Ju 88 A-5, WNr. 4332, IV./KG 3, lost 17 January 1943

[George 118]

Hello all,

I am researching a Luftwaffe loss and would appreciate any help. The aircraft in question is a Junkers Ju 88 A-5, Werknummer 4332, from IV./KG 3, which was lost on 17 January 1943, reportedly over or near the Channel.

So far I have found only a basic loss entry (no cause given). I am hoping to learn more about:

The mission type or target on that date

Circumstances of the loss (accident, interception, flak, etc.)

Names of the full crew, if recorded

Any corresponding Allied claims or combat reports

If anyone has access to KG 3 war diary (KTB) entries, casualty lists, or combat reports that might shed light on this loss, I would be very grateful.

Many thanks in advance,
George

[Nick Beale]

If anyone has access to KG 3 war diary (KTB) entries, casualty lists, or combat reports that might shed light on this loss, I would be very grateful.

The good news is that everyone now has easy access to Luftwaffe loss reports online. They can be viewed or downloaded free from the Bundesarchiv website. The ones for January 1943 are in file RL 2-III/1185: https://invenio.bundesarchiv.de/inve...-dc70c441686d/

[George 118]

Hi Nick,
Thank you so much for showing me how to find the Luftwaffe loss reports online. I was able to find out that it was the Ju 88 A-5, WNr. 4332 crew were the :
Fw. Horstmann, Paul F
Gefr. Ihnken, Heinrich B
Gefr. Willhöft, Ewald Bf
Gefr. Rethweiler, Johann Bs
I noticed that the reason of the crash (Absturz) does not appear in it.

I really appreciate your help

[Brian Bines]

There was a raid on London on 17/18th Jan with 4332 showing as crashing by Poix another IV/KG 53 aircraft came down in the sea w.n.3311 in PLQu 4469 04 Ost .This was believed shot down by W/C Raphael of 85 Sqd and German record show emergency landing on sea RL 2-III/1185 page 124 . Crew of Ltn Werner Galipp shown as missing , later the body of Bs Flg Paul Hauptmann was washed ashore see RL 2-III/1188 page 156

Regards
Brian Bines

[George 118]

From Simon Parry Beaufighter, p.32 book I read that ''A Ju88 A5 of IV./KG3 was in trouble on its return from London. At 21.17 hours a distress signal was sent, 'Engine failure - Landing in sea'. Its control called on radio for half an hour but there was no reply. All four of its crew died when their aircraft fell into the sea off Boulogne''.
The author believes that it was the Junkers 4332 of IV./KG 3 that was damaged by a Beaufighter of RAF No. 29 Sqn, piloted by W/C Wight-Boycott.

[Nick Beale]

Bundesarchiv RL 2-II/415 says that 94 tonnes of HE and 34 tonnes of incendiaries were dropped on London on the night of 17/18 January.

[Brian Bines]

George

The crew of Fw Horstmann (4332)are shown as being killed in a crash at Poix airfield and are buried at Bourbon , while the crew of Ltn Gallipp (3311) are shown as missing following ditching at sea with the body of the Bs being washed ashore . I took it that 3311 fitted in with fell into the sea off Boulogne.

Regards
Brian Bines

[George 118]

I agree, Brian. The Ju 88 A-5 of IV./KG 3 mentioned in Simon Parry’s book is not 4332 but 3311. The question is whether it fell victim to W/C Wight-Boycott or to W/C Raphael.

[Brian Bines]

George

From combat reports and various I have that W/C Wight-Boycott of 29 Sqd. shot down a Do217 at Westerham and 2 Ju88s one at Brenzett and the other at Caterham

F/L Esplin of 29 Sqd shot down a Ju 88 at Bethersden Kent

W/C Raphael of 85 Sqd engaged a Ju 88 at 5500 ft setting the port engine on fire the e/a dived down to the sea but at 300 ft Raphael pulled up and the e/a disappered into sea haze . On landing he was told the e/a was seen to dive down to the sea at the time and location of his combat which he claimed as destroyed .

As far as I can see the Luftwaffe lost 4 Ju88s and one Do217 shot down with a further Ju88 crashing at Poix , a Do217 returning with combat damage and a Ju 88 that returned after one crewman baled out over England

[Brian Bines]

Hi George

I am afraid the crew of Lt Galipp in 3311 must now be discounted as being on the London raid of 17/18th January . I have access to another researchers Michael Balss Luftwaffe Losses and Claims collection and this shows 3311 was lost in a ditching west of Marseille . This is verified by the position 4469/O4 Ost which I can now find from the posts of Andy and Chris in answer to my Thread on asking the location of this reference , and that Flg Paul Hauptmann the Bs of the Galipp crew is buried at Dagneux in the S/E of France
A magazine article by Simon Parry from Dec 1986 titled ‘Wing Commanders Night Out ‘ covers this raid and states that a Ju 88 of IV/KG53 returning from London made a distress call that they were ditching with the position given as off Boulogne it would seem this was from the Galipp crew but just the wrong location . Balss only shows 2 losses for IV/KG 53 that night the Galipp crew and the Horstmann crew at Poix .
I have an NVM with the loss of 3 crews of KG 6 but discounted the last one as it had a cross though the names but on checking found that the crew of Hpt Erbs of 3/KG 6 were killed at a crash 20 Km N/W of Poix being shot down by a N/F . Possibly the aircraft that W/C Raphael last saw as disappearing into thick haze over the sea but almost making it home ?

Brian Bines