What unit escorted the Ju 88 R "defection"?

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

Hi Junkers!
There are a lot of unknown information that were still not being published yet. For example, the rumours about those landings with Do 217.
I know this pilot as Oblt Heinrich Schmidt and yes, do read about him being a spy; although never obtained positive evidences of so. However, why HE simply vanished after the war? Nobody EVER managed to find him. You do have a small account of his mission on the booklet of the German Night Fighter Aces of WW2 from OSPREY. It is said that someone tried to find him around the 1970´s, but did not managed to find his whereabouts.
Maybe some of you do have access to the SIS/MI6 files in UK?!
Yours
Adriano

Schmid did not visit England before his defection! Luftwaffe would have found out about such a mission. Timetable and the whole crew should also be in on such a plan! He did not vanish after the war. Around 1955 he was flying an aircraft belonging to the German firm Triumph, who makes womens underwear and bra!
All this alleged spy-busines came up in a book several years ago. It's pure fiction! It has no sources for the statements made in it!
I do have a copy of the Personel-file on Schmid, and other evidence from his fellow officers and Staffelkapitäne in NJG 2/NJG 3! Just the small fact that his name is nearly allways stated as Schmidt wich is wrong!!!!!!!!

Junker

[Spitfire 9]

Hi guy's

Am I missing something or loosing the plot somewhat ? I don't have a date for this little adventure .........

I think I have a photo of one of the two Spitfires in my collection and code for the other.

A date would be of help..........

Mervyn

[Skyraider3D]

Mervyn, the date of the Ju 88 defection was Sunday 9 May 1943.
It would be fantastic to see a photo of one of these Spitfires.

From the info I found I learnt that both were Mark Vb's. AB921 was in service with 165 Sqn from 22 Dec. 1942 until July '43, while BM515 was with the 165th from 23 September 1942 until July/August 1943. Source: http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/production.htm
Not found any fuselage codes yet.



From the looks of things there's a lot of conflicting information about Herr Schmitt/Schmid/Schmidt

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi to all!

Information extracted from page 79 of AIR27/1087 held at the PRO at Kew, London.

At 17.50 hrs on the 9th May 1943, Blue Section of No. 165 (Ceylon) Squadron comprising of F/L A. F. Roscoe in Spitfire Vb BM515 (SK-T) and Sgt B. R. Scaman in Spitfire Vb AB921 (SK-X) got airborne from RAF Dyce under Peterhead Sector Control (F/L G. S. Crimp) to investigate a "Plot". The raider was pointed due east of Peterhead but turned south down the coast of Scotland, eventually orbitting a few miles NE of Dyce. During this time the fighters were vectored onto it, and upon visual contact, identified the intruder as a Ju 88. Upon the approach of the Spitfire pair the enemy aircraft lowered its undercarriage, fired off verey lights and waggled its wings. Blue 1 replied in a similar manner, flew ahead of the enemy aircraft to lead it into Dyce and ordered Blue 2 to take up position behind and above the Junkers as safeguard any attempt to escape.
Thus the formation recovered, line astern, to Dyce where they all landed safely, the whole operation had taken no more than thirty minutes. The Controller is to be congratulated for his quick appreciation of the possibilities of the affair and for his able handling of the situation and the pilots for withholding fire and so bringing home a valuable prize for the Technical and Scientific Services to examine and evaluate.

According to WASt in Berlin, the pilot Oblt Herbert Schmid passed away on the 04.05.1983..

Regards

Melvin

[Spitfire 9]

Hi again guy's,

Ok, Melvin has done a good job there !!

I only need add; BM515 was also a 'Presentation' Spitfire. 'Prinses Beatrix' (spelling IS correct)

The photo I have of AB921 is unfortunately, a close-up of the tail area only, showing a lady inspecting repairs to the empennage area.

A sqdn code letter P is evident (actual unit at the time not yet known?) as is the serial AB921 which is right under the tail plane and not in the usual 'sky' band area. The a/c has obviously undergone repairs from one, of a possible three, occasions it suffered accident damage, this to the rear as painting is yet to be completed however, it does sport a new unpainted rudder and all inspection panels are swung down. (The ladies name...Mrs. Cecily Latham. anyone know / of her ?)

Mervyn.

[Chris Goss]

You might be interested to know I have photos of Roscoe & Scaman and a copy of the combat report. I might have photos of the 165 Spits but they are on loan. I also have 2 photos of the Ju 88 being pushed under cover just after landing; no photos of the crew I'm afraid

[Melvin Brownless]

Chris,

I have two photos of Kantwill (from family) although quality is not so good still worth having for the record of this event. I am more than willing to send you copies by e-mail if you are interested? I of course would be interested in scans of pictures of the Ju 88 you mention in your post if that is possible?

Kind regards

Melvin

jager2uk@yahoo.ie

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Chris and Melvin!
I would be grateful if you could share those pics with me too. I do have a great interest on this special flight and do have been researching it for a long time. It would be nice to see those Spitfires pilots who intercepted the Ju 88.
my e-mail: baumgartner_asv@yahoo.com.br
PS: I do have a photo of the crew, who was sent to me via a Norwegian Historian a long time ago. I will try to send it to you when I will be home - only in a couple of days, unfortunately...

[Delmenhorst]

When did Kantwill pass away ?

[Melvin Brownless]

We received a letter from Erich Kantwill's wife Anneliese in 1992 she told us that Erich Kantwill has been living in the USA for the past 40 years and has no contact or address of him. We do not know if & when Kantwill passed away?

Melvin