Nightfighters in Poland

[TPMM_wwl]

Hi! I'm new to the forum. I wonder if you can help me.

Does anybody have any infos about German nightfighter units intercepting allied planes flying to Warsaw in summer 1944? Especially those based around Cracow.

[Peter Kassak]

I think II./ NJG 100 may be of consideration...

[Nickdorf]

Hey.

Think it must be I/NJG100 and III/NJG100. They had quit a few scores on Lancasters over Polen late summer 44.

Fw. Helmut Konter I/NJG100 and Ltn. Gustav Francsi III/NJG100 were some of the pilots.

Nick.

[Nickdorf]

Corrections above should read 1./NJG100 and 3./NJG100 sorry.

Nick

[szukajacy]

Nickdorf- I think there was no scores on Lancasters over Poland. You are talking about Konter victory on 5th sept '44 but the plane which were shot down wasn't Lanc but Halifax. I'm sure in 99%.

BTW, Did Lancasters fly over Poland? Poland was rather USAAF area, wasn't she?

[Nickdorf]

You could be right.

But to my knowledges there was night-missions by Lancaster's and Halifax's in the area around that periode. They supported the Polish resistance.

Maybe someone has more info ?

Nevertheless 1./NJG100 and 3./NJG100 had claims in the area at that time.

Kind regards Nick

[George Hopp]

The British bombers were supporting the Poles who were involved in the Warsaw uprising of 1 Aug 44 to 4 Oct 44. The Russkis advancing on Warsaw encouraged the locals to rise up against the Germans. But, when the Poles rose up, the Reds came to a stop, and waited until after the uprising was quashed before against advancing westward.

Both the Brits and Yanks tried to fly aid to the Poles. As I recall, the British bombers had the range to go to Warsaw and back, but the USAAF bombers didn't and so the Americans asked Stalin for permission to land in Soviet captured territory. Stalin refused that permission until the uprising was pretty well wiped out.

So, that's a quickly reason as to why RAF bombers were tearing around Poland during the summer of 1944.

[Nickdorf]

Thanks George

Knew I was close to being right :-)

TPMM wwl

I could look 'deeper' into my documents but it's fairly safe to say it's 1. and 3./NJG100 you should look into.

szukajcy
There is at least half a dozen claims of Lancasters in and around Warzaw and Cracow in Aug. 1944 also by Fw Konter or should it be 'Kounter' not sure about his last name.

Kind regards Nick

[pilot05]

Look here:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=6788

This Halifax was shot down by 3./NJG 100 (probably Hptm August Fischer).

regards
pilot05

[Nickdorf]

Thanks pilot05.

Found the Halifax :-)

FW Konter was up that same night and claimed two Lancaster's with in one and a half hour after 'your' Halifax.

But according to (Film Chef für Ausz. und Diziplin: C. 2025.N/TeilI) it happend on 5 aug.44.

Kind regards Nick