JG51 Bf 109 Collisions 24 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

I am trying to establish the circumstances that led to the loss of the Bf 109s of Fw Josef Oglodek of 1/JG51, and Uffz Rudolf Delfs of 5/JG51, both of whom came down during combat on 24 August 1940. Oglodek was killed, but Delfs was rescued by the Seenotdienst. According to BoB Then and Now, Prien's Jagdfliegerverbände 4/II, Parry's BOBCA, and Balss' Luftwaffe losses, Oglodek collided with a Spitfire. But this occurred during JG51's attack on the Defiants of 264 Squadron, and the only other RAF Squadron that took part in this particular combat were the Hurricanes of 501 Squadron. Also, none of the RAF squadron ORBs, or combat reports describe a collision between an RAF fighter and a Bf 109.
Mason states that Delfs was in collision with Oglodek's Bf 109, while BoB Then and Now, Prien, and Parry state that Delfs was shot down by another Bf 109!
Any thoughts?

[Chris Goss]

The JG 51 diary I have is hard to decipher but mentions Oglodek and Spitfire near Margate. Nothing on Delfs

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Chris – this one is a bit of a mystery!

Peter