NJG claims for 25 May 1944

[bill norman]

158 Sqdn Halifax shot down by a night fighter in the very early hours of 25 May 1944. It crashed between Puffendorf (nr Gelsenkirchen) and Dürboslar (on NW outskirst of Aldenhoven). 3 killed; 4 pow. Anyone got any record of the fighter responsible or got any other relevant information I can pass on to the mid-upper gunner, still going strong at 92yrs old?

Bill Norman

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Bill,

Here's the claim:

Maj. Walter Borchers: 23 Stab NJG5 4-mot 15 km. W. Aachen: 4.800 m. 00.54 158 Sqn Halifax LW720

Borchers was the Kommodore (CO) of NJG5.

Does your friend perhaps have a photo of LW720 and his crew?

Give my warmest wishes to the MUG of LW720!

Cheers, Theo

[Theo Boiten]

.. I should have added to my previous posting that there's another candidate for the shooting down of LW720:

Lt. Hans Schäfer: 5 7./NJG2 Lancaster 20 km. NW Aachen (NM 3): 5.600 m. 00.53

Unfortunately no elaborate combat reports available of either Borchers or Schäfer.

There's one other NJ claim N of Aachen, but I've matched this one to a 640 Sqn loss:

Maj. Hans Karlewski: 4 2./NJG1 Halifax 30 km. N. Aachen: 5.000 m. 00.42 640 Sqn Halifax MZ579

Cheers, Theo

[bill norman]

Theo, you have a PM. Bill