Claims for two Fw 190s destroyed 17 May 1943

[Roundway]

During the early afternoon of 17 May 1943 331 Squadron claimed to have shot down two Fw 190s north of Guernsey. I'd be grateful for any details of the two aircraft, and wonder if either pilot survived.

[Nick Beale]

Loss reports for the period 3 May–2 June are onlne (free and downloadable) at the Bundesarchiv in file RL 2-III/1189: https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/invenio/main.xhtml

[Roundway]

Much obliged Nick.

Brian

[Chris Goss]

5./JG 2 lost 2 x Bf 109 G-6s north of Morlaix on this day but I can see no Fw 190s

[Roundway]

Thank you for the correction, Chris.

The combat reports of the actions are at pages 68 and 69 of 198 of https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C2504369 . (Appendices
to the 331 Squadron ORB). Both reports describe the combats as taking place north of the Channel Islands and Luftwaffe aircraft crashing into the sea. Although these are described as Fw 190s I can appreciate how the mis-identification might have occurred.

Brian

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

5./JG 2 lost 2 x Bf 109 G-6s north of Morlaix on this day but I can see no Fw 190s

I wonder if those losses are related to Ramrod 66 the previous day.

[Chris Goss]

Various sources say 17 May 43 Franek

[Roundway]

The Summary of Events/Record of Events for 331 Squadron record the action as taking place on the 17th while the squadron was providing cover for Fortress bombers. Morlaix is approximately 95 miles/150 km southwest of the action. Chris, at #4, describes the Bf 109 losses as being north of Morlaix.

Brian

[Chris Goss]

German records for 17th make mention of B-17s. Bit of a puzzle what they thought they shot down on 16 May as 8./JG 2 had one loss while the 263 Sqn claims were 2 x Fw 190s from NAGr 13 (which were undamaged). I believe that Lt Wilhelm Godt of 8./JG 2 damaged a 412 Sqn Spitfire on 16th

[Charles Bavarois]

II./JG 2 lost four Bf 109s that day. One was without enemy contact. The other three were lost when trying to combat an enemy bomber incursion. Description in WASt will be helpfull:

Uffz Werner Grunding, 5th/JG 2, WIA
Startetd 17.5.43 to defend against an enemy bomber formation
Crashed near Croissenville (sic)

Lt. Günther Krus, 5./JG 2, KIA
Started 17.5.43 to defend against an enemy bomber formation
Fw Bosseckert observed impact on sea 100 km N Morlaix

Lt. and Staffelführer Lothar Werner, 5./JG 2, KIA
Started on 17.5.43 to defend against an enemy bomber formation.
Crash 100 km N Morlaix. No further observations.

Carl