Identity intruder shooting down Ju88 at Rhein-Main airfield on evening of 19 October 1944?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

A Ju88 Nachtjäger was shot down upon its return at Rhein-Main airfield by an Allied intruder at 22.00 hrs on the evening of 19 October, probably without injury to the crew. I have not been able to find the matching Allied claimant -who can help?

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[Chris Goss]

85, 141, 157, 239 and FIU were active so maybe a good starting point for elimination?

[phasselgren]

Hi Theo,

I found claims by all the units mentioned by Chris except FIU in the BC Monthly Supplementary Narrative of Operations. There is also one claim by 23 Sqn. I can send you a copy if you wish.

Regards
Peter

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks for your replies chaps. In the analysis of this night, it appears that the 23 Squadron claim fits best, but I have no Combat Report and the serial of this Mossie, perhaps you have these Peter?

Cheers, Theo

[phasselgren]

Monthly Supplementary… have a short summary:
100 Group a/c Mosquito "E" of 23 Squadron at Biblis, 2228hrs, 2,000ft, saw an Me.410 going into land. Mosquito attacked from 1,000ft and closing to 300ft, at height of 150 ft, gave a long five second burst and strikes were seen along the E/A´s fuselage. The Me.410 is claimed as probably destroyed.


I have seen some 23 Sqn combat reports besides the AIR 50/11 but right now I cannot remeber were. I will come back if I find it.


Cheers,
Peter

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Aircraft/Crew involved: No.23 Sqn Mosquito FB.VI PZ181:YP-E, Pilot 68812 F/L Derek Gordon GRIFFITHS RAFVR (later A/S/L, DFC, 23-3-45 23 Sqn., Nav/Rad 1050708 F/Sgt Sidney Francis SMITH RAFVR (later W/O, DFC, 27/3/45 23 Sqn. Ref. No.23 Sqn ORB, AIR 27 288/18, October, 1944 (F.541), Image 5 of 7. https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8409728

Col.

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Peter -yes these are the details that I also have from the Bomber Command Monthly Supplementary Narrative of Operations, it would be great if you could dig up the 23 Squadron Combat Report!

Cheers, Theo

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Col -our postings crossed, cheers and thanks for these useful additional details.

Theo

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello guys,

According to Mark Huxtable's impressive databases about Mosquito-claims and losses, it seems that we might jump to conclusions too easily. Mark's database says that the Mossie of 23 Sqdn. shot down a Me410 near Biblis.
If we assume that a Ju88 was mistaken for a Me410, then still the fact remains that Biblis is at least 45 km south of Rhein-Main airfield...

Will have a closer look in Mark's data because there is a claim which claims an UEA over Frankfurt as damaged.

Best regards, Marcel

[phasselgren]

I checked the 23 Sqn Appendices. AIR 27/289 of 23 Sqn have some combat reports but unfortunately nothing from this period. Found no combat reports in AIR 27/291 and Air 27/290 ends in September 1944.

Cheers, Peter