Wekusta 5 July 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

I require your expertise once again, please.

Wekusta 5 reported the loss of two Ju88Ds in July 1942:
430265 on 15th July
1772 on 23rd July
plus a 3rd (1756) damaged on 21st July.

Apparently these were lost to 'flak' between Banak and Spitbergen, but which vessels were involved?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Andy Mitchell]

Brian,

Kington and Selinger in "Wekusta" have the following:-

15 Jul 1942 - Oblt Werner Köhler, Wd Insp Heinrich Beuck, Fw Günthr Geerhahn and Ofw herbert bunge in Ju 88D-1 1B+BH (430265) approached jan Mayen island.Not being able to recognise the mountains at Kap Wien, they crashed trying to avaoid the rocky terrain.(9 years later the crash site was discovered and the bodies recovered in 1958).

20-21 Jul 1942 Ju 88D-1 (Lt Helmut Nemitz (F), Reg Rat Dr martin Teich (MetB)) was damaged by AA fireover barentsburg. Port engine hit reached Banak on one engine.
At about the same time, Ju 88D-1, 1B+KH (Ofw Lohmanns (F) and Dr Etienne) attempted to recover equipment from the abandoned weather station "Bansö" - met a hostile reception from the Allied force now established at Longyearbyen.

22-23 Jul, Ju 88D-5, 1B+CH (W. Nr 1772; Oblt heinz Wagner (F); Dr Erich Etienne, Uffz Heinrich Voss (Bf) and Ubslt Vollrath Wibel - attached to Westa 5 on special duties(?)) was attacked by machine gun fire from the slopes above Longyearbyen when entering Adventdalen at medium altitude. taking evasive action to avoid the fire,. Wagner turned to port in order to leave the fjord and then the aircraft collided with a fenicularcoal-transport cable...and crashed near Moskushamm. All members of the crew were killed.

Hope this helps

[Brian]

Thanks a million, Andy

Excellent information - just what I was after.

Cheers
Brian

[Andy Mitchell]

Brian,

np.

"Wetterflieger in Der Arktis 1940-44" - Werner Schwerdtfeger and Franz Selinger has roughly the same information.

However, there are some colour photos of Advent-fjord and Longyearbyen plus a photo (again in colour) of Ju 88s and a Ju 52 at Advent-Tal in Oct 1941.

[Jim P.]

From loss reports for these dates -

Ju 88D-5, 1758, n.n., , , , Wekusta 5, , , PP+CJ, , 21-Jul-42, Engine damage due to Flak., , Lfl.5/Nordmeer, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #6)-Vol.10; Valtonen, LW Pohjoinen Sivusta, p.373, Medcalf, Spitzenbergen-Barentsburg, 20%, F, , , Junkers Flzg.Werke Bernburg in Jan-42

Ju 88D-5, 1772, Wagner, Ltn. Heinz, , , , Wekusta 5, , 1B+CH, PP+CX, , 23-Jul-42, KIA with crew, cause unknown., , Lfl.5/Nordmeer, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #6)-Vol.10; Valtonen, LW Pohjoinen Sivusta, p.373, Medcalf, (Eisfjord), 100%, F, B Wd.Ass.a.Kr. Erich Etienne, Bf Uffz. Heinrich Vosz & Fl.Gast Maj.I.Genst. Vollrath Wiebel, , Junkers Flzg.Werke Bernburg in Jan-

[andrus]

21.07.1942
Westa Nord mit 1 Ju 88 von 01,31-09,51 Uhr von Banak: Wetteraufklärung bis Spitzenbergen.
Ergebnis: Auftrag durchgeführt. Nichts gesichtet.
Aus Barentsburg starke MG- und leichte Flakabwehr. Linker Motor durch Beschuss ausgefallen, Treffer in linker Fläche, in Rumpf und Leitwerk.

22.07.1942
Westa Nord mit 1 Ju 88 Start 22.7.42 23,40 Uhr Banak. Seeaufklärung nach Norden, Flugzeug überfällig.

23.07.1942
Westa Nord mit 1 Ju 88 von 08,22-16,24 Uhr von Banak. Suchflug nach vermisster Ju 88 (S. Abendmeldung II, Ziffer 1)
Ergebnis: Nichts gefunden.
10,30 Uhr NO-Teil Barentsburg 2 Brandstellen.

Westa Nord mit 1 Ju 88 von 17,34-00,53 Uhr von Banak. Wetteraufklärung und Suchflug nach vermisster Ju 88. (S. Abendmeldung vom 23.7., Abschnitt II, Ziff. 1)
Ergebnis: Suche ohne Erfolg.
Barentsburg Ausdehnung der Brandstellen.

[Brian]

Thanks guys

I'm now certainly better informed!

Very much appreciated.

Andrus: did you receive my PM?

Cheers
Brian

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Whilst researching information on Rhodes Scholars in the Military, 1939-1945, I came across the following information on Reg Rat. Erich Wolfgang ETIENNE. Ph.D.

Att: Messrs. deZeng & Stanke:

RHODES SCHOLAR REGISTER - 1934.

ETIENNE, Erich Wolfgang (Germany and Wadham [College, Oxford]).

Born: 24 Feb. 1915.
Education:
Hermann Lietzschule.
University College, Exeter, England.
University of Leipzig.
Wadham College, Oxford University 1934-37.
Physics 1st Class, 1937.
Meteorologist - Oxford University Expedition to Greenland, 1936, 1937 and 1938.
Further study in Geophysics, University of Leipzig 1937-39.
Ph.D 1939.
Military Service:
Artillery and Meteorological Service 1939-42.
Married: 1940 - 1 daughter.
Missing, presumed killed in flying operations over Spitzbergen 23 July 1942.

See:
A Register of Rhodes Scholars 1903-1981.
Williams,Edgar Trevor (Sir), (Compiler).
Oxford?:Rhodes Scholars Trust,1981.
p.248.

Col.

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks for the contribution, Colonel.

L. deZ.