Photo help - Nachtjagdegeschwader 2 - missing crew

[Matti Salonen]

1944-08-08, 6./NJG 2, Ju 88G-1, 710847, 4R+QP, Les Haies, Luftkampf. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Bachner, Rudolf, +
Bordfunker Uffz Rühmkorb, Heinrich, gefangen
Bordschütze Ofw Krause, Heinz, +
Rühmkorb mit Fallschirm abgesprungen.

Cannot find any P??weiger, only Uffz Helmut Schweiger in 5./NJG 52

Matti

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Matti,

Thanks for posting these details -this loss is new to me, do you possibly have additional details about the exact date (i.e. 7-8 or 8-9 August 1944)?

And Rick -I just got back from my family holiday in France and noted that my in-box was full, you may have tried to send me the scans of the photos over the past few weeks, can you send me these scans now that I've cleared out my in-email box? Looking forward very much to receiving these from you!

Cheers, Theo

[Matti Salonen]

Unfortinately no additional details for the time being. Will try to investigate.

Matti

[Theo Boiten]

Hello and good evening Matti,

Cheers & thanks for that -on the basis of my information about the deployment of the various Gruppen on both these nights in question, I think that the night when the a/c was lost was 7-8 August -in the narrrative for this night, I have writen the following in the manuscript of the NJWD 2nd edition:

.. whilst a single Ju88 of II./NJG2 left Coulommiers for FF Gepard (east of Evreux) at 22.30 hrs. Shortly after 23.00 hrs, seven Ju88s of II./NJG2 left Coulommiers and were probably sent to Biene too.

As yet, I have no indications that II./NJG2 operated on 8-9 August 1944.

Cheers, Theo

[Matti Salonen]

You are right. With the NVM there is a document, which containa the following note:
"..In den frühen Morgenstunden des 8. August wurde eine Ju-88 abgeschoßen (Chi-Nachrichten No 591).."

That confirms night 7/8.

Matti

[Theo Boiten]

Wonderful Matti, thanks for confirming, I've made a note of this in the NJWD 2nd edition manuscript -unfortunately I have not been able yet to tie this loss to any known heavy bomber gunners' claim.. -the NVM specifically states that the Ju88 was shot down.

Cheers, Theo

[Brian Bines]

According to ADIK report '' The patrol was uneventful untill about 0230hrs when the W/T suddenly saw a Mosquito approaching from behind and slightly below. Almost immediately afterwards the Mosquito attacked and set the port wing of the Ju88 on fire'' the aircraft dived steeply and the W/T baled out. crash site given as one and a half miles N/W of Montcharival at 0230 hrs 8th August, crew shown as pilot Uffz Rudi Bachner age 24 +, Obs Ofw Heinz Krause 27/8 years +. W/T Uffz Heinrich Ruhmkorb b 21.Dec.22 uninjured Pow,
Regards

Brian Bines

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Brian,

Many thanks for providing these loss details, very interesting!

Cheers, Theo