7./NJG4 Ju88G1 712283 lost 24/03/45

[RodM]

Please see the old thread:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=24392

I am seeking confirmation that the name of the pilot of Ju 88 G1 W.N. 712283 3C+AR was indeed Lt. Kurt Mittendorf, and what the evidence is to support this.

The original ULTRA decrypt (HW 5/688, CX/MSS/R.511/C/24) did not give the name of the pilot, only the rank of Leutnant.

Another ULTRA decrypt (HW 5/682, CX/MSS/T.500/96) indicates:

BATTLE REPORT OF NIGHT FIGHTING 24-25/3

1) NIGHT G/A OPS.

A) FIRST OPERATION BUEDERICH, MEHRUM:-

1) AIRCRAFT OF III/NJG 4 OPERATED:

A) 3 JU 88 (C% EACH) WITH (B% 2) AB 500 SD 10. CREWS: HPTM KURZ, OFHNR SUCKERT, UFFZ STEINFURTH.

B) 4 JU 88 WITHOUT BOMBS. CREWS: LTN SPRINGER, LTN GOEBEL, LTN. VON MYLIUS, LTN MITTENDORF, III/NJG 4.

TIME OF (C% FIRST) TAKE-OFF, 2208 HRS. (5 JU 88 PADERBORN, 2 JU 88 LIPPSPRINGE) TIME OF LAST LANDING, 2352 HRS. (4 JU 88 IN PADERBORN, 2 JU 88 IN LIPPSPRINGE.

2) SUCCESSES:

A) BOMBS DROPPED: 4 AB 500 SD 10 ON PONTOON BRIDGE NEAR MEHRUM, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2245 TO 2250 HRS) : 2 AB 500 SD 10 ON LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE ON THE ROAD BRIDGE NEAR WESEL, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2243 HRS).

B) ATTACKS WITH A/C ARMAMENT: 3 ATTACKS ON PONTOON BRIDGE NEAR MEHRUM, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2250 HRS) : 2 ATTACKS ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE ON THE ROAD BRIDGE NEAR WESEL, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2248 HRS) : 2 ATTACKS BUEDERICH (2240 TO 2250 HRS) : 3 ATTACKS ON VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BUEDERICH - RHEINBERG, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2250 TO 2300 HRS) : 3 ATTACKS ON ROAD WESEL - BUEDERICH, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2245 TO 2255 HRS) : 2 ATTACKS ON ROAD MOELLEN - DINSLAKEN, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2250 TO 2300 HRS) : 2 ATTACKS ON SOUTHERN EDGE OF A WOOD IN AREA MOELLEN, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED (2243 TO 2250 HRS).

3) DEFENCE ENCOUNTERED:- STRONG DEFENCE BY LIGHT FLAK ON THE LEFT OF THE RHINE. LIT UP SINGLY BY SEARCH-LIGHTS FROM BUEDERICH AND PONTOON BRIDGE MEHRUM AS WELL AS ALONG THE RHINE FROM WESEL TO EMMERICH. NO DEFENCE ALONG THE ROAD BUEDERICH - RHEINBERG.

4) RECCE RESULTS: NEAR WESEL, VISUAL SIGHTING OF A BLACK WIDOW. DEFENCE BY A/C ARMAMENT, EFFECTS NOT OBSERVED. OPTICAL NAVIGATIONAL AIDS GOOD. ONLY SINGLE NIGHT FIGHTERS ESTABLISHED.

As can be seen, four pilots with the rank of Leutnant participated in the operation on which 3C+AR was lost. Lt. Josef Springer (in 3C+DS) returned, as did newly-promoted Lt. Göbel (as evidenced by the Flugbuch of Georg Kociok who occasionally flew with him). Lt. Josef von Milius and Lt. Mittendorf are the two pilots who could have been at the controls of 3C+AR.

I now have evidence that at least three of the four-man crew died as a result of the crash, including the pilot, who remained trapped in the wreckage until the cockpit was cut open/dismantled by the Americans to retrieve his body.

Unfortunately, Volksbund.de has no database entries about burials for any of the crew members...

Regards

RodM