[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

at around 11.00 hrs a.m. on November 10th, 1943, two Messerschmitt Bf 109s of 8./JG 27 were detailed to escort a transport ship in the Aegean Sea when they encountered a lone twin engined a/c which they identified as a Beaufighter. After a prolonged chase that lasted from southeast of Kos island almost up to Kasos the British a/c was claimed shot down at 11.15 hrs by Gefr. Gerhard Albert.

However, Albert's Messerschmitt was hit by return fire, forcing him to ditch his a/c east of Crete, the location being given as 23 Ost/6688 ( haven't checked that yet ). Two Ar 196s sent out for search and rescue failed to find Albert so that he was listed as missing. For obvious reasons he was unable to file a claim for the Beaufighter himself. There is conflicting information as to whether or not this claim was actually confirmed or at least filed for confirmation by the unit.

My question is: Did the RAF loose a Beaufighter ( or any other type of a/c ) in this engagement or not ? Has anybody got more information on this incident as seen from the British side ?

This claim is not to be confused with two more claims that were made in a later engagement between 2 Bf 109s of III./JG 27 and between 13 and 15 Beaufighters northeast of Stampalia around 13.30 hrs p.w. that same day.

So any information as usual would be appreciated.

Regards

Jochen Prien