819 & 846 Sqns 2 April 1944

[Chris Goss]

On 2 April 1944, a Wildcat from 846 Sqn (HMS Tracker) was shot down at 1600 hrs by a U-boat; can anyone identify the pilot who was rescued uninjured by HMS Beagle and hour and a half later?

At 1650 hrs, a Wildcat from 819 Sqn (HMS Activity) shot down a recce Ju 88; can anyone give me the name of the Wildcat's pilot?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Chriss,

I found serial JV333 with S/L G W McCabe into barrier landing...on that date with 846 Sqn...and JV420 with S/L T D Lucey (CAT Z.) rescued by HMS Beagle after 01:55hs on the "drink"

Source: Pgs. 420-42 from "Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-45" by Ray Sturvivant and Mick Burrow (Air Britain Publication).

Most sincerely yours,
Adriano

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Adriano-sounds like Tom Lucey (who transferred to the RAF after the war) was the one. Now to who shot down the Ju 88!

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Chris,
I have re-checked with more time the same reference informed before....I thought initially that the victory could be on the 1st April 44....but you are totally right....although, there is NO mention on the name of the pilot or of the serial number of the aircraft involved on the shooting down of that Ju 88 you are looking for.
This is what I did find:
"FN136 Deld Floyd Bennett Fld 31.7.42 for shipment in Dasher
8.42, disemb Greenock 11.9.42; 888 Sqn 071) 10.42;
819 Sqn ('T') 9.43; Barrier crash Nairana, Cat Y 8.2.44
(Lt J G large); On Activity)', shot down Bv 138 72º37N
9°50'N, shared with JV512 of 819 Sqo 1.4.44 (S/L GR
Willcocks); 759 Sqn Yeovilton ('YIT') 9.44 - 3,45;
Ground looped landing 7.1.45 (S/L D Cousins); 171 Sqn
Zeals 28.7.45
JV512 1832 Sqn Eglinton to 832 Sqn 30.1.44; Abbotsinch
14_2.44; Renfrew to 846 Sqn Tracker 16.3.44; Shot
down Bv138 72º37N 9°50'N, shared wilh FNI35 of 819
Sqn 1.4.44 (S/L P E Scott); With Avenger FN869 &.
SwordfISh LS373 helped to sink U-288 73º44'N 27º12'E
3.4.44 (S/L G W McCabe MID); Bounced, caught No.6
wire, into burier Trumpeter Car XI 9.7.44 (S/L TD
Lucey); Halston 19.9.44
1.4.44 819 Sqn Actvity. shot down Bv138 on Artic convoy,
shared 846 Sqn Wildcat
2.4.44 819 Sqn Activity, shot down Ju88 on Artic convoy
2.4.44 Two 846 Sqn Wildcats from Tracker attacked and
Damaged a U-boat (Lt RJ Brown & S/L RH Meed)."

Sorry....but you probably will need to check the HMS Activity's Diary or even the 819 Sqn's ORB...

By the way...at the end of this wonderful book, we do have the information of the aircraft flown by S/L T D Lucey. It might be of interest for you, so here we are: "SEAFIRES serials numbers LR632 and LR707, WILDCATS serials JV388, JV420, JV476 and JV512."

By the way the ISBN for the reference book (a "helluva one") is: 0-85130-232-7

Yours,
Adriano

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Adriano. I have the log from Activity but no names. My interest is purely that this was the last combat between Allied aircraft and Fw 200s and it is the only thing missing for my forthcoming book

[BruceMk11]

What mark of Wildcat was FN136? 819 Sqn was apparently operating Mks IV, V & VI at this time.

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/squadrons/819.html

Wildcats of 819 Sqn claimed a Ju 88 on the 30/3/44. Total claims for Convoy JW58 were five destroyed. More details (but unfortunately not the claimant's names) here:

http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive....T/ACTIVITY.htm

[BruceMk11]

Martlet IV/Wildcat IV Serial Numbers: FN100-FN319.

Chris: could you provide some details re your new book?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Chris,
Just found JV496 as having a "clash" with a Fw.200 on the above book...but you probably do have it too: "...Attacked Fw200 which went into cloud with port engine smoking, shared with JV510 65°16'N 6°13'E 0600 14.5.44 (Lt WJ Sheppard);"
JV 510 was flown by Lt R J Harrison (RNZN)

Hope this will be of relevance...
Adriano

[Chris Goss]

Bruce: Fw 200 Combat Units for Osprey. Essentially I & III/KG 40 from 1940-44

[simong]

Hi Chris,

Not quite the last combat - on May 26, a 59 Sqn Liberator engaged a FW200 off the Norwegian coast. hits were claimed on the Fw200 by the Liberator.

If interested I can dig out details.

Simon