной авиационный склад (GAS) protected by anything other than the five machine-guns? WNr.160424 must have been flying at very low altitude to come within the effective range of these weapons.

Regards,

Paul