Loss of Ju 88 on 17. April 1942 near Orfordness

[Michal R.]

Hello, everyone,

on the morning of April 17, 1942, P/O Lynch and P/O Nomis from 71 squadron RAF claimed to have shot down a Ju 88 over convoy about 8 miles east of Orfordness (Felixstowe). Nomis made several attacks and reported an explosion and a plane crash into the water. Lynch was hit by defensive fire and had to make an emergency landing.
Does anyone have any information if any Ju 88 (or another bomber) were lost here that day? Or did some German gunner claim victory?

Thank you in advance!

Regards

Michal

[Chris Goss]

Nothing from what I can see that would match

[Andy Mitchell]

Michal,

This may address your item -

17 Apr 1942 – Ju 88 of 3.(F)/122 (F6+BL) flew the early morning east coast sortie towards Flamboro’ Head. This aircraft reported sighting a convoy of 30 ships off Colne Point (possibly FS 77) and was intercepted by Spitfires from Martlesham it was compelled to return to base, landing at Schipol at 06.10 hrs Z. (HW13/98 Salu 451 (West))

From https://www.luftwaffedata.co.uk/inde...2#cite_note-22

[Chris Goss]

Claim was at 0715hrs. Overly optimistic claim or dare I say fraudulent?

[Michal R.]

Andy, Chris,

thanks for the info. It really looks like the 3.(F)/122 aircraft could be a wanted foe.
But it's interesting. The pilots are quite detailed in their reports. Lynch was supposed to silence the rear lower gunner, but then was hit hard (interesting that the Germans didn't claim victory, they must have seen the smoke), so only Nomis continued the attack. He made several of them and used up all his ammunition, getting as close as 50 yards. Towards the end he wrote: "I then turned my aircraft around in time to see an explosion in the 88 emit a bellow of black smoke and plunge into the sea." Maybe the Ju 88 crew threw something out of the plane? What confused the pilot? I think he wasn't very experienced and may have been too optimistic?

Or could there have been a second German aircraft that we don't know?

[Chris Goss]

There are no other German losses and this would not have been claimed by the Germans as the aircraft was not seen to crash

[Franek Grabowski]

Fair enough, the Ju 88 may have been damaged and to start emit black smoke from a damaged engine. As long as there is no after action report, assessment of damage, this must remain a hypothesis. Still, the claim that the aircraft plunged into the water may have been in a good faith. Combat reports are just narratives and not a detailed interrogation of what actually had been seen. It could be well Nomis saw the smoking aircraft going down, then lost contact, and then could not find the aircraft. It is typical for air combat, and especially air combat over sea.
Franek