Looking for info Otto Riepe and Alfred Thoma, Ju-88 crew.

[ssg keay]

Both men were possibly KIA on 23 March 1945. Supposedly they were crewmembers of a Ju-88 night fighter shot down during daylight action near the Oppenheim bridge-head. Does anyone have more information on these men, their unit, rank and aircraft? Thanks, Danny

[chris schmitz]

i looked up my nightfighter losseslist and didn't found those names....

[Heuser]

Hi Danny,

both are listed in the VBL (LJ113) of 5. and 6./NJG 2.

Uffz. Otto Riebe from Düsseldorf, born 30.11.1919, last known location is given with Wiesbaden in March 1945.

Uffz. Alfred Thoma from Würzburg, born 25.04.1922, last known location is given with in Langendiebach in March 1945.

Hope this helps

Heuser

[ssg keay]

Heuser, thanks for the message. So it is Riebe, not Riepe, that helps a lot. Both are listed as MIA and we know the crash-site and have already received permission to excavate. is there an explanation why they could have been in the same aircraft when they seemingly belonged to a different squadron within the same group and posted at two seperate locations (those close by each other)?

Also, there is no clue to the aircraft? Thanks, Danny

[Heuser]

Danny,

page LJ113 of the VBL lists MIA from 5. and 6./NJG 2, without any asignment of the MIA to a particular Staffel.

In general, the VBL gives only the last known location of a MIA, which has often no correlation to a crash location. This could also be the place of the last known quartering as well.

Without checking my records, 5./NJG 2 transferred to Langendiebach, while 6./NJG 2 transferred to Zellhausen in January 1945.

Regards,

Heuser

[ssg keay]

That makes sense Heuser. I am just a bit nervous about excavating an aircraft without having at least the majority of information at hand. Supposedly, they attacked the bridgehead at Oppenheim and were shot down during the attack. The whole crew was killed and never recovered and a wallet was found with the names Riebe and Thoma in it. I think Riebe was the Funker. It would be very useful to know the complete crew list/make-up to know how many men are in that crater. Hopefully time will tell. Danny

[ssg keay]

I am assuming they were flying a Ju-88 G-6, but I am not sure on that either. Danny

[ssg keay]

Hopefully I can get some detailed information when one of my colleagues visits the crash-site in the next few days and has a talk with eye-witnesses. Danny

[RT]

Any news ??

Rémi

[RT]

Uffz Riebe was pilot with 5.NJG2 on end 1944 nd still there on 1.Jan.45,

At that time he flew with Oge Bull as Bf, uffz Born as bm

Rémi