Whitley combat with Ju88 20/12/42

[ElliottSmock]

Can anyone shed any light on this from Luftwaffe records? I've already posted it over on the FlyPast forum.

Whitley BD678 of 612 Sqn was attacked by a Ju88 whilst on patrol on 20 December 1942. The second pilot was injured.

This was a coastal command aircraft operating from Wick, Scotland so would have taken place over the North Sea somewhere.

I'm just wondering if any damage was inflicated on the Ju88?

Does anyone know if the National Archives holds combat/intelligence reports from these encounters?

[edNorth]

National Achives, Kew: Air 27/2114, Operations Record Book of No. 612 Squadron RAF would be best place to start looking for (if it covers the period in question that is). No doupt some info might be there.

Whitley Mk.VII BD678 was delivered in August 42, and has only recorded sevice with No. 612. It flew into high ground Ben Hutig, Sutherland, 13.3.43 (Source James J Halley RAF Aircraft BA100 = BZ999, Air Britain 1986)

I personally have no info about this claimed Ju 88.

[Chris Goss]

R/612 Sqn (Fg Off Benzies) was attacked by a Ju 88 at 1308 hrs east of the Faeroes; no damage inflicted on the Ju 88 and as you say one crewman was injured

[ElliottSmock]

Thanks very much Ed and Chris

I spent Wednesday afternoon trawling through the 612 Sqn ORB and it threw up this encounter.

Can anyone suggest how I can find out which unit the Ju88 belonged to, or any more information on it at all?

Thanks

[Chris Goss]

My guess is it is a Wekusta (weather recce) ac but as no ac was shot down, it is unlikely that a claim was filed and unless the war diary, Luftflotte diary or a crew logbook exists, to find out the identity is pretty hard

[edNorth]

Time of day and location might suggest midday patrol of Ju 88 D of 1.(F)/120 from Stavanger-Sola or as Chris suggests, a Ju 88 of Westa 5 from Vaernes or Westa 1 from Sola. These first mentioned were often MG or cannon armed, either in nose glazing or gondola, and they sometimes shot at lighthouses on their patrols. KTB of the Luftflotte 5 (if that exists) might have someting. There might by mentioning in NA: HW 13/ series, CX/MSS/SALU records for that day. I do not know the number but according to my calculation that should have been around SALU 687 (if it goes that high, but I only have to 20.12.41, ending at SALU 322, sorry.)