Versuchsverband Ob.d.L. loss, December 1943

[Nick Beale]

According to a KG 200 prisoner taken in North Africa in March 1944: 'A detachment is believed to be in the South of France … a crew from this detachment, piloted by Olt. Nikolai, was lost on 24/12/43 was lost when it flew into a mountain in the South of France.

That seems specific enough to be more than a rumour, so does anyone know more?

The best I could find was in the Bundesarchiv stats: one aircraft of the Versuchsverband missing on 20 December 1943 with five crew (one of them an officer).

[Chris Goss]

1943-12-20
Versuchsverb.Ob.d.L. Ju 88 A-4 144103 T9+KK - E - place and cause unknown, 100%. (RL 2-III/777 p.226)
F Oblt Ernst Nicolai +
B Uffz Konrad Fechner +
Bf Ofw Rudolf Paatz +
Bm Gefr Heinrich Höhn +
Bs Fw Gerhard Wenk +

NICOLAI, Ernst. (DOB: 07.01.20). 01.07.42 promo to Oblt./A1. 06.09.43 Oblt., awarded the Ehrenpokal. 20.12.43 Oblt., pilot in 2./Versuchsverband Ob.d.L. MIA - in Ju 88 A-14
(T9+KK) that failed to return from a mission over the Mediterranean to unknown cause. 01.08.44 officially listed as MIA.

[Nick Beale]

Thanks Chris.

[Chris Goss]

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