Maj Dietrich Puttfarken, KG51, Lost 23.04.44.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

I wouldn't rely on that profile. I think you will find that in II./KG 51 only the individual aircraft letter was full size. There's a photo of 9K+CP in Classic Colours' Kampfflieger Vol.4 showing that form of marking (later adopted on KG 51's Me 262s).

National Archives AIR40/207 contains a report on an Me 410 crashed at Manor Farm, Frankton near Rugby after collision with an Airspeed Oxford: 9K+Z? — Z in black with yellow outline. 42 on base of fin in black; below this on fuselage 750 in black on white ground.

Camouflage: blue-grey on upper surfaces and light grey undersides (spray painted). Carried two external 300 litre tanks. Armament: 4 x MG 151 cannon (two of which in the bomb bay); 2 x MG 17; 2 x MG 131.

[This was Wenning and Delp's machine].

Hi Nick,
I wondered if any luftwaffe combat details exist for Lt Wolfgang Wenning's claim for a Halifax 25/4/44?

25/4/44 II/KG51 Halifax 20km NE Cambridge: 1000 m. 0422

I believe this to be Halifax LK789 of 76 Squadron that was attacked over Ely,Cambridgshire sent down at 0420 near Welney,Norfolk.

The only other claim by KG51 that night is:-
Uffz Bair 6/KG51 Halifax 1357 /05 Ost: no height (England) 0358.
However I suspect this to be Lancaster DV177 of 626 Squadron, shot down close to Boxted airfield at 0410.


Mike.

[Chris Goss]

Gentlemen: I have not had a chance to answer much of this but can say that II/KG 51 were initially based at Vitry and did move around but according to a logbook copy I have, operated from Eindhoven for much of their ops in Apr 44. Would agree that 25 Apr 44 kill was the 76 Sqn ac; the other one was probable the 626 sqn loss. As to the Albermarle loss on 23 Apr, it matches well with Uffz walter Bruegel's claim of a Halifax-it would appear that he was out on a second sortie that night. Finally, I wrote last year to Puttfarken's widow but I am afraid no reply/wish to reply

[Nick Beale]

II./KG 51 did know what they were meant to pursue on the night 25/26 July 1944, according to the attached decrypt. They clearly had information on the progress of the returning Allied formations.

PS: sorry about the photographic quality.

[George Hopp]

So the question becomes: Did the intruders know about returning Allied forces earlier than Jul 44? Remember it was not a favourite form of attack by Hitler, so it might not have been getting appropriate target information until the success of the attack of 22/23 Apr 44.

[Simon Parry]

It may interest readers of this thread to know that I have uploaded a sample of Theo Boiten's latest book that details of this night's actions and the loss of Major Puttfarken.
For details of where to download it, please see under the 'Books and Magazines' section of this forum.

Simon

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Camo of the aircraft was standard 74, 75 upper surface and balck under surface. 9K code 1/9th size of normal and Staffel and aircraft letters normal size.

Regards,

Norbert

[George Hopp]

It may interest readers of this thread to know that I have uploaded a sample of Theo Boiten's latest book that details of this night's actions and the loss of Major Puttfarken.
For details of where to download it, please see under the 'Books and Magazines' section of this forum.

Simon

Thank you for that extract, Simon. But, as I mentioned in an earlier posting, I remain confused by the fact that if the Me 410s knew they were shadowing an American bomber force, they didn't recognize any of the aircraft they shot down as American -- not one.

[Joe Potter]

Hi All,
Thanks for the wealth of information, at the time of the original posting, I was just wishing find the name of Puttfarken's Bf, Ofw Willi Lux, in the hope that he may have been listed in AIR2/8739, this is a list of 41 named and 4 unnamed airmen, found, and reburied at sea, he is not listed.
Thanks again.
Joe

[Simon Parry]

Originally Posted by George Hopp

Thank you for that extract, Simon. But, as I mentioned in an earlier posting, I remain confused by the fact that if the Me 410s knew they were shadowing an American bomber force, they didn't recognize any of the aircraft they shot down as American -- not one.

Very good point George - and one to which I don't know the answer! Better ask Theo ....

Simon

[Maximowitz]

With regards to Maj Puttfarken I have found what purports to be his signature for sale on an internet website. It is for sale under the heading (if my poor German is good enough) "Original signatures of Knights Cross winners with newspaper photographs."

Fair enough, but there appears to be a few anomalies. The picture in question is clearly from a British newspaper (Flying Officer Puttfarken!) and the "P" of Puttfarken has left a blot on the bottom of the picture implying the signature was written after the picture was attached to its backing paper.

I have attached the picture and signature with a link for your opinion.


http://www.imagebam.com/image/915b8b19210607