Bomber Losses 11 Aug 43

[Chris Goss]

Uffz Johann Trenke & Lt Hermann Walther of 16/KG 2 each claimed a 'Stirling' at 1425 and 1436 hrs on the above date. I can see nothing RAF-wise that matches-can anyone suggest anything more?

[Alex Smart]

Hello Chris,
Happy 2014.
I can only list the following Stirling's.
10/11-8-43 -15 Sqdn - BF460 - Belgium.(shot down by Hptm Hager II/NJG4).
10/11-8-43 - 214 Sqdn - BF516 UK/In Sea.(out of fuel-ditched).
10/11-8-43 - 218 Sqdn - EE885 - Germany.(abandoned following being damaged by incendiaries, cr @ Offenhausen).
11-8-43 - 1657 HCU - N6080 - UK.(burst tyre/undercarriage collapsed).
12-8-43 - 1657 HCU - N3700 - UK.(wheels up/forced-landed).
There may well have been others.

Also in th KU list for 11 Aug 43 is:
"Douglas DC - near Pleuven, 14 km SSE of Quimper, France - A.V.261/43 ".
Maybe a Resistance op loss ?
Alex

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Alex. I believe that the combats were North Sea & looking at the times wonder if it was a case if misidentification & the Stirlings were American?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

According to Losses of the 8th and 9th AF (Bishop/Hey) there were no operational losses on this date.

Cheers
Stig

[Larry]

Would Stirlings be out over enemy held territory or the North Sea during the daylight hours in August 1943?

[Chris Goss]

Precisely Larry & thanks Stig. Another mystery without any resolution methinks

[Alex Smart]

Hello Chris,
I looked at the Fold 3 site and MACR 228 for the Douglas.
A Dakota 42-92061 from Nutts Corner to St. Mawgan.
Crashed/burned( ?) in France. Must have flown over Cornwall and found France (?)
Anyway single tail but only two motors, so may well have been wrongly ID'd as a Bomber and shot down ? Crew of 5 one POW, 4 Killed.

Alex

[Alan Clark]

S of No.100 Squadron (a Lancaster) landed at Catfoss after being damaged by fire from an Me110, not sure if it was day or night though. I guess if you are being shot at an Me410 could look a lot like an Me110.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Chris,
Found S/Sgt Cecil E. Bell's E&E report.
Page one states that the a/c was attacked by two fighters who "raked the a/c from tail to nose". also time is given as approx 1450hrs.Full report is 26 pages.
So this may well have been the victim, and not a Stirling.
Alex

ps
have sent you a PM

[Chris Goss]

The C47 was a victim of Fw Alois Schnoll of 8/JG 2 at 1442 hrs so back to the drawing board.....again