Short Stirling Loss & Major Helmet Lent

[Smudger Smith]

Gentlemen,

I am trying to identify who shot down a Short Stirling Mk.III (IC-P EH.994) of No.623 Squadron on the night of 3rd/4th October 1943. The target was Kassel.

The aircraft, captained by Canadian Pilot Officer Thomas Muir RCAF crashed at Harleshausen, 3 kms NW of Kassel killing six of the crew who were on their 3rd operation.

Using Tony Woods excellent site I have established that there are a number of possibilities as to who shot down this aircraft. One of which is Major Helmut Lent of Stab/NJG 3 Major Lent claimed a 4-motor at 22.27hrs over Harleshausen. Can this claim and the Stirling loss be linked and confirmed.

Another possibility is Hptm Hans Baer of 4./NJG 3 who claimed a 4-motor North West of Kassel.

Can anyone expand on these claims, any additional information will be appreciated and welcomed.

Regards

[RossGmann]

Re you inquiry 3rd February, 2005

This Website http://lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=4033 supplies the following information


Stirling EH994 Information

Type Stirling Serial Number EH994 Squadron 623 X1D IC-P Operation Kassel Date 1 3rd October 1943 Date 2 4th October 1943 Further Information

"Serial Range EH977 - EH996. 20 Stirling Mk.111. Part of a batch of 120 Short S.29 Stirling Mk.111. EH875-EH909; EH921-EH961; EH977-EH996; EJ104-EJ127 Mk.111, of which EH897, EH950 and EJ106 were converted to Mk.1V. Delivered by Austin Motors Ltd between Aug43 and Oct43. Contract No.B982939/39. Delivered to No.623 Sqdn 27Aug43. EH994 was one of two No.623 Sqdn Stirlings lost on this operation. See: EF158. Airborne 1904 3Oct43 from Downham Market. Shot down by a night- fighter (Lt Hans-Heinz Augenstein, 111./NJG1 - who also shot down EF158) and crashed, 2049, at Haste, 3 km N of Osnabr_ck. Those killed were buried locally. Their graves are now located in the Hannover War Cemetery. P/O T.J.Muir RCAF KIA Sgt I.Jenkins KIA Sgt A.W.F.Notman KIA Sgt L.W.Moore RCAF PoW Sgt J.Dawson KIA Sgt T.McP Martin RCAF KIA Sgt R.V.B.Knox RCAF KIA Sgt L.W.Moore was interned in Camp 4B, PoW No.259890 "

Hans-Heinz Augensteinwww.luftwaffe.cz/augenstein.html shows no claim for this aircraft

Helmut Lent http://www.luftwaffe.cz/lent.html has a claim for a Viermot (unknown 4 Engine Bomber) on 3.10.1943 at 2227hrs

Kind regards



Ross