Bf110 shot down 30/3/44

[Brian]

Hi guys

A Beaufighter of 404 Squadron claimed a Bf110 shot down off the Norwegian coast on 30 March 1944. Is there a loss to match this claim?

Cheers
Brian

[AkselM]

Hi Brian,
most probably this one:

MIA: 30/03/44: Ofw.Albert Mack & Uffz. Rolf Möbius. 13.(Z)/JG 5, Bf 110 G-2 (5603) 1B + EX. Combat with 18 Beaufighters, 80 km n.w. Utsira

source: luftwaffe.be

Cheers
AkselM

[Brian]

Thanks AkselM, just what I required.

Cheers
Brian

[AkselM]

Hi again Brian

According to German sources Bf 110 G-2 (5603) 1B + EX was not shot down by Beaufighters, but lost due to fatal pilot error (W. Girbig "Jagdgeschwader 5..", and E. Mombeek "Eismeerjaeger Band 1": 202-205).

Background:
Following the successful attack by HMS X-midget subs on Tirpitz in September 1943, the 13,882-ton former Kdf-liner Monte Rosa transported several hundreds workers and specialists to Northern Norway to repair the battleship. For several months Monte Rosa served floating ship-repair yard. Finally in March 44 the repair work was terminated. The yard-workers returned the safer route traveling by rail. Monte Rosa’s movements long the Norwegian coast was reported by ‘special intelligence’, and on 30 March she was observed off Haugesund by a 333. (RNoAF) Squadron Mosquito. Later the same day nine 404. (RCAF) Beaufighters, four Torbeaus and five Flakbeaus of 144. Squadron attacked Monte Rosa.
Four (or five) Bf -110’s from 13.(Z)/JG 5, piloted by Lt. Schmoll, Ofw. Mack, Fw. Alt and Fw. Wunderle, and two Bf-109 scrambled to defend the vessel. A fierce air-to-air, and air-to-sea battle followed and one German, and two allied aircrews were "lost".
MIA 30/03/44:
1. Ofw.Albert Mack and Uffz. Rolf Möbius, Bf -110 G-2 (603) 1B + EX
2. F/L V.T. Robinson and his navigator F/O W.D.M. Devine in ‘P’.
3. W/C C.A Chuck Willis and navigator F/L F.A. Kent in ‘A’ LZ297. Willis was later rescued from the sea by a BV.138, and became a POW.

404. (RCAF) reported; “of the 7 kites that got back only two were intact.” F/O E.J. Keefe and W/O B.G. Steed ‘E’aircraft was“badly shot up, in fact, will be written off because it looks more like a sieve than an aeroplane.” (404squadron.com)
No substantial damage (above 10%) was reported on German air crafts this day.


13.(Z)/JG 5 claimed two Beaufighters, one by Ofw.Albert Mack and Uffz. Rolf Möbius, and one shared. RCAF 404. claimed one Bf-110 by F/O J.L.F. Rancourt and F/S C. Evans in ‘K’.

Everything seems to add up quite nicely (or badly), however this not the case. According to the eyewitness Lt. Schmoll, the Bf-110 of Ofw.Albert Mack and Uffz. Rolf Möbius crashed into the sea "like a torpedo" chasing a Beaufighter at full speed only 3 meters above the sea-level. He further stated that this was probably caused by Mack being blinded by low sun, or by releasing drop-tanks, which of cause would be suicidal at 3 meters above the sea (Mombeek: 203). If Schmoll was right, Fw. Mack probably shot down one Beaufighter with drop-tanks attached! The report on Rancourt and Evans Bf-110 claim deviates quite substantially from statements made by Lt. Schmoll on the fate of 1B + EX : “F/O Rancourt also had the success and good management to shoot down an Me.110. This is a twin-engined fighter and he blew it to pieces with only about 15 rounds from each cannon. He made such a direct hit on it that it exploded in mid-air when the high explosive and incendiaries hit it. ” (404squadron.com). Did Rancourt accidentally shoot down Robinson and Devine, or maybe observed ‘P’ exploding due to German actions and believing it to be the Bf-110 he had attacked? On the other hand, Rancourt and Evans "reported that they heard ‘P’ call out a distress signal and that he was ditching"(404squadron.com). Disregarding the possibility that Rancourt and Evans were "trying to cover their tracks" it is possible that they heard Willis and Kents distress signal mistaking it to come from P.


Best Regards

Aksel







Navigator F/O WD Devine (left) and his pilot F/L VT Robinson were killed during a daring attack on a heavily defended troopship Monterosa (PL 28069 and 28071) Sorce (404squadron.com).

[Brian]

Thanks a million, Aksel, for your contribution and conclusions.

You could well be correct - something we will never know.

I will add this information to my draft.

Best
Brian