Loss of a Ju 88 of Wekusta 1 off Norway on 22 November 1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

All sources I have agree that on 22 November 1943 a Mosquito of 333 Sqn RAF shot down a Ju 88 of Wekusta 1 off Stavanger. Except that this loss is not listed on the Luftwaffe in Norway SIG website.

But none is listing the full crew, only the pilot, Uffz. Magnus Mannel, is named and reported to have been killed.

And the aircraft subtype is described in various sources as a Ju 88 D-1 (mainly) or D-5.

The WNr is reported to be (88)1779.

Can someone provide the names and fate of the rest of the crew, and the precise type of this bomber ?

Thanks in advance

[Matti Salonen]

1943-11-22, Wekusta Ob.d.L. 1, Ju 88D-1, 881779, D7+BH, Bei Egersund, Beschuß durch Mosquito. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Mannel, Magnus, vermißt
Beobachter Reg.Rat. Lange, Heinz, +
Bordfunker Gefr Leroy, Paul, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Uffz Vieroth, Heinrich, vermißt

Matti

[Brian Bines]

Hi Laurent,

Luft QMs returns report dated 26-11-43 just shows as following:- 22-11-43 Wek 1 'F' unknown cause unknown place Ju88D-1 1779 D7+BH Ff Uffz. Magnus Mannel, Bf Gef Paul Leroy, Bm Uffz Heinrich Vieroth all missing. The Wekusta book states that Reg.Rat Heinz Lange was also lost with this crew near Egersund.
Hope this is of help,

Regards

Brian Bines

[edNorth]

Hello Laurent,

(088)1779 was Ju 88 D-5 when produced (according the loss entry below), likely becoming Ju 88 D-1 after repair and conversion/fitment of weather recording apparatus (after accident below)
Only real difference be the VDM metal props, replaced by VS 11 wood props and "50% Er" means this be complex repair (at Repair Factory)

(088)1779 Ju 88 D-5 4.(F)/11 (Lw.Kdo.Öst East)
OPS (F) damaged by enemy fire and crash landed (50% Er) at Seschtschinskaja 02.07.1942 (rep D5 1779 in LWFLV losses Lfd.Nr. 81 of 08.07.42)

Best regards
Ed

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks a lot for your quick and extensive replies !

[Chris Goss]

I have 1008 hrs Mosquito R/333 Sqn (S/Lt Eriksrud) Ju 88 destroyed west of Lister. I seem to remember that his camera gun stills are around (misidentified as a Ju 88 of V/KG 40 shot down over the Bay of Biscay)

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Here is the entry in the www.crashplace.de database that I updated with the above contibutions:

On 22 November 1943 the Mosquito VI HP860 -R of 333 (Norwegian) Sqn RAF took off at 0829 hrs from Leuchars for a reconnaissance flight off Norway. Aboard were Kvm. Finn Eriksrud (pilot) and Kvm. Erling V. Johansen (navigator).

At 0949 hrs they sighted five ships off Obrestadt. At 1008 hrs they sighted one Ju 88 on track 045 at 2000 ft, 1000 yards away. There was then 10/10 cloud, base 2000 ft. The Norwegian crew reported that the German aicraft continued on track, possibly increasing speed. The Mosquito turned to port and climbed to 200 ft and fom dead astern fired on the Ju 88 from 600 yards. Pieces were seen to fall from fuselage. Starboard engine caught fire and the aicraft glided into the sea and disappeared. It was the fifth victory of 333 Sqn, and the 2nd for this crew. The Mosquito returned to base at 1133 hrs.

They had shot down off Stavanger the Ju 88 D-1 WNr 1779 D7+BH of Wekusta 1. There were no survivor.

Crew (all killed):
Uffz. Magnus Mannel (pilot)
Reg.Rat. Heinz Lange (meteoroligist/observer)
Gefr Paul Leroy (radio)
Uffz Heinrich Vieroth (flight engineer)

The Ju 88 (088)1779 was Ju 88 D-5 when produced and was recorded as such when it was damaged at 50% on 2 July 1942 when he crash landed at Seschtschinskaja after being damaged by enemy fire while serving with 4.(F)/11 in USSR. He probably became a Ju 88 D-1 after repair and conversion/fitment of weather recording apparatus. Only real difference between the two subtypes were the VDM metal props, replaced by VS 11 wood props.

Source:
http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/luftwaffe1.html
http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/lists/raf2.htm
http://www.warcovers.dk/greenland/wekusta1obdl.htm
ORB of 333 Sqn (http://mediabase1.uib.no/RAF/AIR%2027-1731.pdf)
"Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 69: Mosquito Aces of World War 2", by Andrew Thomas. ISBN 1-84176-878-2 (picture included)
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=31850
http://www.maplandia.com/norway/rogaland/stavanger/

[Skyraider3D]

Photo of the stricken a/c on the IWM site:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205023251

[Skyraider3D]

Doing some research on Norwegian Mossies, I found this as well:
http://www.nordiki.no/mosquito02.pdf

Does anyone have photos of HP860/R by any chance? So far I've found nothing.

I did find reference to it being "3-R" and also "KK-R" and being lost to flak and ditching in 1944, its crew being unhurt but taken prisoner.

More here:
http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories...1941-1945.html
http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories...1941-1945.html
http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/lists/raf1b.htm

[andy bird]

Herewith the combat report as written up on 22 November 1943:

Mosquito R/333 while returning from a shipping recc on the Norwegian Coast sighted a Junkers 88 - 1,000 yards away. Weather conditions extremely hazy and showery with patches of sunshine and 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. The Ju 88 seemed to increase speed when it sighted the Mosquito, R/333 closed to a range of 600 yards of the enemy aircraft and opened fire with all guns. Pieces fell off the enemy aircraft, the starboard engine caught fire and the aircraft began a descent at an estimated 35 degrees glided into the sea and disappeared from pilot and observers view. The enemy did not return fire.

Kind Regards

Andy Bird