[RodM]

Here are the details you seek for Bahr, firstly, from a handwritten index of NJG6 Abschussmeldungen [air combat reports]:

23.32h, 4-Mot., [grid square] 'AT' [262nd Abschuss for NJG6, 24th victory for Ofw. Bahr]
23.39h, 4-Mot., NW Objekt [north-west of the target] [261st Abschuss for NJG6, 25th victory for Ofw. Bahr]
23.46h, 4-Mot., [grid square] 'AT 5' [260th Abschuss for NJG6, 26th victory for Ofw. Bahr]
24.00h, 4-Mot., [grid square] 'UQ - UR' [259th Abschuss for NJG6, 27th victory for Ofw. Bahr]

The numbering of the claims is as recorded on the individual combat reports and the Geschwader tally wasn't necessarily in correct date and time order (as can be seen). I suspect the Geschwader tally numbers were assigned in chronological order of the combat reports being finalised.

The handwritten Kriegstagebuch [war diary] of Stab Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 records the same victory claims as:

3.) 2330 Uhr, 1 Lancaster, 5600 m über [over] Stuttgart durch Ofw. Bahr der I./6.
4.) 2337 Uhr, vermutl. [vermutlich = presumably] Boeing, 5500, über Stuttgart durch Ofw. Bahr der I./6.
5.) 2346 Uhr, 1 vermutl. Boeing, 5400, N Stuttgart durch Ofw. Bahr der I./6.
6.) 0000 Uhr, 1 vermutl. Liberator, 5400, NW Karlsruhe, wahrscheinl. Abschuss [Wahrscheinliche Abschuss = probable aerial victory] durch Ofw. Bahr.

Günther Bahr recorded the same victory claims in his Flugbuch [flying logbook] as:

23.32h, Avro Lancaster, W. Obj. [west of target]
23.39h, Avro Lancaster, WSW Obj. [west-south-west of target]
23.46h, Avro Lancaster, über Obj. [over target]
24.00h, Avro Lancaster, SO Hagen UQ bis UR [south-east of Hagen in grid squares UQ to UR]

I don't believe Bahr had anything to do with the crash of your uncle's aircraft, regardless of what is written on the internet. In the first edition of the book, The Nachtjagd War Diaries Volume Two: April 1944 - May 1945, I wrote that PB638 was one of several possible aircraft shot down by Bahr at 23.32h. After a decade of more detailed research, I no longer believe this to be the case. Bomber Command lost three aircraft in the target area and another five damaged by night fighters over the target and 20 kilometres north of the target. Also, I disagree with the comment that the NJG6 claims "were acknowledged as confirmed by the war diary of NJG 6" - rather they are simply recorded in the war diary. The Luftwaffe High Command never officially confirmed any 1945 aerial victory claims.

I find the statement, "the Lancaster was in the night attack on Stuttgart and was from OFw. G.Bahr of 1./NJG 6 shot down over Stuttgart. This week has OFw. G.Bahr 2 more Lancaster shot down with his Me110 ID 2Z + IH. The Lancaster crew tried to fly back to England, but crashed in Michelbach in the forest" of extremely dubious validity. The bomber stream approached the target from due north and the closest distance to Allied-controlled territory was due west. I doubt the pilot of PB638 decided the logical course of action was to fly on a reciprocal heading to the bomber stream and continue flying 60 kilometres north of the target on the journey back to England... Sadly, I expect PB638 crashed within five minutes of being attacked.

The activities of Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 are well covered in the surviving documentary record. On this night, they employed seven night fighters between 22.59 - 01.25 hrs and claimed six aircraft shot down.

According to a German High Command report, the Nachtjagdverbände employed 14 night fighters against the Bomber Command attack on Zuffenhausen and claimed 10 aircraft shot down. I have no idea who flew the remaining seven sorties and claimed the additional four aerial victories mentioned by the German High Command - possibly crews from I./NJG11 or II./NJG2.

Your uncle's Lancaster was one of two shot down along the outward route roughly 55 - 60 kilometres north of the target. All six Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 aerial victory claims were localised to the target area, south-west of the target, and one roughly 100 kilometres north-west of the target.

Returning Bomber Command crews reported witnessing the following events in the area where your uncle's Lancaster and the other Lancaster crashed:

23.27h - 49 25 N, 09 00 E - 19,500 ft [position and altitude of aircraft that made the sighting] - "aircraft reported falling in flames".

23.28h - 49 17 N, 08 55 E -18,000 ft - "one Me110 seen attacking a Lancaster a/c that was taking evasive action. Air to air fire seen. Port wing of Lancaster blew up. A/C seen to go down in flames and explode upon hitting the ground".

23.31h - 49 17 N, 09 02 E - 18,000 ft - "1/2 mile east T/E a/c seen firing on Lanc which caught fire. T/E a/c made second attack on Lanc which spiralled down through cloud. No return fire observed from Lanc during either attack".

23.31h - 49 15 N, 09 10 E - 20,000 ft - "A/C 5 miles stbd hit by H/F crashed on ground".

Regards

Rod