Loss of Ju88 - 18/19 May 1941 - near Yelverton, Devon

[Mathsmal]

Hi

Does anyone have any information on a Ju88 from 1/Kustenfliegergruppe 606 that crashed near Yelverton in Devon on the night of 18/19 May 1941?
The four crew were killed. If anyone has any photos of the crash site or crew I'd be very interested.

Thanks in advance.

[edNorth]

5213 Ju 88 A-5 [DL+BN] Luftwaffe
Known "first flight with radio tests" (Einflug m. F.T.) at ATG Leipzig/Mockau 23.01.40 - F.T.Flug 21.02.41 [F Rolf Baltabol; as DL+BN 5213 in logbook]
- Ju 88 A-5 KuFlGr 606 (Luftflotte 3) Non-OPS (H) damaged (10%) at Illesheim Airfield 13.03.1941
- Ju 88 A-5 [7T+AH] 1./KuFlGr 606 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) ´west of Ireland´ [flew into hill at 02:36 hrs near Yelverton, Devon, Britain] 19.05.1941 (F Uffz. Paul Nowacki, BS Oblt. Günther Hitschfeld, BF Uffz. Joachim Kaston and BM Uffz. Hans Knör mis/rep killed in losses later)
[TNA AIR 22/267 AMWR Report No.214/1 (in No.215) “code 7T+AH (Black A outline in White), ATG accepted February (1941) Works no. 5213 on tail and on instrument panel was number 088 5213, engines Jumo 211 G-1 ( MMW G1/847 and MZK G-1/111 ) - had 20 mm shell gun in lower nose. Camouflage Green Grey, Pale blue under)”]

-Ed

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi, From Nigel Parkers records.....And copies of the original A.I.(k) report held in the NA at Kew.

Hope this helps a little.

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk

19/5/41 02.36 hrs.
Ju 88 A-5 5213 7T+AH 1/KGr 606
Lowery Moor, Burrator, nr Tavistock, Devon. X.9992.
The aircraft took off from Lannion at 22.33 hrs. with the objective being to attack shipping off the north west coast of Ireland. The cause of the crash uncertain but a .303 strike was found in the tail. The aircraft hit the top of a hill, tearing off the propellers and lower gondola before crashing into the bottom of a valley.
Markings: A in black, outlined in white. The airframe was made by Leipzig, works no. 0885213, 5213 was also repeated, painted on the tail.
Engines: Jumo 211, nos. MNW-G1/847 and MZK 211G-1/11. Although this aircraft was operating at night it was not blacked over but painted green grey on the upper surfaces and pale blue beneath.
Armament: one ventral MG 15 traced, two MG 15 in the dorsal rear position, each with a rotatable ring with a bullet proof screen. One 20 mm cannon mounted forward at the bottom of the cockpit.
Equipment: Fug 10 and Fug 16 wireless sets and a BZA-1 bombsight.
ID: 73711, AW: -, FP: -.
Olt zur See Gunther Hitschfeld +. CC 6/344.
Uffz Paul Nowacki 73711/85 +. CC 6/346.
Uffz Joachim Kasten +. CC 6/345.
Uffz Hans Knor +. CC 6/343.

[Chris Goss]

Not a good night for 606 on what was their first mission with the Ju 88 They were tasked to attack a convoy 200 km NW of Ireland and lost Hptm Wolf Beitzke (St Kap 2/606) & crew believed to be off Falmouth. Lt Werner Neudeck (2/606) crashed 6 km west of Thierry Harcourt on the return-he was killed, one was fatally injured, one badly injured, one lightly injured. Oblt Helmut Eiermann (1/606) crashed at Lannion on the return-he and another were killed and it looks like 2 were injured. Also another flown by Oblt Peter Schnoor of 3/606 belly landed back at Lannion with 25% damage. Finally you had Hitschfeld (who was an Oblt not Oblt zS), Nowaki, Kasten & Knör (note the correct spellings of the names of 2 of them). No night fighter claims so it would appear to be accidents/Flak got them all-Ofw Mast had the sole of his flying boot shot away by Flak

[Mathsmal]

Many thanks everyone for your responses and for all this information.

I can add that the crew members were buried at Sheepstor Churchyard. There was a photo of the burial in a local paper (the location wasn't identified though).