Information concerning loss of Ltn. Georg Strasser - 18.11.1943 over Odessa

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Can anyone provide details over the loss of Ltn. Georg Strasser who was killed over Odessa on the 18th November 1943 - flying a recon mission?

Thanks

Rick

[Khorat]

Hi Rick,

3.(F)/A.Gr. 121 crashed Odessa with a Ju 88 D-1 serial 280024
Ltn. Georg Strasser
(B) Ofw. Theodor Hubert
(Bf) Gefr. Karl Tovar
(Bs) Uffz. Herbert Fliegner

all killed

source GQM files

regards
khorat
Michael Balss

[ArtieBob]

I could be wrong, but the W.Nr. indicates this would be an early production Ju 188 F-1.

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Thanks for information but was there a cause for crash - combat or was it a flying accident?

Rick

[Matti Salonen]

NVM gives Ju 188F-1 and no cause for the loss.

Matti

[yogybär]

The unit was based in Odessa then. Odessa was <100km away from the frontline. Therefore a direct combat loss is highly unlikely.
So, an educated guess says that it was either a fatal landing mishap (maybe due to Falk or fighter damage) or an also deadly takeoff accident.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

It maybe crashed after damages received during recce flight to SE corner of the Black Sea. 35.IAP PVO (Batum region of Air Defence) claimed 1 Ju88 - intercepted off Kobuleti and after long pursuing, according to pilot's reports, aircraft fell in the water in 170 km west of Batum. It seems fighters broke pursuing due to fuel shortage, and a/c crashed off Odessa really.

What is the time of the accident according to NVM? Initial time of interception 12:10 msc (10:10 German)

[Matti Salonen]

Unfortunately the NVM contains no time info.

Matti

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

Unfortunately the NVM contains no time info.

Matti

Thank you, Matti.

About type of the aircraft. It seems NVM data correct, and it was Ju188, not Ju88 as in GQM. According to Kriegsmarine documents, from the end of Oct.43 two Ju188 were used by Luftwaffe for recce flights along Caucasus coast.

Andrey