ZG26 Losses 8.5.41 Malta.

[steve sheridan]

Hi, can anybody help with details of two losses on this date from the III/ ZG26 following sorties over Malta.

Me110 9/ZG26 shot down by return fire from ? crash landing at Comiso.
Crew Fw Hans Hufnagel pilot, and Bf both wounded.

A second plane from the same staffel was badly damaged following a raid,
and crash landed at Trapani. I have no crew names, so there may have been no casualties as such, hence the lack of names!

Any help would be most appreciated.

Steve.

[Brian]

Hi Steve

The action was actually with seven Fulmars of 807 and 808 Squadrons up from Ark Royal, which was escorting the Operation Tiger convoy. The Fulmars engaged Ju87s of I/StG1, only to be jumped by the Bf110s.

No Fulmars were lost although three were hit, one by a Ju87 gunner. Three were claimed, two by Hptm Steinberger and one by Oblt Bergfleth. As you say, Hufnagel and his gunner were both wounded and crash-landed at Comiso, a second badly damaged machine crash-landing at Trapani, while a third suffered minor damage. Two of the 110s were claimed hit by PO(A) Dick Leggott and Sub Lt R.F. Walker. Two Ju87s, a probable and a damaged were also claimed by the Fulmars, of which at least one was badly damaged with both crew wounded.

Hope that helps.
Cheers
Brian

[steve sheridan]

Excellent Brian, indeed it does help.
Do you have any indication of the Me110 unit codes or W.Nr's, or any further clues to the crew names?
Many thanks for the story.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

Are you sure about the dates etc. I have only the following listed for 8.5.1941:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=124539


There are however more losses listed for 9.5.1941:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=124535

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=124536

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=124538

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=124537

The rank of the Bordfunker in Hufnagels crew, Haussmann, had the rank of Sonderführer, indicating that he might have belonged to a Kriegsberichter unit. It is a puzzle however that he is not listed as belonging to another unit and the loss only linked to the aircraft loss.

Regards,
Andreas B

[steve sheridan]

Thanks Andreas, the information i believe came from Shores Air War over the Med series, and may well have been on the 9.5.41. I dont have any other source.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Brian]

Hi Steve

The info I provided came from Malta The Hurricane Years, which I co-authored with Chris Shores. It says 8 May, so possibly the Luftwaffe losses were recorded a day late?

Cheers
Brian

[steve sheridan]

Hi Brian, yes indeed thats where the information came from.

Did i see something recentley where there might be plans to update these books?
Great books at the time and still really the best source on these campaigns, although i suspect more information is now readilly available.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Brian]

Hi Steve

Where have you been?

Hurricanes over Malta came out in 2001

Spitfires over Malta in 2005

Cheers
Brian

[steve sheridan]

No where Brian!
I am refering to the Air War Over Malta, and Air War over Yugoslavia / Greece duo. I did im sure, see that there were plans to update and expand these books, but perhaps the xmas wine has maybe clouded my memory, as it has others!!
Hic!
Best regs,
Steve.

[Evgeny Velichko]

Gentlmen:

Where can I find losslist for III./ZG26 for 41-43 when they were at MTO? Highly appreciated!