Night Fighter loss 23 September 1944

[78 Sqn History]

Can anyone confirm and provide details of the loss of a Me110 nightfighter on the night of 23/24 September 1944 which iis believed to have been shot down and crashed on the railway line at Weert on the Dutch boarder. I think that one memeber of the crew may have been killed.

many thanks

Daz

[hucks216]

From Nachtjagd Diaries Vol 2 for 23/24 Sept 1944 (Pg 158)...

One intruder from 100 Group claimed a Bf-110 damaged near Gutersloh. 11./NJG 1 lost two Bf-110G-4s in air combat (at Oldendorf & 25km east of Munster(it then mentions a Ju-88)...Finally Bf-110G-4 G9+RM of Hptm Schmidt (4./NJG 1) was shot down by a Mosquito of 219 Sqn, in the hands of Wing Cdr Green, in the circuit of Dusseldorf airfield on its return to base ar 2313 (11:13pm).

It also mentions that no returning heavy bomber crews, nor any of the 46 Bomber Support Mosquitos despatched, reported Nachtjager shot down.

[78 Sqn History]

Thank you for that, at the time the crew of the Halifax concerned were all either killed, taken prisoner or evaded to the advancing allied lines. Some 10 years after the event the surviving Air Gunner who was occupying the mid upper turret during the combat was told during a visit to Holland where his comrades were buried, that the attacking fighter had crashed at Weert and the Navigator was killed. He assumed that it had been shot down by the rear gunner as he himself had not been able to fire due to the fighter being below them.

Daz

[hucks216]

The same book has only one 78 Sqn Halifax as being definitely shot down that night (there are also two entries for two other bombers shot down (of the 15 listed ) that can not determine whether the victim was a Lancaster or a Halifax). But for the definite 78 Sqn Halifax it has the following...

Shot Down by Hptm Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow of 1./NJG 1. He origianlly claimed a Lancaster but the aircraft was in fact 78 Sqn Halifax MZ763 which crashed 75km W.N.W Dusseldorf. The bomber was attacked at a height of 3,200m at 2311. This aircraft was his 30th victory and he went on to score a further 3 and survived the war.

[78 Sqn History]

Thanks very much, that is definately the aircraft that I am interested in, it was coded EY - S and the pilot, wireless operator, rear gunner and flight engineer all died, the navigator was taken prisoner and the mid upper gunner and bomb aimer managed to evade capture with the help of local Dutch resistance.

thanks again

Daz