Fw 190s Wk Nr 574

[Chris Goss]

Does anyone have any information on this ac which probably flew with JG 1/JG 11?

[Matti Salonen]

1943-01-30, 12./JG 1, Fw 190 A-4, (140)574, 6 gelbe, 35 km nordwestlich Terschelling
Flugzeugführer Uffz Hänel, Herbert, +
Absturz in See nach Luftkampf mit Wellington, von abmontierenden Teilen getroffen. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Matti. I note that he and Hptm Falkensamer of 3./JG 1 each claimed a Wellington but cannot seem to find out who these were. Is there a mention of Wk Nr 571 then apart from 22 Nov 42?

[Rottler]

Hello Chris,

the Fw 190 A-4 0571 5./JG 1 black 9 was lost on 10 June 1943 near Basselvelde, 22 km north of Gent, 100%.
The pilot Uffz Georg Pissarski/Pissarsky was KIA.
Sources:
Gen.Qu. loss return 13 June 1943, item 196
JFV Vol. 10/II page 143.

Regards
Leo

[kaki3152]

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=52194

Mention of Wellington supposedly shot down by Hptm. Falkensamer on January 30,1943

[Rottler]

The informations in JFV Vol. 10/II are contrary to this:
The 3./JG 1 encountered Wellingtons at noon without success. In the afternoon the 3./JG 1 came across three Wellingtons near Heligoland. At 1624 hrs Hptm Falkensammer shot down one of these Wellingtons, his 7th confirmed victory.

Regards
Leo

[Chris Goss]

4 Wellingtons lost attacking Hamburg, Oldenburg and Emden. 466 Sqn losses took off 1106 & 1114 hrs so would match with the claims of Kuthe of NJG 1 and Hänel at 1331 and 1325 hrs. 2 more Wellingtons took off at 1254 and 1325 hrs so would be better linked with Falkensamer's claim

[richard.k]

A combat report and 2 losses from 6 Bomber Group.
P/O S. Murrell and crew flying Wellington III X-3872 coded KW-A were attacked by two ME-109's. This attack occurred at 54:00N-06:00E at 15:52 on the homeward journey at 1,500 feet.
Two ME-109 when first sighted at about 2,500 feet approaching the Wellington from the port and starboard quarters. The ME-109 to starboard made a dummy attack and sheared off and the one to port flew up level with him. Then both ME-109's made simultaneous cross over attacks. The Wellington kept its course until the enemy aircraft were practically withing range, then made a steep diving turn through about 30 degrees. These double cross over attacks were repeated 3 or 4 times, with the Wellington adopting the same tactics for each attack with both gunners getting in first at the ME-109's. By the end of the second attack the Wellington was down at sea level and there after had to climb again after each attack to gain height to manoeuver for the next. After these double attacks the ME-109's came in on curve of pursuit attacks, one at a time, once or twice following each other in on the attacks. The fight went on for approximately 15 minutes. The ME-109's were never flying below 300 feet or within 200 yards of the Wellington until the last attack, when one flew right over within 40 yards. Both gunners, Sgt B. Grey on the beam and Sgt R. Robinson, in the rear clearly saw several of their streams of bullets enter the ME-109's and as one of them was turning in to attempt a final attack white smoke was seen to be pouring out from it’s engine and it peeled off without completing its manoeuver. Neither aircraft was seen again. About half way through the fight, the Wellington’s fuselage was hit by a cannon shell and a fire broke out behind the navigator’s seat. The W/Op beat it out with his helmet with help from a fire extinguisher. The handling of the Wellington was noticeably but not seriously affected. Neither enemy aircraft were claimed destroyed but one claimed damaged. Fire was opened between 600 to 700 yards by bandits ceasing at 200 yards except on the last attack when fire was ceased at approximately 150 yards. Our gunners opened fire at 350 yards and ceased at 200 yards except on the final attacked when they ceased at 100 yards. The total number of rounds fired was 4,000 by the rear gunner at 1,500 from the beam guns. Beam guns can in very handy and most probably stopped enemy fighter from carrying out beam attacks on one side while the other was attacking from the rear like we had before on one such occasion.

The Lowe crew took off at 12:54 hours
F/Lt R. Lowe, RCAF and crew flying Wellington III Z-1689 coded OW-R failed to return from this operation.
F/Sgt I. McLeod, RCAF 2nd pilot
F/Lt A. Sprosen, RAF navigator
F/Sgt J. Lemke, RCAF bomb aimer
F/O G. Fitzgibbon, RCAF wireless operator
Sgt H. Riles, RAF rear gunner
A 16:29 hours, the crew sent an SOS that was picked up by Hull saying they were in the sea at position 54:00N-08:10E. An international broadcast was put out, but all were lost without a trace.


The Bennett crew took off at 13:45 hours
P/O C. Bennett, RCAF and crew flying Wellington III BK-389 coded ZL-L failed to return from this operation.
F/O H. Kent, RCAF navigator
F/Sgt W. Wallace, RCAF bomb aimer
F/Sgt L. Phillips, RCAF wireless operator
F/Sgt C. Smith, RCAF rear gunner
This crew disappeared without a trace.