501 sqn, October 9, 1941

[David Sumerauer]

Hello all,

during the flight on the October 9, 1941 501 sqn in full strenght encountered JU 88. The bomber was destroyed, the victory was credited as collective to the squadron.

Who were the 501 sqn pilots flying that day and is a JU 88 positively identified?

Thanks in advance.

David Sumerauer

[Brian Bines]

David,

Luft Qm.s returns has Ju88D-2 4U+AH of 1(F)/123 wn 258 shot down in Luftkampf location unknown this day. Ff Ltn. Paul Storner ( umlaut over o ) baled out injured B Uffz Georg Honer ( umlaut over o) Bf Ogef Albert Meckelburg and Bs Uffz Gunther Grundke all missing to dead.
Was the claim over the sea?

Brian Bines

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

"Bunny" Currant certainly led the attack on the Ju.88 (see "Fear Nothing" by David Watkins) and ensured that all the other 11 pilots joined in it's desruction.
Cap De La Hague is on the Cherbourg peninsular.

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[Tony Kearns]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

David,

Luft Qm.s returns has Ju88D-2 4U+AH of 1(F)/123 wn 258 shot down in Luftkampf location unknown this day. Ff Ltn. Paul Storner ( umlaut over o ) baled out injured B Uffz Georg Honer ( umlaut over o) Bf Ogef Albert Meckelburg and Bs Uffz Gunther Grundke all missing to dead.
Was the claim over the sea?

Brian Bines

Good evening,
I have the pilot listed as Lt Paul Stormer (umlaut over o) and the B as Horner (umlaut over o). The Bf and the Bs both left the aircraft at about 30m and the pilot and B got out after hitting the water through the lower hatch as they could not release the cockpit hatch. Ltn Stormer swam ashore and the three bodies of the crew were washed ashore some time later.The location of the crash was near Anderville, Cap de la Hague.
Tony K

[David Sumerauer]

Thanks gentlemen,

highly appreciated. Can anybody add the names for 501 sqn pilots involved?

Kind regards.
David

[Tony Kearns]

Hello David,
From the ORB;
Spitfire W3840 F/Lt Ekins
W3894 P/O Tomkinson
W3845 F/Lt Graham
AB829 Sgt Haggas incorrect serial possibly AB828
AB965 P/O Stanbury
R7334 Sgt Lynch
W3846 S/Ldr Currant
AD237 P/O Newbury
W3841 F/Lt Daffron
W3703 P/O Greenway
W3939 P/O Holroyd
Ad188 Sgt Toller

I hope this is of some help to you, for my part I would like to know the correct identity of Sgt Haggas Spitfire if anyone has it.
Regards
Tony K

[Andy Saunders]

Sgt Haggas' Spitfire was certainly AB828. The only other point of note is that W3894 was flown by Plt/Off Palmer-Tomkinson...not Tomkinson. He appears as Tomkinson in most of the "work carried out columns" in order that his name will fit onto the page. At least, I suspect that to be the reason! I think Greenway was also Greenaway.

The text of the ORB gives:

"An exciting afternoon resulting in the squadron getting a Ju 88. The enemy aircraft appeared to be on a recce and did not appear to be carrying bombs. None were jettisoned. Enemy aircraft seemed to be heavily armoured but armament and camouflage were standard. Return fire was experienced but it was not very accurate. The aircraft was slowly losing height but at high speed. All aircraft of 501 Squadron had opened fire on the Ju 88 at ranges varying from 50ft to 400yds."

One has to have a degree of sympathy for the German crew who faced twelve Spitfires lining up, time and again, to have another go!

[Tony Kearns]

Thank you Andy for the additional information. Stormer and his crew didn't have a chance of escape and he too thought that this was the end. When he came to the surface a Spitfire circled him so low that he could clearly see the pilot's face. Attached , the funeral of the three crewmen.
Tony K

[Chris Goss]

Bit late on this one but Meckelburg was shot down & taken POW/released 24 May 40 with 8/KG 51