[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello all,

10Jul41
Uffz Werner Lucas 4./JG3
TB-3 (2) 19:22 5 km E. Korostyschew
TB-3 (3) 19:30 6 km W. Maidanowka
TB-3 (4) 19:33 Chromowka
Oblt Franz Beyer Stab II/JG3
(15) TB-3 19:31
(16) TB-3 19:35

14 TBAP losses 7 TB-3

On 10 July 41 Uffz Werner Lucas of 4./JG 3 was flying with Adjutant Oblt Franz Beyer of Stab II./JG 3 - during a free hunting mission east of Shitomir they engaged a formation of 5 TB-3's. Three were claimed by Lucas and the other two by Beyer. The Russian bombers were unable to drop their bombs.

Lucas' claims:
19.22 hours a TB-3 at 5 km east of Korostyschew at 1500 metres. One attack from behind. Hits in the engine. Russian bomber went down. 7 baled out.

19.30 hours a TB-3 at 6 km west of Maidanowka at 2000 metres. Hits in first engine. One fire at fuselage. Plane went down and seven baled out.

19.33 hours a TB-3 near Chomowka at 2000 metres. Engine was hit and on fire. Seven baled out.

In all the cases Lucas claimed that of all of this claims seven crew members baled out.

Can anybody provide more details on this engagement? And who can explain the difference between the five claims and seven losses..?

Best wishes,
Rob