Need Help. Possible Ju-188 loss, Geinsheim area

[ssg keay]

A few years ago we visited a Ju-188 crash site in the Hessenau, an area between Geinsheim and Oppenheim. The crash site was near the Rhine river and we were told that the crash happened in the later part of March 1945 when German aircraft tried to attack the 3rd Army´s pontoon bridge by Oppenheim.
Does anyone have a loss they can associate? Thanks, Danny

[Matti Salonen]

I have no known Ju 188 loss on that area in March, but two Ju 88:
1945-03-23, 5./NJG 2, Ju 88 G-6, 622136, 4R+IN, Bei Oppenheim Brückenkopf
Flugzeugführer Uffz Riebe, Otto, vermißt
Uffz Thoma, Alfred. vermißt
Obgfr Bordne, Karl,vermißt
Feindbeschuß. Bruch 100 %..
1945-03-26, 10./NJG 6, Ju 88 G, Raum Oppenheim
Flugzeugführer Ofw Scherer, Hermann, +
Bordfunker Ofw Portugall, Anton, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Ofw Kohlhöfer, Felix, vermißt
Bordschütze Obgfr Kottwitz, Wolfgang, vermißt
Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[ssg keay]

Thanks Matti, it is quite possible that the parts I have belonged to one of these two aircraft. Danny

[ssg keay]

Matti, I noticed we both commented on a similar topic here:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=23415

Interestingly, it lists the place of death for Hermann Scherer as Hassloch, which is quite a bit south of Oppenheim.
I really think it was the first one you listed as an eye-witness stated she was shot down by US AAA.

[RodM]

firstly, here is some overall information from the OKL FüSt Ic concerning Nachtjagdverbände Nachtschlacht missions against the American bridgeheads in late March 1945. The missions began on the night of 24-25 March (so I would query the loss date of 622136 mentioned above since the OKL FüSt Ic information is explicit about what missions were flown on what dates) and concluded on the night of 26-27 March 1945. At that time, 7. Jagddivision commanded NJG6 and also II./NJG2 and I./NJG11; the later two because of the disbandment of Jafü Mittelrhein on 26 March:

24-25 March 1945
7. Jagddivision
26 sorties near Oppenheim
2 aircraft destroyed, 0 missing, 1 damaged
0 men killed , 8 missing, 8 wounded

25-26 March 1945
7. Jagddivision
24 sorties in the Oppenheim area between 22:35 - 04:44 hrs
1 aircraft destroyed, 3 missing, 5 damaged
0 men killed , 10 missing, 0 wounded

26-27 March 1945
7. Jagddivision
16 sorties in the Oppenheim-Darmstadt area
0 aircraft destroyed, 1 missing, 0 damaged
0 men killed , 2 missing, 0 wounded

The Nachtjagdverbände flew no further Nachtschlacht missions in the West until April.

Thus, these preliminary figures give three aircraft destroyed and four missing over the period.

I have no information about the losses on 24-25 March 1945. NJG6 didn't commence Nachtschlacht missions until the following night, so I assume these losses were from II./NJG2.

On 25-26 March, I only have data on IV./NJG6 Ju88 Scherer crashed near Hassloch, IV./NJG6 Bf110 31165 Uffz. Herbert Tschorschke crashed near Bodenheim-Roxheim, and IV./NJG6 Bf110 Fw. Josef Brunner, unknown crash location but Brunner survived and returned to his unit.

On 26-27 March, I have data for IV./NJG6 Bf110 Ofw. Bernhard Weiterer missing.

Also, of possible interest to you:

Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 10 of Battery C of the 457th AAA AW Bn received credit for a Ju88 destroyed (Cat. I) on 24 March 1945. This unit was located in the Geinsheim/Oppenheim area.

Section 10 of Battery C of the 457th AAA AW Bn received 1/2 credit for a Ju188 destroyed (Cat. I) on 25 March 1945. This section was possibly located at Oberhausen.

The 115th AAA Gun Bn received credit for an aircraft destroyed (Cat. I) on 25 March 1945. The unit was located in the Dexheim area. The 115th AAA Gun Bn initially claimed three aircraft destroyed (Cat. I) and three probably destroyed (Cat. II) on the night of 25-26 March 1945, all before midnight.

Obviously, I only have scraps on US AAA info, especially on claims, but from a map of AAA Battery HQ dispositions on 24 March 1945, the closest batteries to Hessenaue were Battery C/129th AAA Gun Bn, Battery C/457th AAA AW Bn (M), and Battery C/449th AAA AW Bn (M).

Here is some very general information about the AAA defence of the Oppenheim bridgehead, taken from US Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Notes No. 26, dated 18 April 1945 (all AAA claims noted are the extremely optimistic preliminary claims, which would have been whittled down after assessment):

“On 22 March the 5th Infantry Division reached the Rhine River in the vicinity of Oppenheim, and elements of the Division crossed in assault boats that night. All bridges crossing the Rhine on the Third Army sector had been blown, and it was decided to construct a pontoon bridge in the 5th Division sector at Oppenheim. Work was commenced immediately, and a concentrated AAA defense was set up around the area; most off the AAA units which had been employed at Bad Krueznach were moved to the Oppenheim area. The first AAA unit of Third Army across the Rhine was Battery C of the 457th AAA AW Bn (M), which ferried across in assault boats at about 1500 hours on the afternoon of 23 March. Although, the first bridge was not completed until the morning of 24 March, heavy enemy air activity began during the daylight hours of the 23rd and continued sporadically throughout the night. The daylight attacks were made by FW 190s, Me 109s, Me 262s, and one He 111. The planes made shallow strafing dives on the troops crossing the river, and on artillery and AAA positions. Heavy enemy shelling of the bridgehead area was experienced during the afternoon of the 23rd. A total of 58 enemy planes operated over the area during this period of which 19 were destroyed and 8 probably destroyed by AAA units. 10 of the Cat Is were registered by the 452nd AAA AW Bn (M).
“The Oppenheim pontoon bridge was completed on the morning of 24 March, and troops and materiel of XII Corps began streaming across the river. Maximum buildup of AAA defenses had been achieved by this time, and consisted of two AAA Gun Bns and eight AAA AW Bns (see Figure 1 for disposition), Enemy planes made a concentrated attack at dawn, followed by a few sporadic attacks during the day and at dusk, and then heavy concentrated attacks during the hours of darkness. The daylight attacks followed the usual pattern of dive bombing and strafing, employing the common type planes, including jets. By night most of the e/a operated at altitudes under 6,000 feet, with a few operating from 7 - 12,000 feet; approaches were from all directions. Upon being brought under AAA fire the evasive tactics were violent — fast diving turns, climbing and weaving before and after bombing and strafing runs. The technique employed by the two gun battalions is worthy of note: M43A3 time fuzed 90mm ammunition was used in abundance, and pozit ammunition in limited quantities, in order to secure the maximum deterrent effect on the attacking aircraft. 28 enemy planes destroyed and 5 probables was the AAA score for the 24 hour period and of these claims the 129th MA Gun Bn (M) registered 13 Cat Is and 2 Cat IIs.
“The 25th of March again saw much hostile air activity over the bridgehead area, most of it being by night. The usual type planes were employed, operating at both low and medium altitudes. In one raid, consisting of more than 20 e/a, green target marker flares, illuminating flares, and flash photo flares were dropped. Window was also employed. After being engaged most planes took violent evasive action, with a typical tactic being for the e/a to dive, climb, circle and zigzag. The planes bombed and strafed the area, but no damage was done to the bridges, of which there were now three. (See Figure .1), This period of operation cost the German Air Force 23 planes destroyed and 7 probably destroyed. The 129th AAA Gun Bn (M) was again the top AAA unit with 8 of the Cat Is to its credit.
“The final Luftwaffe activity against the Oppenheim bridgehead occurred on 26 March, when four more German planes were destroyed by AAA units and one probably destroyed”.


I hope this information is of use in your search.

Cheers

Rod

PS - I have rechecked the OKL FüSt Ic reports. On the night of 23-24 March, only NSG 1 (50 Ju87s), NSG 2 (9 Ju87s), and NAG 13 (2 Fw189s) operated against the Oppenheim bridgehead. Additionally, on 25-26 March, KG200 employed four "Mistel" aircraft "carrying V-1 Fl. bombs" against the pontoon bridges at Oppenheim. Claims of one probable hit on the northern bridge and one probable hit on the eastern abutment of the northern bridge. One Fw190 and one Ju88 (marker) missing.

[RodM]

just to add to the loss data around Oppenheim for 25-26 March 1945, from a 7. Jagddivision report made the following morning:

7. Jagddivision employed:

6 x Bf110 and 2 x Ju88 of I./NJG6 from Gross-Sachsenheim between 22.36-04.44 hrs.
6 x Bf110 and 2 x Ju88 of IV./NJG6 between 00.29 - 03.13 hrs.
8 x Ju88 of II./NJG2 from Illesheim between 01.30 - 04.16 hrs.

Losses:

1 x Ju88 of II./NJG2 - crashed in friendly territory after engine trouble from AAA damage. Crew unhurt.

2 x Ju88 and 1 x Bf110 of IV./NJG6 listed as missing.

1 x Ju88 of II./NJG2 listed as missing.

One of the missing aircraft landed at Völkenrode, but details about its identity weren't received by the time of the 7. JD report.

From the Stab NJG6 KTB the three missing NJG6 aircraft were (note - two Bf110s and one Ju88, the 7. JD report has it the other way round):

1 x Ju88 10./NJG6 Ofw. Scherer (known to have crashed behind Allied lines)
1 x Bf110, 10./NJG6, Fw. Brunner (Brunner was back with NJG6 by the end of March)
1 x Bf110, IV./NJG6, Uffz. Tschorschke (crashed at Bodenheim-Roxheim)

Presumably, either Fw. Brunner or the II./NJG2 crew landed at Völkenrode.

Cheers

Rod

[Nick Beale]

All I can add is a deciphered German situation report which mentions Geinsheim:

CX/MSS/T497/42

Document stamped 1130/23/3.

Ground situation 23/3 10.00 hrs. Battle area Oppenheim ((M43)): enemy has ferried over fairly strong forces with amphibious tanks, rubber boats and ferries between Nierstein ((M44)) and Oppenheim and has taken Geinsheim ((M44)) and Wallerstaedten ((M54)) enemy tanks are firing on Grossgerau ((M54)).

To the south the enemy is trying to form a bridgehead and has begun attack via Leeheim ((M53)) (occupied by enemy) on Erfelden ((M53)). On road Oppenheim – Geinsheim – Wallerstaedten lively enemy mot. traffic. Near Nierstein, ferrying-traffic with 8 to 10 ferries. West bank of Rhine near Ginsheim ((M45)) (6 km south of Mainz) strong enemy mot concentrations recognised[.] North of Oppenheim pontoon-bridge for the greater part completed. Connectin in direction road Geinsheim – Grossgerau.

Own counter-measures in progress.

NOTE: Above believed to be from Fliegerdiv. 15.

[ssg keay]

Thanks gentlemen,
let me update this a bit.
I attached a map with the approximate crash location marked with a black circle.
I was stationed near there from 2002 - 2005 and I was not aware that the Geinsheim I was talking about is actually Geinsheim am Rhein. There is a second Geinsheim about one hour drive south. Geinsheim am Rhein is opposite of Nierstein, which itself is just ENE of Oppenheim.
The parts are from either a Ju-88, or a Ju-188. We did not find enough to pinpoint the exact type. The plan was to conduct a full excavation as we were told the crew is supposedly still missing, but this never happened as I was stationed further north in 2005.

[hanshauprich]

Hello,

Uffz. Römer, shoot down with an BF 110 also from IV./NJG 6 25. March 1945 by US-AAA meet Ofw. Portugall and Kowttwith at PoW in Kaiserlautern. They told him, that Ofw.Scherer was dead and Ofw. Kohlhöfer badly wonded!
(Written memory from Uffz Römer after the war)ö.
h.

[Nick Beale]

I have this Ju 88, 4R+EM of 4./NJG 2, shot down in the Oppenheim bridge head at 2050 hrs on 24 March.

Another message, dated 1024 hrs on 28 March, refers to signal "U.S. 262" which is missing from the file and says "further interrogation reveals unit was 8./NJG 4."

Source: TNA AIR 40/2982.