Ju 88 victory 13 May 1944 Med 417th NFS Beau

[andy bird]

On the night of 13 May 1944 there were seven Ju 88's airborne from Luftflotte 2 (German Records & DEFE TNA) There were two recorded encounters against Ju88s by 417th NFS the first by Lt Lee whose hydraulics were holed by return fire (RAFM AM1180) the second was 1st Lt Joseph Leonard and Flt Off Raymond Christensen who had identified enemy aircraft as a Ju88. Their last known position according to GCI 'Blacktop' was 10 miles off Monte Cristo at 23.56 hrs when all contact was lost. Twelve days later Leonards body is washed ashore on Corsica, buried by his colleagues and later reburied in American Cemetery in Italy.

Are there any claims for a Beaufighter that night over the Tyrrhenian Sea ?

Kind regards

Andy Bird

[Chris Goss]

Only if the German crew witnessed the crash or were not shot down themselves

[andy bird]

American 417th NFS airborne victories claims says the Junkers was shot down too. But can find no recognised loss either from the German side.

regards

Andy B.

[Nick Beale]

Nothing mentioned in the Luftflotte 2 reconnaissance report for the 13th (TNA HW 5/483).

The Ob.SW morning report of 14 May refers only to a strong attack by own bombers against harbour and shipping at Naples.

[andy bird]

Thanks Nick much appreciated
Andy