[Luc Vervoort]

Chris,
Thanks for the additional info regarding the claim of a Bf 109 on 17/04/1942.


Checked the Combat Reports which are available on TNA. Encounters with Ju 88 are reported by 15 Squadron (AIR 50/182/17 and next ones) and 300 Squadron (AIR 50/241/11). AIR 50/209/13 and next ones (107 Squadron flying Bostons) mentions Bf 109F.
And finally AIR 50/186/8 (44 Squadron Lancaster) mentions for R5508 “B” :
Three Lancasters in Vic formation whilst on their way to target Augsburg, Germany, were attacked by a formation of thirty Me109’s and FW190’s.
At approximately 1655 Hrs near Bernay, France the formation was flying at 100 ft when attacked by fighters which were sighted at about 1500 ft flying in the opposite direction. They immediately turned into the attack, coming in at Port Quarter to Astern, aiming at the engines, opening fire with Cannon at 700 yds and breaking away at 400 yds. Rear and mid-upper gunners of formation leader opened fire at 500 yds and gave bursts until breakaway.Approximately twenty attacks were made. The Rear and Mid-Upper Gunners gave mutual fire support to the other aircraft. Nose gunner claims to have damaged a FW190 which attacked from Port Bow and vanished to Starboard bow. The Rear and Mid-Upper Gunners claim several E/A possibly damaged, but owing tot he number and rapidity of the attacks, they were unable to observe any results.
The Combat lasted 10 to 15 minutes during which the aircraft starboard of the leader was hit and seen to dive into the ground on fire. The Port aircraft had one wing badly damaged but continued to target.

Four aircraft of 44 Squadron (R5510, L7536, L7565 and R5506) were shot down (AIR 27/449).


So it must been one of the aircraft of 44 Squadron which attacked the aircraft of Ofw. Edelmann.


Best regards


Luc