LUFTWAFFE CLAIM FOR WESTLAND WHIRLWIND P6989

[Chris Goss]

I have photos of Crooks and Whirlwinds taken at Exeter in Jan/Feb 41 but not of this ac. I cannot throw any light as to who might have got Crooks

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by niallc

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.

Hi
This too has bugged me for many years,and I have thought many things.
On that evening, 2 HE-III's and a FW-200 were attacked off St Eval by 247Sq, so it appears anti -shipping and recce units, were taking a short cut across cornwall to the irish sea, etc,
My personal 'theory' is as there seems to be no claim and if the 'dornier' was a mis identification, one possibility is, it might be that the lufwaffe aircraft that crashed later into Lundy cliffs, HE-III, III/KG27, 1G+FL, Wn3837, hence the lack of a combat report or claim as the luftwaffe a/c never returned, and I think all the crew might have been killed in the crash.

on the other hand.....
any hampdens around at that time ....

[/quote]

cheers
jerry

[CJE]

I./NJG 2 made no claims between 18.03.41 and 04.04.41.

[malcolmjameswilson]

Niall / Chris / Jerry / CJE:

Many thanks for all your contributions to this thread. It is proving extremely interesting and of great benefit. I never expected ro receive so much help when I posted my original enquiry!

With kind regards - Malcolm.

[Graham Boak]

Unless I have missed something, there seems to have been no suggestion that the aircraft was from one of the reconnaissance units. Shouldn't their claims be checked?

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,
Just a passing thought ,

anyone able to post the official 'losses and damaged' returns, for the luftwaffe units for this date.

cheers
Jerry

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by brewerjerry

Hi All,
Just a passing thought ,

anyone able to post the official 'losses and damaged' returns, for the luftwaffe units for this date.

cheers
Jerry

Hi
no excuses just a bump,

anyone able to post the lutwaffe twin engine losses/damaged for the 01 april 1941.

cheers
Jerry

[pfP7063]

Hi Malcolm

The following comes from 263's ORB

April has been marked by a succession of tragedies. On the 1st., F/L Crooks DFC was killed. He was in company with S/L Donaldson near the Lizard when a Do.215 was sighted. S/L Donaldson engaged and damaged it. F/L Crooks crashed in flames and was killed. From eyewitness accounts, it appears that he was shot down by the Dornier but S/L Donaldson did not see him after giving the "Tally-Ho". On the 20th., F/O Howe was killed as a result of an accident whilst on a visit to Wittering aerodrome, and on the 30th., P/O Milligan was killed as a result of an accident at Aldermaston. They were all 3 experienced pilots, and their loss is felt very heavily. There were 3 encounters with the enemy during the month, on the 1st., the 6th., and the 7th., but unfortunately no confirmed victory could be claimed. On the 10th. we left Portreath and moved to Filton where the Squadron was originally formed in 1939. Since then the Operational flying has been limited to all intents and purposes to convoy patrols in the Bristol Channel.

1st.
P6998 S/L A.H. Donaldson Patrol 1835 - 1915
P6989 F/L D.A.C. Crooks DFC Patrol 1835 - KIA

A Do.215 was intercepted north of the Lizard. S/L Donaldson attacked and damaged it. F/L Crooks crashed in flames near Helston and was killed. It appears that he was shot down by the Dornier, but S/L Donaldson did not see him after giving the "Tally-Ho".

Kind regards

Paul

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Paul:

Many thanks for this/ It is very helpful. However, I am no closer to being able to positively identify the Luftwaffe aircraft involved.

Kind regards – Malcolm.

[brewerjerry]

Hi All

no excuses just a bump of an old thread from the depths .......

Anyone able to post the luftwaffe twin engine losses or info on any damaged aircraft for the 01 april 1941.

cheers
Jerry