Schnaufer and Flak claim mystery 24-25 May 1944 at Riel, SSW Tilburg

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

On going through the OKL/RLM Flak and Nachtjagd claims listings for 24-25 May 1944, I came across a bit of a mystery. One of the claims made by Oblt. Schnaufer was a 'Lancaster' 7 kms SSW of Tilburg, an Abschuss which I am unable to tie to any known Bomber Command losses, but which was confirmed by the Abschusskommission as a full victory on 6 September 1944. However, a number of local Flak units also filed a claim for the same aircraft, but identified it as a 'Halifax'..

I've made the following entry in the NJWD 2nd edition manuscript:

Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 74 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster 7 km. SSW Tilburg: 2.500 m. 01.29 unidentified. Note: victory confirmed on 6.9.1944. Note: also claimed by Flak of 3. & 5./gem. 591, 6./gem. 665 and 4./gem. 155 (Halifax Riel 01.27)

Who has any information about a 'heavy' that actually did come down at Riel, SSW of Tilburg, and which can be matched to the Schnaufer and Flak claims??

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[Allan125]

Hello Theo

Nothing specific in mind - but have you checked any 100 Group losses for the night?

Allan

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Allan,

Thanks for this thought; yes I've cheched that one, it's not a 100 Group a/c..

Cheers, Theo

[Allan125]

Hello Theo

I thought that you would have done - but worth asking as you report a difference of identification between the flak and Schnaufer, and of course 100 Group flew various other 4 engine types as you are well aware, also, presumably, nobody examined the wreckage before granting the claim over 3 months later?

cheers

Allan

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Theo, maybe you can list the bombers lost this night for which you have no precise crash place and "killer" ?

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Laurent,

I've positively matched all of the bomber and Bomber Support losses (and even those that were severely damaged in NJ encounters) to the documented German Nachtjagd and Flak claims on 24-25 May 1944.

I can give you the claims and matchings around the period of the Flak and Schnaufer claim at Riel. My only logical explanation for the 'mystery claim' at Riel is that parts of one of the heavy bombers that crashed near Tilburg actually impacted at Riel, and was separately claimed by both Schnaufer and the Flak:

Hptm. Heinz Strüning: 47 3./NJG1 4-mot LF (Light Beacon) Truthahn: 2.600 m. 01.15 15 Sqn Lancaster ND955
Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 70 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster nr Acht, 3 km. NW Eindhoven: 2.500 m 01.15 51 Sqn Halifax LK885
Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 71 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster 2 km. NNW Tilburg: 2.500 m. 01.18 429 Sqn Halifax LW124. Note: also claimed by Flak of 6./gem. 665 (Halifax Tilburg 01.16-19 hrs), victory Oblt. Schnaufer confirmed
Lt. Heinz Rolland: 7 12./NJG1 Lancaster 5-50 km. NW Antwerpen (LJ): 3.000 m. 01.18 Aachen raid, unidentified. Note: victory Lt. Rolland confirmed
Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 72 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster 1,5 km. W. Goirle, nr Tilburg: 2.500 m. 01.22 76 Sqn Halifax MZ622
Ofw. Karl-Heinz Scherfling: 30 12./NJG1 4-mot 20 km. NNE Breda: 3.000 m. 01.23 78 Sqn Halifax LV905
Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 73 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster between Dongen and Tilburg: 2.500 m. 01.25 158 Sqn Halifax LW653
Oblt. H.-Wolfgang Schnaufer: 74 Stab IV./NJG1 Lancaster 7 km. SSW Tilburg: 2.500 m. 01.29 Aachen raid, unidentified, victory confirmed on 6.9.1944. Note: also claimed by Flak of 3. & 5./gem. 591, 6./gem. 665 and 4./gem. 155 (Halifax Riel 01.27)
Ofw. Karl-Heinz Scherfling: 29 12./NJG1 Lancaster 15 km. N. Breda: 4.200 m. 01.30 429 Sqn Halifax LW137

Cheers, Theo

[Del Davis]

Theo
Can you comment on your targeted publication date for the new edition. I know it was originally 2015

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Del,

Yes I can explain about the publication date. You're right, this was first set for 2015.

Last year, however, I took the decision to post-pone the deadline for the 5-volume book by one year, as the combined work load of my regular daytime job (4 days a week) and the average time that I invest in the NJWD 2nd edition (some 25-30 hours every week during the past six years) began to take its toll, both on myself and on my family. I also discovered a number of new and important primary sources that I needed to incorporate into the manuscript. I now feel that a deadline for late 2015 will enable me (and my co-author Rod Mackenzie for the 1945 texts too!) to produce an excellent new, 5 volume book.

So you'll all have to be a bit more patient my friends!

Cheers, Theo

[Stig Jarlevik]

Theo

Since I already have your first two volumes, will this new edition of yours also incorporate night victories on ALL fronts?
And what about losses?

Cheers
Stig

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Stig,

Yes, detailed information on all NJ claims on all fronts, and also detailed info on Flak claims (often overlapping NJ claims!) and Flak searchlight claims. Detailed info on NJ losses is incorporated into the narratives too, in many instances coupled to Bomber Command and Allied NF claims. New illustrations for the five volumes now stands at over 1,000, and page count for each volume will be an estimated 400.

Cheers, Theo