Who shot down NJG pilot Maj Kurt Holler

[gkopchuk]

Hi all,

I am attempting to find out which bomber shot down Maj Kurt Holler. He was killed on the night of 21/22 June 1943 at 0141 hrs. His bordfunker Robert Gotha parachuted to safety. For details see http://www.429sqn.ca/dedicate.htm

According to the Bomber Command Interceptions and tactics report No. 124/43 21/22 June 1943 there are two air combats reported near that time:
A Lanc from 5 Gp reported an encounter at 0135 hrs it was identified as a JU88. Holler was flying an ME110. The other encounter was at 0138 hours where a bomber from 6 gp encountered an enemy aircraft, believed to be an ME110. I am attempting to find the air combat report from 6 Gp. I haven't been able to locate it yet.

I have attached a spreadsheet of the relevant times of air combats from the Interception report.

Can anyone assist me with this endevour?

Greg Kopchuk
www.429sqn.ca

[SteveR]

Theo Boiten's Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 on p. 126 states that Maj. Holler was shot down while making his second interception of the night, probably a 149 Squadron Stirling at 0141 hours and that Holler's BF110E-2, coded G9+AD crashed at Duivendijke on Schouwen, Zeeland.

Hope that helps!

[gkopchuk]

Not sure intercepting a Stirling fits. Here are the encounters documented by the Intercept reports around that time

Gp Ser# Location Time Alt A/C E/A type
3 x Breda 131 15000 Stirling E/A
3 v Eindhoven 10 m SW 135 12000 Stirling T/E E/A
5 iv Overflakkee 10 m W 135 Lancaster JU88
6 ii Breda 136 Halifax A/C
1 i Krefeld 15 m NNW 137 18000 Lancaster FW190
6 v Goeree 138 19000 T/E E/A believed ME110
3 i Krefeld 10-15 m SW 140 Stirling JU88
3 viii Krefeld SW 148 15000 Stirling ME109

[SteveR]

The only thing I can add is that I've learned that aircraft identification, by all sides, was often spotty at best.

Hopefully Dr. Boiten will see this and be able to add his input.

[gkopchuk]

SteveR,

I would agree with you on anyone being able to identify the enemy aircraft correctly. Many a time a Moquito night fighter was shot at by a bomber because they thought it was a German night fighter.

[SteveR]

I've just had a look through Spencer Dunmore's Reap the Whirlwind (6 Group history).

On p. 112 it states that the crew of 419 Squadron Halifax BB323 spotted a FW190 about to attack while on their way to Krefeld. Rear gunner P/O R.Harding called for a corkscrew port, opened fire, and shot the Fw190 down. No time or location is given. In the endnotes the source for this is given as "Combat Report, 21 June 1943 DHist (Directorate of History in Ottawa) 181.003(D53)."

[gkopchuk]

Originally Posted by SteveR

I've just had a look through Spencer Dunmore's Reap the Whirlwind (6 Group history).

On p. 112 it states that the crew of 419 Squadron Halifax BB323 spotted a FW190 about to attack while on their way to Krefeld. Rear gunner P/O R.Harding called for a corkscrew port, opened fire, and shot the Fw190 down. No time or location is given. In the endnotes the source for this is given as "Combat Report, 21 June 1943 DHist (Directorate of History in Ottawa) 181.003(D53)."

I am guessing that would have been an air combat reported at 0149 hrs near Maasbee, which would have been 8 minutes after Maj Holler was shot down.