Ju 88 6./KG 54 Loss 13 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

While a large number of Ju 88s of KG 54 were shot down or damaged in combat on 13 August 1940, in Luftwaffe Losses & Claims, Vol. 3 Pg. 242, Balss lists the following:

6./KG 54 - OP - Kanal - Take oft St.Andre - Channel - Forced landing at sea due damaged by enemy fighter - Ju 88 A-1 - 100% damage - P Oblt. Schmidt RTD, B N.N. RTD, Bf Ogfr. Ernst Sprung, Bs Uftz. Hans Nünighoft.

I can find no other source that lists this loss, is it reliable?

[Chris Goss]

According to other sources, Nüninghoff was with Fredebeul's crew while Sprung and Gefr Hans Berger were lost with another crew. I can see no mention of a Schmidt and in any case he and the BO were apparently unwounded. KG 54 officially reported 2 missing from I Gruppe and another 2 from II Gruppe. BofBCA gives a good account of the losses but not all of the names

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris,

But I am now even more confused, because Balss lists the following for Fredebeul's crew on 13 August:

6./KG 54 - P Oblt. Franz Fredebeul KIA, B Gefr. Johann Mandlmeier WIA/DOW, Bf Uftz. Matthias Trampert WIA, Bs Gefr. Hans Berger KIA

[Peter T]

I'm working on KG 54 and concluded to the following :
Oblt. Franz Fredebeul (P), , Ogfr. Ernst Sprung (R) et Gefr. Hans Berger (M) KIA. Uffz. Hans Nünighoff (O) MIA

[Chris Goss]

I have the NVM here I believe so might have a look but I believe Peter T

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris and Peter,

I listed Oblt Schmidt in my first query, the Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries has: SCHMIDT, Günther. 02.06.40 Oblt., 6./KG 54 unhurt - He 111 P shot down by 92 Sqdn. Spitfires over Dunkirk. 13.08.40* Oblt., 6./KG 54 unhurt? - returned - Ju 88 A-1 force-landed at sea by fighters. [*

Does anyone know who was in his crew?

[Nick Beale]

I’ve no idea if it’ll help but I have some KG 54 loss Werk Nummern from 13 August (taken from a deciphered message) here: http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Adlertag/adler_4.html

[Peter T]

The NVM is not clear, hence the confusion. I based my conclusion on the following: Mandlmeier and Trampert ended in the Lazarett Evreux, both were wounded by fighters. Fredebeul washed ashore on 17/9/40 in Le Crotoy, Sprung on 9/9/40 in Tocqueville, Berger on 13/9 in Merlimont. Nünnighof was MIA and declared dead. So, these four clearly fell into the sea, the first two were in a plane that reached French soil.

[Peter Cook]

Thank you for the input Nick and Peter,

Peter's deductions re. Fredebeul's crew are convincing, that resolves that piece at least.
Nick's Werk Nummern info is usefui and I will try to match it with the known losses. The only W.N. that is in the usual loss listings is Oblt Heinz Rose's Ju 88A-1 Wn.6102 B3+-C Stab II/KG54, which clears up the missing numeral in Nick's 610 …

Peter

[BrianC]

Hi guys

The information I have (via Matti) implies the following:

B3+TP Fischer, Handelmeir, Hosport, Nissl

B3+?? Schmidt, Sprung

B3+?? Fredebeul, Mandlmeir, Nunnighof, Trampert

B3+?? Berger

Very interesting and confusing!

Stay safe
Brian