Possible II/KG51 Victory on 12th of April 1944 against B-1742-97556. Was it II/KG51 and who was the pilot?

[Mysticpuma]

Basically the topic is the question.

I was reading about the shooting down of B-17 of (I think) the 390th BG listed as B-17 GSH, 42-97566 as it made a final approach at Parham at 00.05am, flown by Lt Donald M. MacGregor, when a Night Intruder Me-410 approached unseen from behind and shot it down.

I'm wondering if there is any detail confirming which aircraft was used (markings) and which pilot of the Luftwaffe was or could have been credited with that victory?

Thanks for any help, cheers, MP

[Laurent Rizzotti]

During the night of 11-12 April 1944, Me 410 of II/KG 51 claimed three victories over England:

12.04.44 Ltn. Wolfgang Wenning Stab II./KG 51 Fortress II £ N. Ipswich: 300 m. 00.42 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.1
12.04.44 Hptm. Dietrich Puttfarken 5./KG 51 Halifax £ 1482/05 Ost: tiefflug [England] 01.25 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.
12.04.44 Hptm. Dietrich Puttfarken 5./KG 51 Spitfire £ 1352/05 Ost: 800 m. [England] 00.50 Film C. 2027/I VNE: ASM

While the Fortess claim by Lt Wenning seems to be the one, misidentification of the Halifax is also possible. "Tiefflug" means "close to the ground", but the listed position "1482/05 Ost" is over the North Sea, NE of Norwich, if I'm not mistaken.

[Mysticpuma]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

During the night of 11-12 April 1944, Me 410 of II/KG 51 claimed three victories over England:

12.04.44 Ltn. Wolfgang Wenning Stab II./KG 51 Fortress II £ N. Ipswich: 300 m. 00.42 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.1
12.04.44 Hptm. Dietrich Puttfarken 5./KG 51 Halifax £ 1482/05 Ost: tiefflug [England] 01.25 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.
12.04.44 Hptm. Dietrich Puttfarken 5./KG 51 Spitfire £ 1352/05 Ost: 800 m. [England] 00.50 Film C. 2027/I VNE: ASM

While the Fortess claim by Lt Wenning seems to be the one, misidentification of the Halifax is also possible. "Tiefflug" means "close to the ground", but the listed position "1482/05 Ost" is over the North Sea, NE of Norwich, if I'm not mistaken.

Laurent thank you for your quick response.

I would have to concur with you that:

12.04.44 Ltn. Wolfgang Wenning Stab II./KG 51 Fortress II £ N. Ipswich: 300 m. 00.42 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.1

is the correct one.

The B-17 was on it's 'base-leg' approach when the 410 opened up on it. The distance to Ipswich from Parham is only 17-miles and as no-other B-17 or bomber was shot down that night over the land by a 4-10, it would seem to be that although the location is slightly out it wouldn't be the one over the sea.

I also found details of Wennin'saircraft detailed as:

Lt Wenning - Me410 9K+ZP

I also found this website which confirms the serial of the B-17 too.

http://www.ww2awards.com/person/41074

Thanks for your help. Cheers, MP

[Tony Kambic]

This B-17 crash is well documented with 2 scene photographs in Eighth Air Force Bomber Stories by Ian McLachlan and Russell J. Zorn. Russell was an 8th Air Corp Photographer who was assigned to document crashes in the UK during the war. He stuffed his trunk with negatives and notes after the war and took them home. He dusted them off in 1991 and Mr. McLachlan helped him write this book in 1991 about 40 some crashes in the UK.

Crash recorded at Great Glemham, Suffolk 12-4-44 00:55 3 KIA
Crew of 42-97556
413 BS 96 BG

Lt Donald M . MacGregor pilot -- leg injuries
Lt. Issac L. Hightower co-pilot -- lacerations
Lt. Francis Uihlein navigator-radar -- serious injuries
Lt. George Pietrucha navigator -- KIA
Lt. John J. Petrowski bombadier -- KIA
Tech Sgt. Paul W. Morgan engineer/top turret --lacerations and burns
Tech Sgt. Howell H. Thompson radio -- KIA
S/Sgt Arthur L. Flint waist gunner -- leg fracture, burns
S/Sgt James M. McLean waist gunner -- leg fractures
S/Sgt Jesse L. Graham tail gunner -- lacerations

Injures on the ground:

Tech Sgt. Emmett L. Matthews ground personnel -- lacerations
Cpl Nyle Smith ground personnel -- hip and leg wounds

[Chris Goss]

9K+ZP was what he was flying when he was killed not necessarily what he was flying this night

[Tony Kambic]

I re-read the account and the ground personnel were in the aircraft. They were respoinsible for the PFF equipment. The B-17 was flying from its base to the 390th BG base to participate in a mission to Leipzig. The regular navigator had little night experience and they were initally off course when flying to Parhnam so the radio-navigator took over and corrected the course. Witnesses on the ground saw the plane on approach to Parnham during its downwind as the field lights came on. They also saw and heard another aircraft following it. After it had turned base the enemy fighter opened up striking the B-17. The B-17 hit the ground and cartwheeled.