KG66 loss 23-3-1944

[Brian Bines]

From the NVM it shows that on 23-4-44 Ju88S-1 300635 Z6+KN was shot down by 'English Fighters' at Senlis by Creil while on a ferry flight (Uber fuhrungsflug ). The left engine was hit and set on fire with the pilot making a succesful crash-landing. I believe it then translates to show that as the crew fled they were fired on by the fighters with BF Ofw. Eduard Zech (Stab I/KG66) being killed and 1.Wart Friedrich Grove (E-Staffel/KG66) being hit in the leg. Zech was buried at Kriegerfriedhof Montdidier grave no. 120 and Grove taken to Kriegelazarett Compiegne. Is it known who the unwounded members of the crew were and who was credited with the shooting down of the Junkers,

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

Pilot was Maj Schmidt and another crewman was Uffz Heinz Knode. They were flying from Avord, taking off at 1111 hrs and being shot down by "2 English fighters near Senlis, aircraft burned out." The victors were Laubman and Needham of 412 Sqn and they did return to strafe the aircraft on the ground-I do have Barry Needham's account as opposed to combat report

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Well well, I./KG66 is popular these days!

Chris is right, to my knowledge the Besatzung (crew) was:
- Gruppenkommandeur Maj. Hermann Schmidt (FF)
- Uffz. Heinz Knode (BO)
- Uffz. Eduard Czech (BF)

(NB: this was the established "Besatzung Schmidt", sometimes joined by a fourth man: Fw. Ernst Berge (BS))

With apparently 1. Wart Friedrich Grove joining them on this ferry flight.

If I understood it correctly (and I stand corrected!), Laubman and Needham were ordered by their leader Wing Commander "Buck" McNair to strafe the Germans after they got out of their crashlanded plane and afterwards felt very bad about it..(Even after the war it seems..) PS: Czech got a "Kopfschuss" (shot in the head).

When I interviewed Knode in 2003 he was still very bitter about it and compared it to "shooting hares"..

I did not manage to get into contact with the Canadian pilots and therefore would be very grateful if somebody could help me with their pictures and the combat report.

TIA and best regards,

Marcel

[Chris Goss]

Marcel-you & I corresponded on this some time ago so I am sure you have what you ask for as I was in touch with Needham & put you in touch with Knode?

[Brian Bines]

Chris and Marcel thanks very much for this information. I was not certain from the NVM if this was a deliberate strafing of the crew, or whether the fighters were shooting up the crashed Junkers and the crew were just caught in the fire. Looks like the Kom. of I/KG66 had a lucky escape, Marcel hope the book comes out soon,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

Marcel hope the book comes out soon,

Regards

Brian Bines

Well, me too! But it will take some more years, I'm afraid..However, in my (highly biased) opinion thanks to the unselfish support of the fantastic people (such as Brian Bines) on this great board, it will definitely be worth the wait!

Best regards,

Marcel