[RodM]

Hi Mark,

thanks for the info.

A check of the 410 Sqdn combat report concerned showed that the combat and claim had nothing to do with the Hptm. Rességuier loss as has so far been reported (shot down simultaneously by the rear gunner of his victim and from behind by a night fighter after being illuminated by a S/L). For one, the cirumstances were different - the He219 claimed by the Mossie was orbiting around a beacon/was not caught in a search light or attacking a bomber and, secondly, it occurred an hour and a half later (2200 hrs) than the claim by Rességuier (at which time the He219 was shot down, according to a crew member of the He219).

The identity of Rességuier's victim (and possible victor) for that matter can only be narrowed down to two bomber losses, both of which crashed in the München Gladbach area - no crew members survived from either aircraft so no new light can be shed on the incident. I guess the possibility remains that, in the absence of any corresponding Mossie claim, Rességuier's He219 was fired on from behind by either another Nachtjäger or a bomber.

The combat originally mentioned in the thread shows how nothing can be taken for granted. The Lancaster lost (PD378 ) crashed around 8 miles SSW of Eindhoven so intially it seemed that the night fighter attack would've happened in that area. In fact, as previously mentioned, the attack occurred 50 miles further east and the Lanc limped on past Allied lines before the crew baled out. No corresponding Nachtjagd claim has been found that ties in with the reported circumstances.

As for the possible Ju88 crash, I guess that will go into the "?" basket since not enough details are known about what the witnesses actually saw or where.

More will be revealed in Dr. Theo Boiten's forthcoming book....

Cheers

Rod