305 sqn missions period 18.-22. April, 1945

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

I think I asked this question in the old forum without an answer.

Has anyone easy access to 305 sqn ORB for 1945? I am interested of missions of this Polish unit late April, 1945. I would like to check veracity of some Estonian recollections.

Between 18th to 22th April, 1945 a German train marked with big Estonian flags travelled from Odense, Denmark to Berlin. These were Estonian troops taken to the East Front. After passing the Danish-German border the train was approached by Allied planes. This would be Flensburg area, Germany.

Unexpectedly, instead of aerial attack the planes made couple of flybys. Even rocking wings. The Estonian recollection is that after war Endel Susi, Estonian RAF pilot who flew in 305 sqn had said he recalled the attack. Apparently because he did not want to kill his countrymen.

What I would like to know as facts is:

- Did 305 sqn perform any missions on the Flensburg area late April 1945?
- Did Endel Susi fly missions during that period?

Even better if there is description of the events, but that would be too much to ask.

The Polish ORB site ( http://orb.polishaf.pl/ ) is of no help, April 1945 is not included. I have waited and checked for that for some years now.

This is one of those idle questions to which I would like to know the answer eventually, but there is no need to go on extremies to provide them.


Thanks for your interest,
Kari

[MW Giles]

In the period you mention 18 April 1945 onwards F/L E Susi flew the following sorties:

19-20.04.45 (01:15 to 05:25 hrs) F/L E Susi and F/O ME Pruszynski flew Mosquito 401 - B and bombed a railway junction at Bredstedt, causing a fire

They were one of 12 305 Sqn a/c patrolling roads, railways amd canals in the area Cuxhaven-Oldenburg-Scharnhorn-Wilhelmshaven on this night

22-23.04.45 (21:50 to 01:35 hrs) F/L E Susi and F/O ME Pruszynski flew Mosquito 401 - B and bombed a train stationary in station at S.3395

They were one of 12 305 Sqn a/c patrolling roads, railways amd canals in the area Westerland-Flensburg-Cuxhaven-Neuhaus-Lubeck-Hamburg

24-25.04.45 (20:30 to 00:35 hrs) F/L E Susi and F/O ME Pruszynski flew Mosquito 401 - B and bombed lighs on a railway crossing at N.5904, shot up 1 MET at S.4993 & railway buildings at S.2278 and a railway junction at S.1178

They were one of 12 305 Sqn a/c patrolling and attacking enemy movements in the area Westerland-Flensburg-Eckenforde-Neuhaus-Ording-Rostock-Hamburg

25-26.04.45 (02:20 to 06:55 hrs) F/L E Susi and F/O ME Pruszynski flew Mosquito 401 - B, no mention of attacks being made

They were one of 12 305 Sqn a/c patrolling and attacking enemy troops and movements in the area Westerland-Flensburg-Eckenforde-Neuhaus-Ording-Westerland

Hope this helps

Martin

[Kari Lumppio]

Ecellent Martin!

It seems the story is at least plausible.

I checked the sunrise time for Flensburg at the Naval Oceanography Portal* and it was 4.55 AM at that time of year (3.55 AM British time?) while civil twilight was at 4.14. That would make the 19./20. April mission the most probable date for the described event. In the darkness of night no-one could have regonized flags. After twilight and/or sunrise, yes. For 19./20. the problem is mission area would not take 305 sqn upto the railwayline from Odense to Berlin?

Another possible date would be 25./26. Precisely the right area and no recorded attacks, even. The problem is that at 25th the troops (and train) should already have been in Berlin. Possibly there was several echelons transported during a period of time?

Anyway, thank you a million for this piece of information!

Regards,
Kari




*Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day: Locations Worldwide( http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-world )

[MW Giles]

Kari

Britain and Germany were both on GMT+2 hrs in this period.

The night of the 22nd seems the best candidate, 305 were on ops in Flensburg area and F/L Susi was flying

The moon was 83% (a few days off full) but I do not have rise and fall times (the observatory site will let you work that out as well I seem to remember).

Very unlikely he would be able to tell one flag from another in the dark, even if he had seen it on the train

Martin