Fate of 3(F)./123 crew.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

I am looking for the fate of the four crew from a Ju 88 of 3(F)./123 which was shot down by P/O D.B. Willis in a 456 Squadron RAAF Beaufighter on 18 May 1942.
Location maybe somewhere in St. George's Channel ?
It is possible some or all of this crew became POWs.

Lt. Wilhelm Wahler (F)
Fw. Herwart Blome (B)
Uffz Wolfgang Dill (Bf)
Gefr. Wilhelm Spengler (Bf.)

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Jim P.]

Still updating my database, but it appears 2 became POWs, 2 were KIA. The Blitz Then & Now, V.III has more information.

[DR40eghs]

The loss is listed on page 131 in Blitz T&N, III.
Ju 88 D-1, 1679, '4U+FL' was shot at 'Cardigan Bay, Wales' by a Beaufighter Mk.II, 456.Sq (Wills & Lowther).
Blome and Spengler KIA, the other two PoW.

Regards,
Uwe

[Brian Bines]

According to an account in the publication ' Air War Over Gwynedd ' all four crew survived the ditching. As the aircraft sank the dinghy floated to the surface but had to be inflated by hand, Gef Spengler died shortly after getting into the dinghy and next day Fw Blome died. The next day using the last flare they were seen and rescued by the S.S. Loch Fisher at 2145hrs on 21st.May. Gef. Spengler is described as the Bs.

[Martin Gleeson]

Jim, Uwe and Brian

Thank you all very much. I don't have The Blitz triology unfortunately. The details from Air war over Gwynedd are very useful.

Much appreciated,

Martin.