26 May 1942 - Which RAF aircraft damaged this Ju 88

[BABIN]

Hello,

A Ju 88 D-5 belonging to a Wekusta unit was damaged, on 26 May 1942, by a RAF aircraft. Place of the fight : P.Q. 15W/70. The Wekusta aircraft could get back to its base, but it was 20% damaged ; besides a crewman was seriously wounded.

I search any information about the RAF aircraft which damaged the Ju 88 : type, markings, unit, forming of the crew ...

Many thanks in advance

Pierre

[Chris Goss]

234 Sqn claimed a Ju 88 probable near Portreath

[David Pausey]

Hi Pierre

S/L F.E.W.Birchfield of 234Sqn made the only claim on the 26-5-42 for a Ju88 prob dest SW of Portreath.

David

[BABIN]

Hi,

Thank you very much Chris and David for your reply. By chance, do you know at what time did this fight occur ?

Thanks again

Pierre

[David Pausey]

Hi Pierre

From 234 sqns ORB:-
26-5-42
Bad weather during the morning. The Squadron Leader engaged a Ju88 west of base and claims this e/a as damaged. Weather was 10/10ths at 500 feet and e/a was finally lost in cloud after hits were seen to strike fuselarge to the rear of the Glasshouse causing a large white flash.

S/L Birchfield took off in Spitfire BL939 Patrol Convoy 11:45, landed 12:10.
I do not have his combat report so the time of his attack would be between the above.
On the 25-5-42 his claim was stepped up to a Prob.

Does the claim match with the Wekusta units Ju88, have you any more detals ?

David

[BABIN]

Hello David,

Thank you very much for your additional information about the Wekusta's Ju 88 damaged by S/Ldr. BIRCHFIELD from 234 Sqdn.

In fact, for the moment, I have few information about this airfight :

- Luftwaffe unit : Wekusta 2, based Brest
- one seriously wounded crewman : the wireless operator (Uffz. A. KOLLER)
- Ju 88 damaged 20%

I ordered to the Bundesarchiv the corresponding "Fliegermeldung" (mission report) but I have not yet received it.

The time of the S/Ldr. BIRCHFIELD's sortie, matches with the probable time of the JU 88's location at that moment : certainly the Ju 88 went back from NW of Ireland ... as, every day, at about the same time, one Wekusta 2's Ju 88 flew such a mission !

Thanks again

Pierre