Ju 88 of 4/LG1 lost on 23 of December 1944

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

There were indeed numerous claims by RAF Mosquito squadrons that night. Perhaps L1+KM was shot down by F/L K.W. Stewart and F/O H.E. Brumby of 488 (NZ) Squadron who claimed 1 Ju 88 destroyed 10 m W of Maeseyck at 19:56 hrs (and another Ju 88 at 20:40). Other claims seem to be either too early or too late (the same applies to a sole claim by 425 NFS USAAF). Stewart and Brumby were flying Mosquito Mk.XXX MM822 on this occasion.

Hope this helps a little,

Ota

[Nick Beale]

If anyone has the chance check out the No. 85 Group ORB and appendices at the National Archives, their Intelligence Officer often included wreck reports and a note of which of the Group's crews brought the aircraft down.

[Brian Bines]

Ota, thanks for that information,

Brian Bines

[George Hopp]

23 Dec 44 was not a great evening for LG 1 in that it lost 4 a/c. Then it lost 4 more on the 24th. F1+KM, W.Nr. 330 933, was detailed to carry out a nuisance raid (Störeinsatz) in the area Aachen - Metz. The observer, Uffz Joachim Flaskämper, noted that they took-off at 17:25. On the way to the target, they lost their radio compass. They bombed a railway station. At about 20:30 they were attacked by a night fighter. The pilot, Fw Albert Johänntges, ordered them to bail out. The gunner, Uffz Wilhelm Rudow, was jammed in the entry door (reason not stated), so they had to jettison the rear cockpit and bail out over the rear fuselage. Uffz Flaskämper hit the tail unit and received serious injury to a leg/foot. They were captured by British soldiers shortly after landing, and were treated to hot cups of "Sanka."

The crew was:
Fw Albert Johänntges - FF - PoW
Uffz Joachim Flaskämper - BO - PoW
Ogefr Willi Konrad - BF - PoW
Uffz Wilhelm Rudow - BS - Dead

All from "Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1 (Band 2)" by Peter Taghon.

Hope this helps,
George