RAF crew that shot down German night fighter on 3/4 february 1941

[Mikael Olrog]

sure:
1) 2./NJG 2
2+3) I got the following reply at the RAFcommands forum: "John Foreman´s book 1941 Part 1 has the following details but for the night 4/5th February. "Bomber Command sent 106 Aircraft to raid airfields and Cannel ports, thirty more attacking Dusseldorf and four laying mines.
On the outward journey a Hampden, some 30 miles out from Lowestoft, was intercepted by a fighter identified as a Bf110. The fighter opened fire and the Hampden rear gunner replied. The intruder vanished into cloud and suddenly a cloud of fire was seen dropping away. This was without doubt Oberleutnant Otto-Heinrich Häuser´s Do17Z-10of 2./NJG 2, which vanished into the North Sea this night."

The Squadron which made the claim is not mentioned but at least 49 and 106 Squadron operated with Hampdens this night." (Mea culpa regarding Sqn 48/104 - should have been 49/106)



So I'm trying to chase the original sources that Foreman allegedly refer to. I don't have that book myself.



/Mike

[MW Giles]

It is not just Foreman that lists this.

Theo Boiten in NJCA Early Years Vol 1 lists the loss to a Hampden on 3/4.02.41

Heinz Rökker in Chronik I Gruppe NJG2 lists the loss to a Hampden on 05.02.41 in the main text (p22) and on 04.02.41 in the summary of losses (p213). Therefore I assume on the night of 4/5.02.41

Harry Moyle in The Hampden File lists a Do17Z-10 shot down by a Hampden at 18:37 hrs on 04.02.41 but does not say which Hampden or unit

On that night 49, 50 and 83 Sqn Hampdens went to Düsseldorf and 106 Sqn went Gardening off W France

Of the two nights the 4/5 is more likely to have a Hampden over the North Sea (operationally) but none of the ORBs mention a claim

My guess then is that the Hampden link is from a Group or Command level document

Martin