Bf 110 F-4 WNr 4792 of 4./NJG 4, 30 March 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

Michel Balss book on Nachtjagd losses show that the Bf 110 F-4 WNr 4792 of 4./NJG 4 was shot down in air battle during the night of 30-31 March 1944 4 km SE of "Ordonnza" (sic), ca 45 km east of Lyon. The three crew (Fw Fritz Lehmann, Uffz Günther Bittmann and Uffz Heinrich Hosrchmann) were killed.

The crash place was in fact Ordonnaz, in Ain departement. A local source said that the crash took place at around 2200 hrs on the 30th (http://espacesaerienslyon.pagesperso-orange.fr/ain2.pdf). Volksbund confirm the death place and date (30 March).

My problem here is that given the hour and place of the loss, it can't be linked to the battles against RAF bombers attacking this night Nuremberg.

So three possibilities:
1) there was an air battle with another Allied aircraft (an Intruder, or a supply dropping AC)
2) the crash was an accident, and there was no air battle
3) the hour given is wrong, and the damaged aircraft crashed in the early hours of the 31st returning from the Nuremberg battle.

If anyone can add something to this case, I am interested.

Best regards

Laurent