LUFTWAFFE CLAIM FOR WESTLAND WHIRLWIND P6989

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Malcolm and this is my first posting to the Forum. I am interested in WW2 aviation research focusing on RAF activities. This often involves Luftwaffe nightfighter combat claims.

However, I am, at present researching the loss of a 263 Squadron Westland Whirlwind – P6989 – that was shot down on 01.04.41. off The Lizard (Cornwall) reportedly by the rear gunner from a Do-215.

I presume that the Do-215 was on a daylight raid and therefore I am at a loss of how to carry out research into this days events relating to the Luftwaffe squadron concerned.

I would like to ask if any forum members can help me to identify the Do-215 aircraft/crew and unit involved or point me in the direction of research sources that may prove helpful.

Any help with Luftwaffe claims on this day would also be most appreciated as perhaps the aircraft involved was incorrectly reported at the time and could have been another Luftwaffe type.

With kind regards - Malcolm.

hi,i think it was a arado float plane, i belive the rear gunner nailed him too when hwe he shot down the aroado plane,check book, john formans 1941 turning point,, its there i belive im waiting for this book from my store, which ive read, before,gary

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Gary:

Many thanks for the reply! I will check this out.

With kind regards - Malcolm.

hi,your welcome, the whirlwinds i belive were from st evel.another whirlwind collided , some time later , on, and another dived in the sea off burnham.,in nov dec 1940..the whirlwind was not a brill fighter as was seen, by there losses in 1941,chanelll dash..but was still a nice idea,
gary,,

[Revi16]

I have a small book on Whirlwinds by Kookaburra Technical Publications, circa 1971.
Not sure how accurate this will be, it lists P6989, A 263 Squadron aircraft from January 1941 as HE-J, it crashed in flames near Helston, April 13, 1941.
Another 263 aircraft, P6985 also wore HE-J, but was written off March 24, 1941

Regards,
Mike

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Mike:

Thanks for this it is very helpful. I am trying to locate a photograph of P6989 – so far without success. Your posting highlights the need to be able to view the serial number as well as the code.

With kind regards - Malcolm.

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by Revi16

I have a small book on Whirlwinds by Kookaburra Technical Publications, circa 1971.
Not sure how accurate this will be, it lists P6989, A 263 Squadron aircraft from January 1941 as HE-J, it crashed in flames near Helston, April 13, 1941.

Hi
the date 13th is a printing error often repeated,
crooks was shot down on the 01-apr-41
according to local official records and CWWG info.
cheers
jerry

[CJE]

The Do 215 (if it's a Do 215) could have been in a night intruder mission, as I./NJG 2 was very active at night at that time over England.

[malcolmjameswilson]

CJE:

Many thanks for this. I have been forwarded a details taken from the squadron ORB recording this event. The time given for probably take off is 19.00 hours. However, it could be the actual time of the interception. Either way it happened in the early evening. I presume that this would be too early for nightfighter operations? I would be intrested to hear your thoughts.

With kind regards - Malcolm.

[niallc]

Malcolm

The Squadron ORB gives Time up as 1835, Time Down 1915. S/L Donaldson's Combat Report gives the time of attack as 18.55. Since Britain was on BST (GMT +1) at the time and Germany on GST (GMT + 2) one might expect any Luftwaffe account of the combat to be timed at 19.55 or thereabouts. I don't know if this rules out Christian's suggestion of an intruder sortie or not, but, since the aircraft was over land, I assume we can rule out anti-shipping and probably Wekusta ops.

Donaldson had very little operational experience and aircraft recognition, particularly of rarely-encountered types, was not a strong point of RAF fighter pilots. Dorniers were frequently misidentifed as Ju88s and even Bf 110s (also twin-finned) and vice versa. So it could have been almost anything, but I'd love to see this mystery solved: it's been bugging me for years.

The “Arado” issue is a product of confusing this episode with one that occurred on February 8th in which a different pilot in a different Whirlwind allegedly shot down an aircraft that might have been an Ar 196 and was himself allegedly shot down by it. Although the Squadron ORB records the story this way, as do recent accounts, the other pilot involved in the sortie identified the enemy aircraft not as an Ar 196, but as an He 115. Another mystery.

NiallC