Ju88 5072 of 8/KG51 lost 12-8-1940

[Brian Bines]

Seeking any details of the shooting down of the above aircraft, which I believe went down in the Channel due to fighter action. Initially this was shown as falling into Portsmouth Harbour after being hit by AA fire but this aircraft was 4078 crew of Oblt. Wildemuth. The crew of 5072 (9K+FS ?) were Ltn Paul Seidel (Freiburg incident on 10-5-1940), B Fw Fritz Lokuschuss, Bf Uffz Heinrick Fischer, Bs PK SdFhr. Ulrich 'Uli' Bigalke all missing. GQM report dated 21-9-40 then shows two men from Ltn Seidels crew washed ashore ( Lokuschuss and Fischer ?) and Ltn Seidel notified as dead in report dated 4-11-40. Looking up Ulrich Bigalke all I could find was that he was an engineer, pre-war racing driver and made two short films. Is there an RAF claim relating to this loss, was the body of Ltn Seidel recovered, is it known if he was lost with the same B and Bf who flew with him on 10-5-1940, is there an NVM for this the loss of this crew. Any background or photos for the Seidel crew and Bigalke appreciated,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Peter Cornwell]

8./KG51 Junkers Ju88A-1 (4078). Tail shot off by AA fire from French gunnery training ship Courbet and broke up during attack on Portsmouth Harbour 12.10 p.m. FF Oberlt Eberhard Wildermuth, BO Oberlt Otto Stärk, and BF Uffz Heinz Droese all baled out and captured unhurt, BS Uffz Konrad Rösch missing. Aircraft 9K+BS 100% write-off.
Pedal control lever, parachute silk and shroud lines recovered from bottom of harbour now in the Hawkinge Aeronautical Trust collection believed to be from this aircraft. Pair of binoculars and propeller assembly recovered by the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group now in the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.

8./KG51 Junkers Ju88A-1 (5072). Shot down by RAF fighters during sortie to attack Portsmouth Harbour and crashed into the Channel 12.10 p.m. FF Lt Paul Seidel, BO Oberfw Fritz Lukoschuss, BF Uffz Heinrich Fischer all killed, BS Sonderfhr Ulrich Bigalke missing. Aircraft 9K+FS 100% write-off.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the combats on the day, I am unable to determine beyond doubt which RAF claim(s) relate to this particular loss. The body of SEIDEL was recovered and he is buried in Block 10 Grave 1163 in Champigny-St Andre cemetery. His crew on the infamous Freiburg attack on 10 May 1940 are not known to me.

[Brian Bines]

Peter, thanks for the information. Apparantly there was a story in Portsmouth that a Ju 88 had been shot down on a sandbank in the harbour on 12th Aug. its crew being picked up and killed by sailors from a Free French warship . I believe this Ju 88 was originally thought to be Seidels, and it appeared rather tragic if following the Freiberg incident this was his fate. From your post I see 4078 (3 POWs) was shot down by a French ship over Portsmouth, so I assume the killing of the German crew was probaly one of those 'pub' stories from French sailors,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

Brian-wildermuth's account is in my book Luftwaffes Battle of Britain & the days action will be in an article in Britain at War month after next

[Brian Bines]

Chris,

Thanks for the tip I had forgotten about yout BoB Bombers book, I will look out for the magazine,

Regards

Brian Bines