Ju 88 Lost off Stampalia 31 Jan 44

[Chris Goss]

The Beaufighters of 252 Sqn claimed to have destroyed a Ju 88 at this location in the afternoon of 31 Jan 44 during which one of the Beaufighters was shot down. Any ideas as to the Ju 88? Possibly 11./ZG 26 as a pilot from this unit was the only claimant for a Beaufighter this day in the right location at the right time

[Matti Salonen]

1944-01-31, 11./ZG 26, Ju 88 C-6, 360053, 3U+EV, Südwestlich Stampalia
Flugzeugführer Uffz Gruber, Franz, +
Beobachter Uffz Schmidt, Hans, +
Bordfunker Uffz Stoll, Friedrich, +
Beschuß von Beaufighter. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Matti. The BF was posthumously credited with shooting down the Beaufighter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

Just curious who really was credited with this victory.
In post 1 you say the pilot but in post 3 you say the BF....

B Rgds
Stig

[Chris Goss]

I thought it was a pilot as the RAF crews reported no return fire. Hence Uffz Stoll was not the pilot but BF

[Stig Jarlevik]

Roger that Chris

Cheers
Stig

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris,

Brian Cull in "Fighters over the Aegean" has this to say on page 112 -

"Flt Lt Reg Meyer led eight rocket-armed Beaufighters of 252 Squadron on a sweep around Stampalia on 31 January, meeting three Ju 88 Cs of 11./ZG 26 with a pair of Bf 109s flying cover. Meyer had time to shoot down Uffz Franz Gruber's aircraft that crashed near the coast. The crew survived and Uffz Stoll claimed a Beaufighter shot down. But then the Bf 109s attacked and shot down LZ341 and LZ377 into the sea off Stampalia. Flg Off Darrell Hall and Sgt Alex Crowe were killed but Flt Sgt F.A. Stevenson and Sgt C. Thompson managed to reach Turkey where they were briefly interned."

I wonder how Brian concluded that the Gruber crew survived.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Andy. I can see no claim by a Bf 109 this day, just Stoll's claim

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris,

No problem.

Below may give an indication of why the Beaufighters were there.

From DEFE3/135

page 290-1 VL5291 01/02/44
Orders for 3./126 at 01.00 hrs on 01/02/44 for operations that day.
Escort and anti-submarine patrol with 3 Arado ahead of Oria convoy, Stampalia to Rhodes. (Comment compare VL5271) convoy to be in 3632, 2645 E at 04.30 hrs Z, thence via 3617, 2715 E and 3622, 2755 E, arriving about 14.00 hrs Z.
For 3 torpedo boats and 1 steamship (Comment – probably Siglinde, see VL5279) from Praeus to Leros arriving about 06.00 hrs Z, anti-submarine patrol and escort with 3 Arados from first light till arrival off Port Laki and in area3707, 2645 E.
For Leda (comment see VL5207) leaving Leros about 16.00 hrs Z for Samos, anti-submarine patrol with 3 Arado at Port Laki and ahead of convoy from 14.00 hrs Z till last light.
Secondly, for three tasks 6 Arados of 4./126 transfering to Leros.
Thirdly, 3 Ju 88 also with Oria convoy until arrival.

[Russell]

Hi ,

Interesting thread. The ORB for 252 as noted above was of the view the two Beaufighters lost were shot down by Bf 109s. Is anyone aware of any claims made by Bf 109 pilots on this date?. As far as I am aware none were made. An unusual but not unknown state of affairs.

Cheers

Russell