Junkers 88 lost on ops PQ18 14.9.42

[steve sheridan]

Hi, can anybody confirm the fate of the following crew lost on the attack on convoy PQ18. 14.9.42. 8/KG30.

Junkers 88A-4 4D+GS W.Nr 142121

Obfw Paul Fullborn
Uffz Wilhelm Mietz
Uffz Reinhard Spielberg
Obfw Siegfried Matschke.

I have conflicting information, one source says all killed, the other that all 4 members walked to safety to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway. This taking days to get there.

Best Regs,
Steve.

[cbe2009]

Hi Steve!
In the loss list it says that they were all missing in action, but whether or not they walked back its hard to say.
Also it says that the Wnr. was 1456
I am afraid this was not much help, but there you have it
Best wishes
Christian

[ArtieBob]

My loss list agrees with the W.Nr. 142121 for the date given by Steve as well as the pilot's name. The location in my file is Spitzbergen, but I can't confirm any further data.

Best Regards,
ArtieBob

[steve sheridan]

Hi Christian and Artie,
my source of the crew returning safely is on the following site.

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/borthen.html

My thanks for your response, its most appreciated.

Steve.

[edNorth]

Hi all,

This info comes from Luftwaffe 6. Abt. losses and explains why cbe2009 was stating other number:

2121 (i.e. 088142121)
Ju 88 A-4 [Jumo 211 J VS II] 4D+GS III/KG 30 (Luftflotte 5) OPS (F) ´belived force landed´ (100%) ´near´ [on land after attack on Allied Convoy PQ.18 just off shore at ] Spitzbergen 14.09.1942 (F Ofw. Paul Füllborn, B Uffz. Wilhelm Mietz, BF Uffz. Reinhard Spielberg and Ofw. BS Siegfried Matschke mis/ret uninjured in i/24.09.42)(rep A4 1456 in losses 127v19.09.42, amd as 2121 in losses i/24.09.42 <but amd not written into losses RL 2 III/1183 P.328 ~ but found in RL 2 III/762 P.122!> and crew ret allright as the machine was only belly-landed on sandfloes near shore; burned but was abandoned - Wreck about 60% on site, showing ´signs of´ unit crest under pilot window !)

cheers
ed

[steve sheridan]

Thank you for the further information Ed, although one wonders why there are so many inaccuracies in the Luftwaffe records!!
Thanks for finding that.

Best Regs,
Steve.