Ju88 losses Med first-half 1941

[Brian]

Hi guys

Re-reading Hajo Hermann's 'Eagles Wings', I note a couple of incidents on which I would appreciate further information, please:

Page 99: February/March :Ltn Piech and crew shot down by a fighter (crew rescued)

Page 99: Another crew shot down (crew rescued together with a RAF fighter pilot)

Can anyone identify?

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Maybe your first case:
"Next day (21 April 1941) convoy AS-25 was again attacked, just south of Gavdhos Island, by two Ju 88s of 7./KG 30, also operating from Sicily. One bomb near-missed British Lord, which was disabled at 1100, the crew being taken off by Vampire, while HMS Auckland took the ship in tow. Gunners on the sloop hit Lt Alfred Picj's 4D+DR, which the pilot was forced to ditch just off the coast of Crete, two of the crew being killed in the crash; Pich and one other were taken prisonner."
Source: "Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete" (you're one of the authors )

In April 1941, Hermann was flying with 7./KG 30, so it is probably your "Piech". Which source has the right name, I don't know.

Edited: a quick check of my books show the last loss for III./KG 30 on the Blitz front on 11 February 1941 and the first I found in Med was on 26 March 1941 off Crete (Weller crew).

[Brian]

Thanks, Laurent

The old grey cells must be diminishing rapidly!

Cheers
Brian

[Rottler]

Gen.Qu. loss report from 24 April 1941:
21.4. 7./KG 30 Feindflug, bei Kreta, Ursache: Flaktreffer (F und Bs von Seenotdienst gerettet)
Ju 88 3312 4D+DR 100%
F Lt Alfred Pich vermisst
Bs Uffz Erich Dürnwirth vermisst
Bo Gefr Willi Nagel vermisst
Bf Uffz Gottfried Haustein vermisst.

Correction from 3 May 1941:
Lt Pich und Uffz Dürnwirth unverletzt gerettet.

Regards
Leo

[Brian]

Many thanks, Leo

You pre-empted my next question!

Cheers
Brian