Loss of a Ju 88 of Wekusta 1 off Norway on 22 November 1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Here is the entry in the www.crashplace.de database that I updated with the above contibutions:

On 22 November 1943 the Mosquito VI HP860 -R of 333 (Norwegian) Sqn RAF took off at 0829 hrs from Leuchars for a reconnaissance flight off Norway. Aboard were Kvm. Finn Eriksrud (pilot) and Kvm. Erling V. Johansen (navigator).

At 0949 hrs they sighted five ships off Obrestadt. At 1008 hrs they sighted one Ju 88 on track 045 at 2000 ft, 1000 yards away. There was then 10/10 cloud, base 2000 ft. The Norwegian crew reported that the German aicraft continued on track, possibly increasing speed. The Mosquito turned to port and climbed to 200 ft and fom dead astern fired on the Ju 88 from 600 yards. Pieces were seen to fall from fuselage. Starboard engine caught fire and the aicraft glided into the sea and disappeared. It was the fifth victory of 333 Sqn, and the 2nd for this crew. The Mosquito returned to base at 1133 hrs.

They had shot down off Stavanger the Ju 88 D-1 WNr 1779 D7+BH of Wekusta 1. There were no survivor.

Crew (all killed):
Uffz. Magnus Mannel (pilot)
Reg.Rat. Heinz Lange (meteoroligist/observer)
Gefr Paul Leroy (radio)
Uffz Heinrich Vieroth (flight engineer)

The Ju 88 (088)1779 was Ju 88 D-5 when produced and was recorded as such when it was damaged at 50% on 2 July 1942 when he crash landed at Seschtschinskaja after being damaged by enemy fire while serving with 4.(F)/11 in USSR. He probably became a Ju 88 D-1 after repair and conversion/fitment of weather recording apparatus. Only real difference between the two subtypes were the VDM metal props, replaced by VS 11 wood props.

Source:
http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/luftwaffe1.html
http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/lists/raf2.htm
http://www.warcovers.dk/greenland/wekusta1obdl.htm
ORB of 333 Sqn (http://mediabase1.uib.no/RAF/AIR%2027-1731.pdf)
"Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 69: Mosquito Aces of World War 2", by Andrew Thomas. ISBN 1-84176-878-2 (picture included)
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=31850
http://www.maplandia.com/norway/rogaland/stavanger/