II/LG1 losses 16 January 1941

[Brian]

Hi guys

On 16 January 1941, during an attack on the damaged carrier Illustrious in harbour at Malta, II/LG1 lost one aircraft, plus four more damaged, three of which crash-landed at Catania on return. These aircraft contained, I believe, several wounded and dying aircrew.

Can anyone provide me with details, please? Names of crews and intensity of damage? Any help appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[hucks216]

These are all the aircraft listed for the 16th January 1941.

II/LG-1
Ju-88A-5
L1+?? (WkNr 4245)
70% damage / Catania - Bruchlandung
BO Uffz Hubert Birklbach (only crewman listed) - Wounded

5./LG-1
Ju-88A-5
L1+?? (WkNr 6187)
70% damage / Catania - Bruchlandung
No crew listed

5./LG-1
Ju-88A-5
L1+?? (WkNr 7157)
100% damage / Catania - von landendem ital. Flugzeug gerammt
No crew listed

8./LG-1
Ju-88A-5
L1+CD (WkNr 8046)
Target - Malta - 80% damage / Pozallo - Notlandung infolge Flaktreffer
FF Oblt Theodor Hagen
BF Fw Knödler
BS Uffz Karl Cohnen
No other crew details

9./LG-1
Ju-88A-5
L1+CT (WkNr 2275)
Target - Malta
100% damage / Malta - Luftkampf (Fulmar)
FF Oblt Kurt Pichler - Missing
BO Fw Willi Strauchfuss - Missing
BF Fw Heinz Kopecz - Missing
BS Fw Hermann Busch - Missing

(Source: Die Geschichte Des Lehrgeschwaders 1 Band 1 by Peter Taghon)

[gogh]

post #2
"II/LG-1 Ju-88A-5 L1+?? (WkNr 4245) 70% damage / Catania - Bruchlandung BO Uffz Hubert Birklbach (only crewman listed) - Wounded"

source Flugzeugverluste und -unfälle bei den See- / Marineluftstreitkräfte http://luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seeluft/Verlustlisten.htm
has this as M7+CL Junkers Ju 88A-5 WNr.4245 3./Kü.Fl.Gr.806 1941-03-20

[Brian]

Many thanks, Hucks, just what I was seeking.

I'll leave you guys to sort out the appropriate Wrk Nos.!!

Cheers
Brian

[hucks216]

Just double checked the entry in the book and the Werk Nr given is definitely 4245. Would it of been possible for an aircraft with 70% damage to be rebuilt and reassigned to a different unit within the space of 2 months?

[Ian Jewison]

These are Ju 88-A5 with the same Werk Nr!!!!

16.01.1941 Stab II./L.G.1, X. Fliegerkorps Fl.Horst Catania Bruchlandung
Junkers Ju 88 A-5 WNr. 4245 ?? + ?? 70%

20.03.1941 K.Gr.806, Luftflotte 3 bei Calais
Junkers Ju 88 A-5 WNr. 4245 M7 + GL 100%

04.10.1942 IV./K.G.3, Luftflotte 3 bei Fl.Pl.Bourges Absturz, vermutlich infolge Bedienungsfehler, Aufschlagbrand
Junkers Ju 88 A-5 WNr. 4245 ?? + ?? 100%

/Ian

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by hucks216

These are all the aircraft listed for the 16th January 1941.

Wow! Five total losses instead of one loss and three damaged. Malta was a very difficult target even in early 1941, it would seem. As I seem to remember from Shores' et al Spitfires over Malta, 5 Ju 88s lost in one day was close to the peak Luftwaffe losses over Malta in October 1942.

Originally Posted by Ian Jewison

These are Ju 88-A5 with the same Werk Nr!!!!

Very interesting. I have very little knowledge of this subject, could the full WNr. of each aicraft be longer, with these just the last four digits. Apologies if that is nonsense

Warm regards,

Paul

[Brian]

Hi Paul

All apparently shot down/seriously damaged by Fulmars of 806 Squadron operating from Malta, although one may have been victim of AA fire.

See my new book '806 Ahoy!' coming soon!!

Cheers
Brian

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Brian

apparently shot down/seriously damaged by Fulmars of 806 Squadron

See my new book '806 Ahoy!' coming soon!!

Hello Brian,

That serves to emphasise that the Ju 88 was quite an easy target for fighters, given that the Fulmar was one of the most ponderous British interceptors. If I remember correctly, the Ju 88 A-5 had an effective (that is rear-facing) armament of just two MG 15 machine guns, one each in the B-Stand and C-Stand. That's just one machine gun more than the Blenheim, a notoriously weakly armed bomber. Did not give them much chance against the eight Brownings of a Fulmar, as long as the Fulmar was able to get in range. It also puts the Battle of Heligoland Bight of 1939 in perspective. The Wellington IA at least had two Brownings in a powered FN.5 turret, slightly better than either a Ju 88 A-5 or a Blenheim! At least the Germans usually had the good sense not to send their bombers on unescorted raids into areas patrolled by enemy fighters, apart from a few famous occasions during the Battle of Britain.

Given what you now know about the losses of LG 1 in the January incident, would you say this was the greatest single success by 806 Squadron during the war? Congratulations on another book on the way, looking forward to it!

Warm regards,

Paul

[Brian]

Hi Paul

The Fulmars of 806 Squadron did shoot down five Z.506Bs/Z.501s on one day (but not one action), and were credited with five Ju87s and one SM79 on another occasion.

Cheers
Brian