19 April 1944 and a Do.217

[SMF144]

On April 19th, 1944, a Do.217 was dispatched by No.443 Squadron, RCAF in the Tirlemont area at approximately 1850hrs. I am interested in learning more about this 217; what unit was it from and why did the crew expose themselves in such a fashion; where they on ferry flight or on a training flight or what?

Thanks,
Stephen

[Karsten]

Hi
I Have the Following informatuons for this day

Do 217 M1
7./ KG 2
U5 + CR
6259

back to Schiphol, was attacked by an nightfigter

Klaus Jäger Ltn. WIA
Wilhelm Ludwig Ogfr. WIA
Dauster Wilhelm Uffz. WIA

Regards Rüdiger

[Brian Bines]

Hi Stephen and Rudiger,

From what I can make out from a damaged NVM and the KG2 history the crew of U5+CR baled our near Schipol at ??28 hours, following engine damage sustained in a nightfighter attack (over England ?). This happening in the early hours of the 19th. returning from an attack on London on the 18/19th. The combat report for S/L McLeod of 443 Sqd. gives his claim at 1850hrs, on the 19th, east of Louvain, and shows he was flying at zero feet east of Louvain when a Do217 was seen at the same level. Following his attack the Do217 pulled up sharply to starboard by several hundred feet and then spun in and exploded. Johnny Johnson in the book Wing Leader says it pulled up steeply, fell on one side in flames crashing near back gardens by a row of cottages. From this it seems unlikely a crew could have baled out, I do not think the loss of U5+CR links with the claim of 443 Sqd. There is always a possibility that the 443 Sqd. claim may not have been a Do217, I hope someone has more info. on this one,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Khorat]

The crew bailed out near Schiphol airfield, target for this night was London, take off was at Achmer Airfield.

Source: The Blitz Then and Now, page 364 and Balke, KG 2 II. page 487

khorat