Hans-Ekkehard Bob

[Brian]

Hi guys

I've been reading 'Betrayed Ideals' - Memoirs of a Luftwaffe Fighter Ace - Hans-Ekkehard Bob. Intresting but disppointing due to its lack of content. However, I was intrigued by Bob's first combat over Poland in September 1939, when his Staffel from I/JG21 was fired on by He111s they were escorting, before contact was made with Polish fighters. Bob states that his was the only aircraft of the eight in his Staffel to return to base, although one flown by Oblt Schneider, which had sustained damage, returned later; six had carried out emergency landings, although he maintains none was due to enemy action!

Were any of the six Messerschmitts victims of the Heinkel gunners, or Polish fighters, or had they simply become disorientated as implied by Bob? I am obviously interested in the 'friendly fire' aspect.

Cheers
Brian