Beaufighter Claims; convoy UGS 37 11/04/44

[Guy JULIEN]

Hi,
Did British Beaufighter (or Mosquito) claimed victories against german raiders (torpedo-bombers) along the Algerian coast on the 11th or 12th of April 1944. In intrested in details about this battle.
Thank you for your help.

Guy

[Brian Bines]

Guy,

All I could find was two brief POW reports I dont know if they help:-

1. Ju88 of 6/KG76 mission to illuminate a convoy of the Algerian Coast, crashed at 2355hrs on 11th April in the sea off Dellys Algeria. Cause one of its 50kg flares hung up and exploded, had taken off from St. Martin at 2030 hrs. Source ADIK report 184B/1844 - 1POW

2. Ju88 of 4/KG76 took off St.Martin on similar mission shot down by a Beaufighter at 0015hrs on 12th April 7miles S/W of Dellys- 3 POW. Source ADIK report 184A/1944,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Guy JULIEN]

Thanks Brian,
I've got the french version of this report. A Crew member named Hans RENATH was rescued by the french frigate. But Chriss Goss in Sea Eagles volume two reported 7 JU-88 belonging to I. and III.KG/77 and one Do 217 (5.KG/100) lost in action. These looses supposed an very strong reaction to the convoy's defenses.
I look for details about the allied air units involved in this task.
Regards from Montpellier
Guy

[Brian Bines]

Guy,

Report 184B gives Bf Uffz Hans Ranat as the Pow so that ties up, the Ulf Balke book shows Do217E-5 6N+GP 5/KG100 wn 5637 crew of Ltn Horst Hennig as missing from the attack. cant help with the Allied air units,

Regards

Brian bines

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello, Guy

Do you have the French book "Pilotes français sur l'Afrique du Nord et la Corse" ?

It says that on 11 April at 1900 hrs two pilots of groupe "Champagne" scrambled from La Senia and managed to shot down a Ju 88 flying on the desk near Oran, probably a recon flight before the German raid.

There is roughly one page about Hans Renath on 12 April, how he was shot down and saved by a French ship.

No more details about Beaufighter claims, sadly

Best regards

[Guy JULIEN]

Thanks again,
Bonjour Laurent,
Yes I've got "Pilotes français sur l'Afrique du Nord et la Corse". You're right the french claim at 19.00 seems to indicated a reco plane , KG-76 were the pathfinder force operating before the attack force.
In my Knowledge no more 30 bombers were involved against this convoy.
Allied Units were probabably N° 153 or 108 squadron.
Regards

[Frank Olynyk]

153 Squadron claimed four. A Do-217 between 2310 and 2317 by F/Sgt B H M Smith+F/O F G Bennett, 20 m N of Dellys. A Ju-88 at 2350 by S/Ldr R L Wade+W/O J W Sanders, 40 m N of Dellys. A Ju-88 at 2354 by F/O H S Boardman+F/Sgt J R Mordan, 18 m NW of Dellys. And a Ju-88 at 0020 by Boardman+Mordan, 6 m to sea, N of Dellys. Combat reports for these are in Air 27/1031, frames 87 to 90, and 92.

I do not have any claims for 108 Sqn between Sept 1943 and May 1944. It is possible that I missed them.

Frank.

[Guy JULIEN]

Great, thanks Frank,
According to Chris Goss "Sea Eagles" 108 Sqn scored one or maybe two kills on 31 of may 1944 against Ju-88 when they tried to land at Istres and St Martin de Crau, the Beaufighter pilot was FL Lt Harry Smith.
Have a nice Sunday
Guy

[Frank Olynyk]

I have a single claim for F/Lt Harry Ryerson Smith, RCAF on May 31, 1944, with F/O Hyett as his R/O. It was a Ju-88 in the Istres area.

Frank.

[Guy JULIEN]

Yes but,
Two Ju 88 belonging respectievly to 2. KG/77 and 6.KG/76 fell near Istres and in the vicinity of St Martin de Crau. There is a doubt about the identity of the Beaufighter's victim.
One claim = one plane. The second crashed for an other reason...
Thanks again
Guy