Luftwaffe losses PQ18 September 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

A bit of a long shot, I know, but has anyone a detailed list of Luftflotte V losses during the PQ18 convoy of mid-September 1942.

Quoting an old source (Peter C. Smith's 1975 book Artic Convoy), it was suggested that a total 44 Luftwaffe aircraft were lost, mainly from KG26 and KG30.

Fingers crossed and with bated breath, I await a response!!

Thanks in advance
Brian

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Brian,

the "Luftwaffe in Norway" website gives a very detailed list of losses for 1940 - 1945
also the "Nordic Aviation During WW2" website the same

Cheers

Bruce

[Brian Bines]

Hi Brian,

A quick look at Achtung Torpedos Los shows 62 aircrew killed or missing with 6 wounded from I & III/KG26 on the 13th, 14th and 18th Sept. Only looking on QM's list from mid Sept to mid Oct found 30 aircraft of KG26, and KG30 including 4x He115's of I/906 either missing, crashing or with aircrew killed or wounded on these dates.

Regards

Brian Bines

[robert]

Hi,

13.9.42
at about 16.00 hrs torpedo attack of I./KG26 - four He 111s were hit by naval flak and must be ditched. Two crews (He 111H-6 2./KG26 W.Nr.4727 and 1H+BK W.Nr.4535) were rescued by air sea rescue aircraft.
The crew of 1H+NK W.Nr.7567 was rescued by U-457. The crew of 1H+DH W.Nr.7076 was not found.
Next attack had been flown by 18 Ju 88s of III./KG26 - Ju 88A-4 W.Nr.142018 1H+KS was shot down by naval flak, crew posted MIA.
Two Ju 88s: W.Nr.2097 and 1536 were hit and damaged - they crashed on landing at Banak.
At 16.15 hrs the convoy had been attacked by 9 He 115s of K.Fl.Gr.406. One Sea Hurricane of 802 Sqn FAA was forced down by German air gunners.
At 20.35 hrs 12 He 115s of 1./906 arrived. He 115 W.Nr.2247 8L+FH was brought down by naval flak as first. Three MIA.
At 21.00 hrs Ju 88As of I./KG30 bombed the convoy. All returned but two from 3./KG30 collided on landing at Petsamo: W.Nr.1007 written off and W.Nr.2064 45%.

Regards

Robert

[robert]

Hi,

14.9.42
at about 12.40 hrs Sea Hurricanes were scrambled to intercept incoming raid of 20 Ju 88s of III./KG26. Three Ju 88s were indeed shot down by English fighters:
W.Nr.140083 1T+LT, W.Nr.004589 1T+FS, W.Nr.001774 1T+OT - totally 12 MIA
Further two Ju 88s were damaged by flak and one of them, W.Nr.140085, crashed on landing at Banak - pilot KIA and three INJ. The second plane returned with two WIA on board.
At 12.50 hrs the convoy had been attacked by I./KG30. A Ju 88 of staff section was hit by flak and gunner was killed.
Later 22 He 111s of I./KG26 arrived. Seven He 111s and 28 airmen were lost:
W.Nr.7229 1H+NH, W.Nr.7043 1H+HH, W.Nr.7381 1H+MH, W.Nr.4473 1H+AK, W.Nr. 7150 1H+ML, W.Nr.7232 1H+FL, W.Nr.4825 1H+GL
Further two were damaged: W.Nr.7157 1H+GH, W.Nr.4818 1H+NK but they made their back to the mainland and were both crash-landed. Other two damaged successfully landed back at Bardufos with 1 KIA and 2 WIA.
At 14.37 hrs 18 Ju 88s of III./KG30 appeared over the convoy. One Ju 88 was brought down by naval flak: W.Nr.142121 4D+GS - 4 MIA and another crashed on landing at Banak: W.Nr.881742 4D+KR - 1 KIA and 3 INJ.
Further losses were:
He 115 W.nr.2413 1./406 - three airmen were rescued by other seaplane
He 115 W.Nr.2407 8L+BH - 3 MIA
He 115 W.Nr.2099 8L+IH - crash-landed 20 km N of Nordkap
He 115 W.Nr.3253 8L+AH - also crash-landed

Robert

[Brian]

Wow! Thanks guys, specially Robert

I understand possibly four He111s were claimed on 18 September, including one by the Cam-ship Hurricane. Russian destroyers claimed a further five.

Soviet fighters claimed two Ju88s on 20 September

Any ideas?

Thanks again
Brian

[Adam]

As far as the He 115s go, I have:WNr 2099 as 8L+IH which crashed during emergency landing 20km N Nordkapp (Pl.Qu.27-Ost-6250) after attack on PQ 18WNr 3253 as 8L+AH which crashed during emergency landing 50km SE Honningsvσg after attack on PQ 18

[Adam]

sorry - double post

[glider1]

Can I thank everyone who has helped on this thread. My grandfather was on board SS Empire Snow and I have often wondered about the cost to the Luftwaffe.

Thanks again

[Seaplanes]

Here is my info regarding He 115 and PQ 18:

13.09.42

1./906
He 115B
W.Nr. 2247

8L+FH

100% Pl.Qu. 3760/17 Ost (Pos. 76°20’N, 13°30’E west of southern edge of Spitzbergen). Believed to be shot down by flak during attack on convoy PQ 18. The WASt. report give the W.Nr. as 2274, but this number was not used for the He 115 production so 2247 is likely to be the correct one.
Lt. (M) Heinz-Walter Schmuck (B) missing
Uffz. Erich Kipka (Bf) missing
Obgfr. Hans-Walter Keilert (F) missing

14.09.42

1./406
He 115B
W.Nr. 2413

100% Off Spitzbergen (PL.Qu. 27 Ost/2625). Crashlanding in open sea while attempting to rescue a crew after attacks on convoy PQ 18.
No casualties. Crew rescued by a German submarine.

14.09.42

1./906
He 115B
W.Nr. 2407

8L+BH


(SD+XV)

100% Pl.Qu. 4770/27 Ost (Pos. 76°10’N, 24°10’E). Missing after attack on convoy PQ 18. Possibly crashed into mountains near Nordkapp.
Oblt. (M) Horst Prüfer (B) missing
Obfw. Roman Kaltenmark (F) missing
Fw. Karl-Heinz Demel (Bf) missing

14.09.42

1./906
He 115C
W.Nr. 3253

8L+AH


(VF+UZ)

100% Laksefjorden near Nordkapp. Crashed during forced landing at sea due to bad weather. Aircraft was returning from attacks on PQ 18.
No casualties.

14.09.42

1./906
He 115B
W.Nr. 2099

8L+IH

100% Pl.Qu. 6250/27 Ost (Pos. 71°27’N, 26°05’E), 20 km north-east of Nordkapp. Crashed during forced landing at sea due to bad weather. The aircraft was returning after attack on convoy PQ 18.
No casualties.