Ju88 at Ofotfjord 16.5.1940

[ISLANDER]

Hi All,

Doing some research on a FAA airman Sub/Lt A.T.Easton and I found that he may have been invloved in the shooting down of a Ju88 on 16th May 1940 at Ofotfjord while flying a Skua L3010 the latter of which is recorded as FL on Sandsoy Island,N.of Harstad on 21.5.40.

Any info on the JU88 crew, location of the Skua and confirmation that it was Easton`s Skua that hit the Ju88 would be most welcome.

Regards.
Dave.

[robert]

Hi,

two Ju 88A-1 from 6./KG30 were lost in this combat.

Regards

Robert

[edNorth]

Islander, this is what already has come forward:

.... Ju 88 6./KG 30 (Luftflotte 2)
OPS (F) was claimed downed by RN/FAA Blackburn Skua L3010 ´8B´ fighter-bomber of 803 SQ (pilot was Sub./Lt. R.A. Eaton off HMS ARK ROYAL) and reportedly crashed into Narvik Bay 16.05.1940 (F Lt. Heinrich Diermeyer British POW, B Gefr Georg Schutz, BF Uffz. Anton Schlosser and BS Gefr. Heinrich Koch (1 Wart) all ret to unit 13.06.40)

[see in Shores & co-authors: ´Fledling Eagles´ P.321-322; rep ´Ju 88 IIA´ of 6./KG 30 (one killed; two missing) in ´Frontverluste Einsatz Dänemark-Norwegen´ P.11 (Line 19); all crew listed in TOCH forum post by Peter Cornwell 01.02.2008]

Best regards
ed

[Peter Cornwell]

Further to Ed's reply this is what I currently have on the two losses:

6./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-1. Shot down over Ofotfjord by Skuas of No.803 (FAA) Squadron and believed ditched off Forra. BS Fw Ernst Kübler killed, BF Fw Willi Schell believed captured wounded – later released, FF Hptmn Günther Noll (Staffelkapitän), and BO Fw Hubert Trimborn both captured unhurt. Aircraft 4D+AP 100% write-off.

6./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-1. Shot down by Skuas of No.803 (FAA) Squadron and belly-landed south of Ofotfjord. FF Lt Heinrich Diermeyer captured unhurt, BO Gefr Georg Schutz, BF Uffz Anton Schlösser, and BS Obergefr Heinrich Koch also captured unhurt – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off.

I have been unable to tell which of them was claimed by Sub/Lt Easton.

[ISLANDER]

Thanks Robert,Ed & Peter,

Ed, could Sub/Lt R.A.Eaton be Sub/Lt A.T.Easton or are they two different airmen? I know Easton was flying from Ark Royal, or did Eaton shoot one down and Easton the other? I am still a bit confused with these two.

Regards.
Dave.

[edNorth]

Sorry Peter for the misspelling (now corrected herewith!) Islander, I have no idea on Easton vs Eaton, or if Eaton was Easton. Perhaps Chris Shores or someone can check up on that, I do not have the book at present (so can not be shure if I did typo there too!)

[robert]

Hi,

I have Sub Lt R.A.Eaton.

Regards

Robert

[ISLANDER]

Hi Guys,

Just to clarify, the name Sub/Lt A.T.Easton comes from the entry in Ray Sturtivant`s `Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-45` entry as follows:

L3010 803 Sqn Ark Royal `A8-B`. Ju88 crashed Ofotfjord 16.5.40 (Sub/Lt A.T.Easton & L/A A.J.Hayman. Also it goes on to say same crew and aircraft 5 days later - FTR from fighter patrol,FL due to fog on Sandsoy Island, N of Harstad. Cat.W. 05.30 hrs. 21.5.40.

So either, A/ aircraft serial is wrong for Sub/Lt Eaton. b/ Sub/Lt Eaton is spelt wrong and should be Easton. c/ Ray had the wrong airmen on L3010.

Can anyone figure this out?

Regards.
Dave.