Fight in the Aegean sea

[byron-]

Fight in the Aegean sea, Bristol Beaufighter against Motorsegler "Seeräuber"

from the wardiary of "31. Bordflakabteilung Piräus"

[Larry deZeng]

It would be interesting to find out if two Beaufighters were actually lost at this location on 16 April 1944. The two Beaufighters that returned to base must have filed a report on the details. This would be an excellent opportunity to compare a detailed German claim report with its direct counterpart written by the RAF.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

No trace of this battle in the book "The Armed Rovers" describing actions by the Beaufighters of 227, 252, 272 and 603 Sqn RAF.

This book describes many attacks, but probably not all, but AFAIK includes all losses.

Another possibility would be that another two-engined aircraft type was attacking the ship rather than Beaufighter.

[byron-]

Hello Laurent,

I have a lot of reports of such confrontations between british planes and greek caiques in german service, the most of the attacking bombers in the Aegean were Beaufighters (according the eywitness).

here some similar incidends, maybe you can find something about them.

M.S. meens "Motorsegler" (caique)

M.S. „Gisela“ Flak-Fü. Btsmt. Hiller, 15.05.44 auf der Fahrt von Kos nach Symi von vier Beaufightern angegriffen und durch Raketten- und Bordwaffenbeschuss versenkt, Besatzung auf Symi (vw.) gerettet,
M.S. „Aspassia“ Flak-Fü. Mtr. Ogfr. Kretzmann, 17.06.44 Kamilli-Bucht / Monemwassia von vier Blenheim I und fünf Beaufightern angegriffen, zwei deutsche Arados 196 abgeschossen, GK 91 u. M.S. „Maria Vol. 30“ beschädigt mit Flak-Fü. Mtr.Ob.Gfr. Kunert, „Irini Sy 620“ vers., M.S. „Aspassia Pi 1098“ beschädigt; eine Blenheim von „Aspassia“ abgeschossen,
M.S. „Möwe Pi 15“ Flak-Fü. und Schütze Oblt. Wagner, 02.07.44 in der Bucht von Antikythira von fünf Beaufightern angegriffen, zwei Flgz. vom Geleit folgender Motorsegler abgeschossen:
(M.S. Drossel Pi. 09, M.S. Fink Pi 011, M.S. San Michele Sy 68, M.S. Katerina My 206),
M.S. „Drossel Pi 09“ Flak-Fü. Mtr. Ogfr. Lopens, 02.07.44 in der Bucht von Antikythira von fünf Beaufightern angegriffen. Am Abschuss eines Flgz. beteiligt,
M.S. „Fink Pi 011“ Flak-Fü. Mtr.Ob.Gfr. Spies, 02.07.44 in der Bucht von Antikythira von fünf Beaufightern angegriffen. Am Abschuss eines Flgz. beteiligt,
M.S. „Michele Sy 68“ Flak-Fü. Mtr. Ogfr. Kirsch, 02.07.44 in der Bucht von Antikythira von fünf Beaufightern angegriffen. Am Abschuss eines Flgz. beteiligt,
M.S. „Nordmark“ Flak-Fü. Btsm. Jordann, (und GK 92) 16.09.44 im Hafen von Milos von vier Beaufightern angegriffen, eine Maschine abgeschossen,

[Laurent Rizzotti]

15 May: nothing in the book

17 June: nothing too, but this action (mix of Beaufighter and "Blenheim" vs German ships and Ar 196) is similar to the big convoy battle N of Creete on 2 June. ANother action on 19 June saw Beaufighters shot down an Ar 196 and suffer one loss SW of Kalymnos Island.

2 July: in the evening 8 Beaufighter of 252 Sqn sank with rockets the merchant ship Agatha (1259 tons) NW of Rhodes, another merchant, the Anita, escaped. No RAF loss

16 September: nothing in the book, Beaufighter losses in September were on the 13 (603 Sqn, 2 EVD) and 23 (252 Sqn, 2 KIA) only.

In May-July 1944, the following two-engined aircraft were used over the Egean, according to the book:
Beaufighter (227, 252, 603 RAF Sqn, 16 SAAF Sqn)
Marauder (24 SAAF Sqn)
Baltimore (15 SAAF Sqn, 454 RAAF Sqn, 459 RAAF Sqn)
Venture (unit?)
Wellington (unit?)

Hope its helps

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

Firstly thanks to Byron for posting such interesting material.

I cannot really add much. I believe Laurent is correct when he writes that THE ARMED ROVERS does not include all the attacks, and probably not all casualties either.

Volume 2 of the very fine history of 603 Squadron briefly records an attack on an armed caique off Nios on this date (16 April 1944). One Beaufighter was damaged by light flak but reached its base safely. The squadron had no personnel losses (fatal) in the period 14 April to 14 May 1944. Not sure about POWs. It does appear that many of their sweeps over the Aegean Sea took in several islands or targets on most missions. However Nios is some 130 miles NW of Kapsali on Kythira, so 603 Squadron seems unlikely.

No mention of this vessel in Jurgen Rohwer's CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA.

regards,

Martin Gleeson.