Luftwaffe Do17 loss - 27/10/1941

[_Mike_]

Hi,
Has anyone got any information on the possible identity of the Do17 claimed shot down off the Norfolk coast by Squadron Leader Green of 266 Squadron on 27th October 1941.
There is no mention in the Luftwaffe Crash Archive book or in the KG2 diary.
Thanks,
Mike

[Chris Goss]

By this time it was Do 217 not Do 17. Seems to ring a bell from one of my books and I can check tomorrow unless some one beats me to it

[_Mike_]

Thanks Chris, Green identified it as a Do17, an easy mistake to make.

[Chris Goss]

From my book:


As for II./KG 40, it continued to operate predominantly over the North Sea from Soesterburg in Holland against shipping and coastal targets. On 27 October 1941 a Do 217E-2 flown by Lt Helmut Röchl of 5./KG 40 was lost attacking convoy FN537 (consisting of 10 ships without escort which had sailed from Southend the previous day headed for Methil) while another aircraft from 4./KG 40 returned with Fw Heinrich Herrmann (BM) wounded. At around 1430 hrs that day Sgt John Slaney of 257 Sqn claimed an aircraft destroyed off Happisburgh which, at last, was correctly identified as a Do 217:

"A convoy was the main object of attention and an almost ceaseless patrol was maintained throughout the day. At 1314 hrs, Yellow and White Sections took off and at 1406 hrs they were informed that an unidentified bomber was in the vicinity of the convoy. Directly after they saw a Dornier and gave chase. As Yellow Section could not catch the e/a they returned to base. White Section (Sgt Slaney and Sgt Whitmill) saw the Do make a bombing run and attacked as it was about to make another bombing run and shot the e/a down. This was later claimed as a Do 217

However, later that day Sqn Ldr Charles Green of 266 Sqn assisted by Sgt Eric Dicks-Sherwood shot down another over the convoy at 1800 hrs, the aircraft, misidentified yet again as a Do 17Z, caught fire after being attacked, its starboard wing struck the sea after which it cart-wheeled into the water 10 miles off Happisburgh Light; there were no survivors. Lt Gerhard Blaschke of 5./KG 2 reported taking off from Evreux at 1359 hrs that afternoon on an armed reconnaissance off the English East Coast landing uneventfully at Schiphol two and a half hours later so it would appear that just II./KG 40 was responsible for sinking the 4,545 GRT SS Antiope and the Dutch Friesland (2,662 GRT) eight miles north-north-west of Cromer. The Luftwaffe reported II./KG 40 had sunk a 6,000 GRT ship off Great Yarmouth at 1501 hrs followed by another of 5,000 GRT two minutes later and that evening damaged another ship of 5,000 BRT east of Bridlington

[_Mike_]

That's excellent, thanks Chris.

Which of your books is this mentioned in? I own several of your books but they are currently in storage.

Was it a 5/KG40 Dornier that Green destroyed? Are there any details of the crew available?

Thanks

[Chris Goss]

Only one Do 217 was lost that day and no Do 17s so who got him is not certain. Do 217 E-2, 0326, F8+DN. Fw Hans Kemss-B, Fw Walter Bersch-Bf and Uffz Georg Becker-BM plus pilot all missing. German records state this aircraft was lost at 1215hrs

[_Mike_]

Green took off at 17:20 and landed at 18:50, so he didn't get the Do 217 that went down at 12:15.
I wonder if the aircraft he attacked dumped its bombs, the explosion of which he mistook for the crash of the Dornier?

[Chris Goss]

Entirely possible

[_Mike_]

The combat report references the fading light making identification of the EA difficult. It also states that Green's No 2 broke off after the first attack and didn't witness the EA strike the water.

[Chris Goss]

Slaney was airborne 1315-1430hrs which also doesn't match with the German time