RAF Mosquito Loss-Reported December 1,1943

[kaki3152]

On December 1,1943 Obstltn Johannes Steinhoff (Stab JG-77) claimed a Mosquito @ 1059 hrs South of Varzi at an altitude of 9500m.

Is there a RAF casualty loss that would match up with this claim?

The closest I could come was Mosquito PRIX, LR 438, reported lost on December 3,1943 in the Middle East (ME).

[Henk Welting]

1-12-1943:
HJ656 - 157 Sqn - Missing in Action.
HX962 - 487 Sqn - Crashed into sea off Groux during attack.
1/2-12-1943:
LR419 - 544 Sqn - Crashed Yaling, Kent.
LR499 - 109 Sqn - Missing from mission to Bochum.
Regards,
Henk.

[Leendert]

HJ656 was reported lost W of Lorient, so not the one Kaki is looking for either... P/O William Robertson and P/O Geoffrey Spanton, both MIA.

Was the KG77 claim confirmed?

Regards,

Leendert

[mhuxt]

I suspect LR428 was on 60 Sqn, SAAF. There was at least one casualty for that unit on 1 December 1943, as follows:


Name: LARTER
Initials: D H
Nationality: South African
Rank: Lieutenant (Obs.)
Regiment/Service: South African Air Force
Unit Text: 60 Sqdn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 01/12/1943
Service No: 38232V
Additional information: Son of Douglas R. and Anna Larter, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. B. 26.
Cemetery: STAGLIENO CEMETERY, GENOA

Genoa is only 50 km away from Varzi, to the south, so seems a strong match.

I have no information on the other crew member.

[kaki3152]

That's it! Obviously the loss date was reported 2 says later, so this A/C was almost certainly a 60 SAAF Mosquito. I realized know I should have checked GWGC.

Yes, the JG-77 claim was confirmed. There is an interesting story about this downing in Priens History of JG-77 Vol 3.

Maybve some of our South African friends can supply more information (as I sit here watching the World Cup)?

[Henk Welting]

Lt (Obs) D.H. LARTER confirmed 1-12-1943 on Mosquito LR438 (not LR428). Lt (Pilot) E.K. WEST missing (Winston Brent - 85 Years of SAAF). Air Britain mentions "3"-12-1943 for LR438.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Lt E.K. WEST - SAAF P7041V reported PoW (Camp L3 number 35999).

Henk.

[mhuxt]

Many thanks for that Henk.

Kaki - check PMs.

[kaki3152]

Sweet! So the Mosquito shot down by Obstltn Steinhoff was LR438,60 SAAF, with crewmen Larter and West