Wellington losses 6/7 October 1942

[keith A]

Can anyone identify Wellingtons lost on the night of 6/7 October 1942? I am looking for two bombers shot down over Germany by German fighters on that night.

best regards

Keith

[Larry]

Wellington losses that night were DF639 of 75 Sqn, and BK313 of 115 Sqn codes KO-B. Both were on an op to Osnabruck. The first crashed in Holland and the second in the Reichswald Forest. The crews from each died and the reason for their loss in not recorded in BC Losses Book for 1942.

[keith A]

Cheers Larry,

I was looking for possible victims of Ltn Hans Krause NJG3. He is the only pilot to claim Wellingtons on that night (although it may be they were lost to FLAK or other causes).

regards

Keith

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Keith,

Here's a little extract from the manuscript of the Nachtjagd War Diaries 2nd edition, in the narrative I'll give lots more details about these two claims:

Lt. Hans Krause: 1 Stab I./NJG3 Wellington 1 km. N. Slagharen: 3.100 m. 23.04 75 Sqn Wellington DF639
Lt. Hans Krause: 2 Stab I./NJG3 Wellington nr Rheine: 4.000 m. 23.22 115 Sqn Wellington BK313

Cheers, Theo

[keith A]

Suoerb! Thanks Theo. I will look out for it. I assumed the 75 Squadron was his second of the night because one source gives it's loss of contact at around 23.30. Was Krause flying a Bf110D/E?

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Keith,

No, he flew a Lichtenstein-equipped Do217 J coded D5+LH.

Cheers, Theo

[keith A]

That's amazing! I didn't realise the DO217J was used by NJG3.

best regards

Keith