JU88A Loss 18.10.40 KG51

[steve sheridan]

Hi, can anybody help provide the loss details of JU88A-1 W.Nr 7160,
which failed to return from a bomb raid on London 18.10.40.
Looking for the crew names in particular, i have one name Sonntag if anybody can help?

Best regs,
Steve.

[edNorth]

Hi Steve;

7060 actually as 7160 is known crashed on 19.10.40

9K+EC (F Oblt. Helmut von Claer, B Lt. Sigfried Sonntag and BF Ofw. Anton Stiegmüller mis/rep killed in a/23.10.40, BS Fw. Heinrich Märte mis/rep inj in a/23.10.40)

cheers
ed

[steve sheridan]

Thanks Ed for your quick reply!
So W.Nr 7060 then, and was this crew from StabII/KG51.

Regs,
Steve.

[edNorth]

hi;

Ju 88 A-1 9K+EC II/KG 51 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location (London) 18.10.1940

code appears Stab.II/51 but only ´II/KG 51´ listed,

cheers
ed

[Peter Cornwell]

This aircraft ditched in mid-Channel following an engine fire. The crew had been unable to deploy the dinghy and only the Bordmechanic, Fw Heinrich MÄRTE survived. He was picked up by a coastal patrol boat and landed at Boulogne. The unit was Stab II./KG51 though the pilot, Lt Siegfried SONNTAG, carried the ID of Stab III./KG51.

[steve sheridan]

Good morning Ed and Peter,
thanks for your further information reg this crew.
I think Sonntag definately belonged to III/KG51 has he was involved in a previous accident on the 9.8.40, when his a/c crashed on takeoff from Mondesir, in 9K+DD W.Nr 5064 causing 50% damage to the a/c.
The three other crew members are attributed to the 4/KG51 in both Dierich's tome on the KG51, and Masons BoB book!

Best regs,
Steve.

[Peter Cornwell]

The unit was Stab II./KG51. The NVM states 'Aufklarungsschwarm II./KG51' and all three IDs apart from that of SONNTAG are for Stab II./KG51 not 4 Staffel.

Incidentally, I can find no mention in my edition of Dierich and the loss is correctly given as II./KG51 by Mason.

[steve sheridan]

Peter my source was from the German edition of Dierich's book KG51
pg 267 and in the revised copy of Francis K Mason's Battle over Britain Pages 468-469. Both sets of crew listings clearly state 4/KG51.

I dont doubt what you say but just want to clarify, the information i have here in front of me. It would appear then that both these two sources have been recorded incorrectley.

Best regs,
Steve.