Who bounced Graypea Mosquitos on 20 March 1945?

[Karoband]

In the afternoon of 20 March 1945, the B-17s and B-24s of the 8th AF on Mission 898 were sent to bomb Hamburg. Ahead of them, four Mosquito PR XVIs of No.654 (BR) Sqn., USAAF, part of 25 BG, flew line abreast on a Graypea mission to disperse aluminum chaff to block radar: RF988, RF999, RF992 and RF 996.

They were bounced by Me 262s.

RF996 "Y" crashed on Föhr Island, Germany. The crew bailed out after one engine failed and the other began running rough, a fuel-lock causing starvation. MACR 13185.

RF988 returned on one engine to RAF Watton.

RF999 returned with four feet of the port wing shot away.


Twenty-two Me 262s of I. and III./JG 7 took off to intercept this raid. They claimed ten heavy bombers but I can find no claim for Mosquitos on this date.

Does anyone know which pilot or pilots bounced these Mosquitos?

Thanks in advance,

Jim