15/16th June 1941, Encounter over Amsterdam

[Steve Smith]

Hi all,

Looking for details on an encounter on the above night between a Vickers Wellington Mk.II W.5447 HA-C of No.218 Squadron (Flown by S/Ldr Clyde-Smith).

The Wellington was attacked and damaged by a Me110 near Amsterdam, the aircrafts port wing tank was hit and badly damaged. The Wellingtons rear gunner, Pilot Officer Chalk inflicted damage to the Me110 and the crew believed that it may have been shot down.

Any idea of the Me110 pilot, unit and fate please.

Regards

Steve

[Chris Goss]

Lt Leopold Fellerer of 4/NJG 1. Slight damage to the Bf 110 at 0318 hrs

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Steve,

.. repeat of my reply on RAF Commands Forum, little extract from the manuscript of the NJWD 2nd ed:

Lt. Fellerer and his Bordfunker Ogefr. Hätscher of 4./NJG1 reported a Wellington shot down in flames off Den Helder. In the encounter, their Bf110 D-0 G9+DM was hit by 7 machine gun bullets in return fire from the Wellington’s rear gunner, and classified as 10% damaged upon their return to Bergen/Alkmaar. In fact, the Nachtjäger’s adversary was 218 Squadron Wellington W5447, which escaped fatal damage during the encounter and returned safely to base with its port wing tank damaged by cannon fire. The Wimpey’s rear gunner P/O Frederick G. Chalk submitted a claim for a Bf110 destroyed. Both the pilot, S/Ldr. Denis Clyde-Smith, and P/O Chalk were decorated with the DFC. After official evaluation, Fellerer’s claim was rejected by the OKL/RLM.

Lt. Leopold Fellerer 4./NJG1 Wellington sea W. Den Helder (4313, Hering): 3.200 m. 03.18 rejected claim, 218 Sqn Wellington W5447 (damaged)



Cheers, Theo