[Nick Hector]

He was mentioned too...

Heinz Baer

25.9.39/1230 Curtiss Hawk Weissenburg/Lauterburg Probably No. 112 of GC 4/4. Capt. P Claude baled out but shot at in parachute, DOW (also claimed by Pitcairn)

21.5.40/1620 Hurricane (D-520?) Samer Not likely to have been a Spitfire or a Hurricane, no attributable losses found

23.5.40/1110 Hurricane Dunkirk or Bethune Serial unknown of 253 sqn. P/O J D Ford believed POW

20.8.40/1610 Spitfire I Overclaiming, only 1 attributable loss: R6818 of 65 sqn. P/O K G Hart, baled out and rescued from sea (versus 4 claims in total)

24.8.40/1413 Hurricane I L1659 of 501 sqn? Sgt. William J Green crashlanded at Hawkinge after combat over Manston, unhurt (attributed to friendly Flak, two other claims at this time)

29.8.40/2010 Spitfire Judging by timings alone, were these actually the two 501 sqn Hurricanes lost at 1920-1930 BT? R4223 of Sgt. William J Green baled out, rescued safely plus P3102 of F/L John Albert Axel Gibson (NZ) baled out slightly WIA (Joppien also claimed at this time, as did Rolf Pingel of I./JG 26)

2.9.40/0915 Spitfire Unit definitely in action against 54 sqn at this time. Overclaiming, no apparent losses. Or possibly 603 sqn: X4250/XT-X of Sgt. Jack Stokoe damaged (Terry and Fleig also claimed)

8.11.40/1218 Hurricane Was this N2649 of 605 sqn? P/O P Tarkowski safe, cat.3 damaged over Maidstone-Staplehurst, also possibly V6870 of 257 "Burma" sqn, Sgt. A D Page KIA over Maidstone or V7652 of 615 sqn, P/O L N Landels WIA over Cranbrook

8.11.40/1505 Hurricane N of Dungeness @ 5000m Possibly V6805 of 501 sqn, Sgt. Harry Cyril Grove KIA. Lost near Blackheath/Sevenoaks around this time.

16.4.41/1825 Hurricane 15km or 20km W of Le Touquet @ 3-4000m 15km or 20km W of Le Touquet @ 3-4000m (versus 4 claims)

21.4.41/2007 Hurricane IIA NW of Ashford @ 6500m 1 sqn. Overclaiming, only one aircraft damaged. F/L Velebnovsky safe (also claimed by Joppien)

6.5.41/1410 Spitfire II 15-20km NW of Calais @ 200m 74 sqn, 3 losses and one damaged. P8364 or P7928 of P/O J Howard, KIA. P7537 of Sgt. A D Arnett, POW. P7428 of Sgt. A F Wilson baled out safely as the engine caught fire. P/O R G E Boulding, cat. 2 damage, safe (versus 5 claims)

11.5.41/2140 Spitfire (actually a Hurricane II?) 8km E of Deal @ 50m
Day's only known loss and definitely a victim of JG 2 was Hurricane II V7175 of 504 sqn. F/L B E G White WIA


22.6.41/0725 MiG ("I-18") near Starnice 41 IAP, 124 IAP, 126 IAP or 129 IAP, 9 SAD. 126 IAP lost pilots G Alaev, Panfilov and V Ushakov

22.6.41/0940 and 0945 2 x SB-2s Bug River sector/Kossow-Siedlce/near Starnice @ 1200m 39 SBAP, 10 SAD. 18 losses (the whole formation)

25.6.41/1130 and 1133 2 x SB-2s near Terespol VVS Western Front. SB losses to fighters in the morning include 130 SBAP, crew of Boris Vladimirovich Bastanzhiev (likely JG 51 victim, already damaged by Flak), they also lost crews of Mikhail Pavlovich Bugorkov and Pavel Borisovich Shakhmatov

30.6.41/1055, 1112, 1920, 1935 and 1940 5 x DB-3s Bobruisk/Histowka sector
VVS Western Front. 96 DBAP definitely lost one near Bobruisk, navigator was Lt. Alexey Alekseevich Egorov and gunner was Aleksey Vasilyevich Shiroborkin. 98 DBAP lost St.Lt. Ivan Mikhailovich Trejbsho (AE CO)

1.7.41/1345 I-16 "Rata" near Nowo Histowka Said to be from 161 IAP by at least one published source. Was it actually Ml.Lt. Vladimir Ivanovich Borisov of 163 IAP KIA?

3.7.41/1345 ("V-11") Bobruisk sector Likely 4 ShAP IL-2 Sturmoviks. Possible losses to fighters include Starshiy Politruk Dryukov and Jnr Lts Krivich and Alekseykin (versus at least 9 claims)

5.7.41/1344 and 1345 2 x DB-3s Bobruisk sector Day's DB-3 losses include at least one from 96 DBAP. Gunner was Serzhant Nikolay Alekseevich Borzenko KIA, navigator Ivan Semenovich Frolov also KIA as was Ml.Lt. Fedor Sergeevich Shipiko (all from the same crew?) another gunner KIA was Alexander Ivanovich Burenkov (Orsha sector)

11.7.41/1502, 1505 and 1645. 3 x DB-3s Bobruisk sector Were these claimed against 96 DBAP, 42 DBAD? They suffered gunner Nikita Maksimovich Balabanov WIA by fighters this date and St.Lt. Demiyan Stepanovich Borodavka (AE CO) KIA. 207 DBAP lost several crews as well: those of Lt. Ivan Fedorovich Zverev, St.Lt. Vasily Vasilievich Zybnev, Ml.Lt. Boris Sergeevich Zhekov, Ml.Lt. Ivan N. Pohodeev, Ml.Lt. Alexander Vasilyevich Suhovskij. Another gunner from 96 DBAP was Viktor Petrovich Sakharov KIA

23.7.41/1257, 1302 and 1310 3 x Pe-2s raids on Shatalowo airfield/Dankowow
411 BAP/OSNAZ. Overclaiming, only 3 losses in this engagement (versus 5 claims all up)

3.8.41/1355 Pe-2? (Claimed as an “R-3”) Could this have been from 136 BAP? Ml.Lt. Stepan Ivanovich Astapov KIA this date. A definite loss to fighters was 33 BAP, Alexey Maksimovich Burkov KIA in Guta sector

9.8.41/1330 and 1334 2 x DB-3s Day's losses include 21 DBAP, crew of Lt. Nikolay Gavrilovich Ozeranin brought down by flak and fighters

9.8.41/1900 SB-3 3 AE, 57 BAP. 5 losses (two over the target, 3 forcelanded at separate bases) (Versus 5 claims so this one is indeed a legitimate victory)

10.8.41/1055 I-15 Was this Lt. Anatoli Danilovich Yaremchuk of 127 IAP KIA this date?

28.8.41/1812 and 1815 2 x Pe-2s SE of Nowgorod 261 BAP. Crews of Kapitan Yuriy Mykolayovych Garbko (AE CO, returned later with some of his crew), Lt. Alexander Ilyich Lyagushin and Lt. Nikolai Stepanovich Bocharov all shot down (third claim was made by Karl-Gottfried Nordmann so these are again legitimate victories)

31.8.41/1120 and 1125 2 x Pe-2s Likely 261 BAP. Crews of Lt. Petr Ivanovich Bormatin and Nikolay Grigoryevich Shirokii all KIA

2.12.41/1015 Pe-2 Day's recce losses to fighters include 366 RAP, crew of pilot Pepelevim KIA and navigator Farvaz Husainov WIA. 2 APDR lost crew of Lt. Fiodor Antonovich Koshelev failed to return

Also on 2.12.41, Baer claimed 3 x MiGs throughout the day. Day’s losses include Lt. Alexander Petrovich Bogdanov of 177 IAP KIA

7.12.41/1130 and 1357 2 x Pe-2s One of these was likely 46 BAP. Crew of Lt. Alexey Yemelyanovich Khatuntsev, Lt. Ahtem Abdarman Adji-Khalil and Serzhant Aleksandr Sivkov all KIA

19.5.42/0942 R-5 According to allaces.ru, TsAMO 709 NBAP tells us Gersh Nikolaevich Bibikov was listed as killed in a crash this date. Was it due to enemy action and therefore possibly Baer’s victory?

11.10.42 Spitfire BR183 lost off Malta this date, EP550 damaged and crashlanded Luqa

13.10.42/0758 and 0814 2 x Spitfires 185 sqn. They lost Mk VB Trop EP316 this date

14.10.42/1759 Spitfire Day's losses include AR470 of 1435 sqn and AR489 of 126 sqn off Kalafrana. AR471 was damaged by Bf109s this date. Other losses were EN979 of unit not specified, EP203 of 1435 sqn (versus nine claims)

17.10.42/1332 Spitfire Day's losses include EP341 and EP521, damaged by Bf109 and crashed on approach to Hal Far. EP955 of 229 sqn lost this day as well

3.11.42/1208 and 1210 2 x Hurricanes? (Claimed as "Spitfires") SW of El Alamein
80 and 127 sqns. 80 sqn lost BP337/B, F/L R G Foskett returned; 127 sqn lost BN406 of F/L R C Lawrence KIA, BP292 of Sgt. R R Mayze MIA, BP289 of Sgt. D G Andrews baled out WIA-POW (arm shot off), HM130 of P/O A D Melville KIA, HL629 of P/O A R Rebman KIA, HL773 of Sgt. N G Thomas forcelanded in a minefield; BG904 of F/S B Wilshaw safe and HM140 of Sgt. A R Moulden safe

3.11.42/1555, 1558 and 1612 3 x Hurricanes? (Claimed as “Curtiss P-40s") Quotaifiya – El Alamein sector
Likely 33 sqn. BP161/P of Sgt. F Henfry MIA W of Daba and BP471 of P/O G S M Maxwell safe (both left at 1635 British Timing)

5.11.42/1340 and 1350 Curtiss P-40 and Spitfire Day's losses include P/O Wilson of 80 sqn. 145 sqn lost F/S Frederick Arthur Stillman. 274 sqn had W/O Neil bale out into sea after being hit by Bf109. 260 sqn had Sgt. Hartting shot down by Bf109. 112 sqn had FR245/GA-B of Sgt. J M McAuley damaged by a Bf109. Another serial lost this day was P-40F 41-14028/FL350. Definite Spitfire losses were BR477 and BR481

9.11.42/1450 P-40 Kittyhawk III 450 sqn RAAF. FR259 of Sgt. B V Crist was badly damaged, pilot safe and 4 others were slightly damaged

10.11.42/1434 and 1438 Curtiss P-40E-1 Kittyhawk I E of Sollum 2 claims for Curtiss P-40E-1 Kittyhawk I 41-36579/EV325 of 2 sqn SAAF. Capt. Jack E Parsonson POW, escaped and returned 17.11.42

11.11.42/0930 and 0938 2 x Curtiss P-40 Day's losses include 2 sqn, SAAF: Lts. Allen-White and Theron, Lts. V R Burdon (KIA EV356/DB-A) and H S McMaster (KIA in a later combat) Lts. Hope and Burls both crashlanded back at base 260 sqn lost Sgt. Williams (forcelanded at Mersa Matruh) and F/S Hill. 4 sqn, SAAF had Maj. Du Troit shot up and forcelanded (returned later on foot). One of the losses was P-40F Kittyhawk IIA 41-13783 or 13784/FL234. 112 sqn had FR217/GA-C of P/O Brian Anthony Fredrick Cuddon shot down near Arco Philaenorum and KIA

7.12.42/1450 and 1452 2 x Spitfires Was this EP779 of 92 sqn? P/O J Joerns baled out (lost around this time)

8.12.42/1040 and 1055 2 x Curtiss P-40s AK483 of 5 sqn SAAF. Lt. F T Van Niekerk crashlanded and returned next day

11.12.42/1535 P-40 Kittyhawk E of Ras Umm el Grainagh 112 sqn, two losses: FR255/GA-J of F/S W D Brown (Canadian)(WIA and forcelanded at Magrun) and FR217/GA-C of P/O Brian Anthony Fredrick Cuddon MIA (Heinz-Edgar Berres claimed the other)

14.1.43 3 x Kitthawks, 2 x B-25 Mitchells
The Kittyhawks:
3 and 450 sqns RAAF plus 250 & 260 sqns. 3 sqn lost FL323 of S/L Bobby Gibbes (crashlanded), FL330 of P/O Les Weatherburn (baled out and POW), 41-14049/FL363 of Sgt. Norm Caldwell (crashlanded), FL346 of F/O William George Diehm and FL346 of F/O Allan Edward Henry Tonkin (KIA). Other losses were F/S Nickolson, Sgt. Frost, Sgt. Cameron, Sgt. Harrison, Sgt. Webster, and Sgt. Kirkman. Total of 11 Kittyhawks shot down. Also lost by 3 sqn was 41-14021/FL345. 41-13990/FL323 also lost this date

The Mitchells
Is this a misidentification of B-26B-2 41-17890 "Swamp Angel" of 17th BG, shot down 12 miles W of Gabes this date? Or more likely 30 sqn SAAF Boston?

21.1.43/1515 2 x P-38 Lightnings 97th FS, 82nd FG. Two losses: Lts. Ervin A Lewis and Lloyd F Luddington. One source says they were to Bf109s and another says they were to Italian fighters. FOT says these were from 1st FG, no losses

25.1.43/1235 and 1238 2 x P-40 Warhawks Said to be US-flown machines, otherwise no matching losses

27.1.43/1448, 1501 and 1505 3 x P-40E Kittyhawks/Warhawks US known to have suffered one loss (Lt. Middleton of 81st FG?), Free French also involved in this engagement

4.2.43/1420 B-17F-30-BO Flying Fortress 301st BG. Losses were 42-5076 of 32nd BS, 1/Lt. William C Broderick and crew all POW. Attributed to Puschmann, originally to Flak, and 41-24397 "Phyllis" of 352nd BS, Capt. Paul S Julienne Jr plus 7 safe, 1 KIA, 1 WIA

15.2.43/0745 and 0746 2 x Spitfire Vs Combat was with 308th and 309th FS, 31st FG. Only one loss: 1/Lt. Joseph C Reed of 308th FS, KIA (Wolfgang Ernst and Kurt Ubben also claimed in the engagement)

26.2.43/1055 Spitfire V One source says this was IR-G of 244 Wg (borrowed 'Widge' Gleed's Spitfire). S/L L C Wade of 145 sqn bellylanded after cannon strike (attributed to Flak, Baer possibly claimed it)

26.2.43/1405 and 1415 2 x P-40 Kitthawks 450 sqn RAAF certainly lost P-40K-5-CU 42-9883/FR125 of Sgt F J Silk near Gabes to Bf109s and FR346 of Sgt J Stonely KIA. 3 sqn RAAF lost FL356 of Sgt J G Beer in a crash landing due to combat damage

26.2.43/1703 and 1708 2 x P-40 Kitthawks 2 and 5 sqns SAAF. 2 sqn lost Lt. Platt, 5 sqn lost Lt G.A.L. Dold plus one other unidentified crashlanded

27.2.43/1050 Beaufighter Overclaiming, no losses

1.3.43/1450 Spitfire V Timing matches with 243 sqn. Two losses: ER495 of Sgt. Payne baled out and ER724 of Sgt. C G Aitken KIA. Location does not match up so well as 243 sqn served in the north, I/JG 77 in the south…

3.3.43/0740 Hurricane (mistaken for a "Spitfire") HL931 of 73 sqn. F/S J D A Wright POW

3.3.43/0745 P-40 Kittyhawk (mistaken for a "Spitfire" as well) Kittyhawk AK967/I of 4 sqn SAAF. Lt. A J Mullany POW

5.3.43/0700 Spitfire (mistaken for a "P-40E") 92 sqn. This one said to be ER646/QJ- of F/O Bernard Lawrence "Happy" McMahon KIA

5.3.43/0745 Spitfire (also mistaken for a "P-40E") 601 "City of London" sqn. This one said to be BR284/UF-T of F/S John Tilston, baled out safely (Ernst Laube appears to have claimed it as well)

6.3.43/0758 and 1323 2 x Spitfires Day's losses include ER646, presumed downed by a Bf109 this date

10.3.43/1632 Fuma/Tatauin area (Foum Tatouine) 112 sqn, 6 other losses:42-45865/FR275 of F/S Richard DeBourke (RCAF, American) KIA, FR361 of Sgt. John Henry Oliver RCAF KIA, 42-45885/FR295/GA-G of F/O David Alastair Bruce KIA, also FR292 of Sgt. W Richard Blake (RCAF, American) damaged, FR335 believed to be of Ray "Goose" Guess severely damaged, 42-45798/GA-D of P/O George William Wiley, RCAF ( murdered by Gestapo after the Great Escape) and 42-46154/FR131 of P/O Randolf Charles Carlyle "Smithy" Smith KIA (versus nine claims in total)

13.3.43/1227 P-40E Kittyhawk Day's losses include Maj. Archie J Knight of the 65th or 66th FS, shot down and returned. 57th FG lost 4 P-40s to JG 77. 64th FS lost William E Jenks 324th FG lost Robert F Worley in Y-10 to II/JG 77 (returned, later KIA in Vietnam) and Capt. John D Simpson jnr. 64th FS lost Robert K Douglas POW

23.3.43/1053 P-40 Kittyhawk Was this Lt. L J S Tapson of 4 sqn SAAF? (Possibly actually a flak victim)

23.3.43 Spitfire? ("P-39 Airacobra") Possibly a P-39L-1-BE of 154th OS, 68th OG listed as lost the previous day (date of Baer's claim in error?). Lt. William C Nutzel

24.3.43/1010 and 1012 2 x P-40E Kittyhawks Said to be from 58th and 59th FS, 33rd FG. Massive Overclaiming. Only one known loss: 42-10524 of Lt. Robert P Kanter of 58th FS bellylanded in a field, aircraft burnt out (versus at least 5 claims)

16.4.43/1550 Spitfire into the sea off the Tunisian coast Was this ER116 of 145 sqn? Appears to have been lost around this time

19.4.43 Unconfirmed Spitfire Day's losses include Vc EE857 of 232 sqn shot down by Bf109s near Pont du Fahs; EN116 of 72 sqn collided with a Bf109 near Oued Zarga. ER343, ER634 and ES135 of 417 sqn RCAF lost on P-40 escort (versus at least 11 claims….)

10.2.44/1113 B-17G-20-DL Flying Fortress Zwolle-Meppen (PQ FN) @ 7000m Likely two claims for 42-37960 of 728th BS, 452nd BG. 2/Lt. Hugh E Noell Jr and 6 others POW, remaining 3 crewmen all KIA (Hermichen claimed in the same area but much later. I have not yet determined who really shot 42-37960 down.)

21.2.44/1403 P-51B-1-NA Mustang 5km N of Stadthagen (PQ 05 Ost S/GT-58) Likely 43-12161/FT-D of 353rd FS, 354th FG. 1/Lt. John Duane Mattie baled out POW

21.2.44/1525 B-17F-20-DL Flying Fortress NNW of Rheine (PQ 05 Ost S/GP-6)(crashed at Bexten, near Salzberg) 42-3040 "Miss Quachita" of 323rd BS, 91st BG. 2/Lt Spencer K Osterberg and 7 others POW, 2 KIA

25.2.44/1343 B-17F-115-BO Flying Fortress eV Stuttgart area (PQ 04 Ost N/AT-8/9)
Likely 42-30678/KY- of 366th BS, 305th BG. 1/Lt. Robert A Safranek and 6 others POW, remaining 3 crewmen all KIA. Definitely already damaged by Flak, so eV is legitimate

3.3.44/1140 P-51B-5-NA Mustang Verden area/SE of Soltau (PQ 05 Ost S/EU-3/6) @ low altitude 43-6740/VF-R of 336th FS, 4th FG. Lt. Glenn A Herter KIA

6.3.44/1210 W of Diepholz (FS-45) @ 6000m Judging by the timing, was this 42-32002/OE-X "Berlin First" of 335th BS, 95th BG? 2/Lt. Thomas L Barksdale and crew all baled out POW near Barnstorf (Quakenbrueck area)

6.3.44/1445 B-17G-25-BO Flying Fortress Deventer area (PQ 05 Ost S/GO/GN)
42-31680/PY-P of 407th BS, 92nd BG. Crew of 1/Lt. Elmyran R Cooper all POW except one man KIA

29.3.44/1325 and 1335 2 x P-51B Mustangs Sollingen-Obeisfelde 355th FG? Likely 43-12452/OS-I of 357th FS, Lt. Benjamin D Johnston Jr POW, possibly also 43-6508/OS-O of Lt. Howard L Lambert KIA. 43-6317/YF-C "Duel Purpose" of 358th FS, Capt. James H "Lippy" McConnell POW also lost

11.4.44/1059 B-17F-115-BO Flying Fortress 10km NE of Fallersleben (PQ 15 Ost S/FB-7)
Possibly 42-30649/UX- of 327th BS, 92nd BG. 2/Lt. John E Harris and crew all KIA

22.4.44/2008 B-24H-10-CF Liberator Ahlen area (PQ 05 Ost S/JQ or JG 89) @ 7000m (crashed near Hoetmar) 41-29273 "Flak Magnet" of 753rd BS, 458th BG. Crew of 1/Lt. George N Spaven Jr and Lt. Robert L Zedeker (already damaged by Flak)

1.1.45/0923 Typhoon Ib (mistaken for a "Tempest V") Eindhoven airfield
PD503/F3-R of 438 sqn, RCAF. F/O Ross Keller KIA

1.1.45/0925 Typhoon Ib (mistaken for a "Tempest V") Eindhoven airfield
MN486/D of 168 sqn. F/L Howard Plaistowe Gibbons KIA

19.3.45/1215-1300 P-51D Mustang Near Ingolstadt 52nd FG. 2/ Lt. B H Nippert KIA

9.4.45/1005 B-26G-5-MA Marauder 9km SW of Amberg 43-34334 "Vulgar Vulture" of 556th BS, 387th BG. Lt. J D Stroud

9.4.45/1006 B-26G-1-MA Marauder Amberg-Kuemmersbruck area
43-34190 of 558th BS, 387th BG. Severely damaged, written off upon return to base