252Sqn Beaufighter loss 16.04.41

[markjsheppard]

Morning,

Can anyone assist with the loss of Beaufighter of 252 Sqdn. RAF, shot down on 16.04.1941

Reported victory by Oblt. Hans Kriegel of ZG76.

Stay sae.

Mark

[Chris Goss]

From my book:


However, the same day and one hour 40 minutes later saw the first 252 Squadron loss in action. Whilst on a patrol off the Norwegian coast and operating from Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, Flying Officer John Lane was shot down off Bergen by a Bf 110 flown by Oberleutnant Hans Kriegel of 7 Staffel/Zerstörergeschwader 76. Although he and Flight Sergeant Stan Cross were seen by the Germans to get out of the ditched Beaufighter, their bodies were never found. The Bf 110 was also damaged and the German pilot was wounded in the combat.


I also included a photo of Kriegel

[Zoran Petek]

It seems that this was PN-S T3238, and on that day T3237 (PN-K, pilot F/Lt. W. Riley) claimed Fw 200C-3 WNr 0039 (F8+AH) of 1./KG 40. T3237 was shot down by Hurricanes near Luqa, Malta on 3.5.41.

[markjsheppard]

Thank Chris,

Seems to be getting more likely that Messerschmitt Bf110E-2 W.Nr4502 (Stkz CD+MV), M8+ZE of Stab/ZG76 belonged to Oblt Hans Kriegel.
Transferred to 6.(Z)/JG5 in Feb 42.
Now seen 3 photos of a Bf110E with ETC's and the 'Dita13' on the side of the nose. One pasted by Evgeny and two others by Daniel.
Also now seen an air to air photo of M8+ZE with the later unit. The white of the disc or all of the disk had been painted out but was visible.
The recovered airframe port fin had 5 victories - 1 RAF and four Russian, the last on the 18th August 1941.

regards,

Mark