15/16th June 1941, Encounter over Amsterdam

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Steve,

.. repeat of my reply on RAF Commands Forum, little extract from the manuscript of the NJWD 2nd ed:

Lt. Fellerer and his Bordfunker Ogefr. Hätscher of 4./NJG1 reported a Wellington shot down in flames off Den Helder. In the encounter, their Bf110 D-0 G9+DM was hit by 7 machine gun bullets in return fire from the Wellington’s rear gunner, and classified as 10% damaged upon their return to Bergen/Alkmaar. In fact, the Nachtjäger’s adversary was 218 Squadron Wellington W5447, which escaped fatal damage during the encounter and returned safely to base with its port wing tank damaged by cannon fire. The Wimpey’s rear gunner P/O Frederick G. Chalk submitted a claim for a Bf110 destroyed. Both the pilot, S/Ldr. Denis Clyde-Smith, and P/O Chalk were decorated with the DFC. After official evaluation, Fellerer’s claim was rejected by the OKL/RLM.

Lt. Leopold Fellerer 4./NJG1 Wellington sea W. Den Helder (4313, Hering): 3.200 m. 03.18 rejected claim, 218 Sqn Wellington W5447 (damaged)



Cheers, Theo