Strike Wings Air Battle 11 Jnauary 1945

[keith A]

On this date Mosquitos and Beaufighters engaged in combat with JG5. During the engagement FLt Noel Russell of 235 Squadron claimed two Bf109 destroyed while WO "Coggie" Cogswell also of 235 Squadron added a Fw190 probable.FO Don Clause of 143 Squadron claimed a third Bf109 destroyed.

The total RAF claims were for three Bf109 and a Fw190 destroyed, a Fw190 probable and another Fw190 damaged.

I believe the damaged claim was submitted by a 235 Squadron pilot based on their ORB which lists two kills and two probables ("Bf109" and Fw190).

My question is who claimed the Fw190? I can see no mention in the ORBs of 235,248 and 143 Squadrons but it may have been submitted by one of the other squadrons.

regards

Keith

[Chris Goss]

455, 144, 489 and 404 Sqn were involved so maybe their F540s will have the answer?

[andy bird]

Needed a break from Tsetse and Highball Mosquitos - AB

Air Combat Thursday 11 January 1945

Day Ops - Form Orange Positive
Banff / Dallachy
18 Group = HQ CC

At position 58.10N - 06.30E 5-6 Bf 109s and Fw 190s bounce force from the North; also 4 or 5 JG.5 Bf109s and Fw 190s took off from Lista and attacked the main force from the South. A dogfight developed but broke off when enemy aircraft received a codeword into the clouds.

R/235 attacked 109 dead astern setting the enemy aircraft on fire, it dived into the sea and exploded. The pilot then immediately set about attacking one of two Bf 109s who were latched onto another 235 Mosquito. The Bf 109 disintegrated on impact with the sea.

G/235 attacked a Fw 190 that was astern of another Mosquito that was yawing to port and starboard, making four separate attacks to dislodge the enemy aircraft scoring hits on the fuselage and wing roots.

S/235 attacked a Bf 109 head on and another from astern.

T/248 aggressively fired cannon and machine guns at a Fw 190 that made a head on attack, but no results were seen. made a second attack but neither pilot or navigator observed any strikes, however, another Mosquito intervened and it crashed into the sea.

Z/248 attacked a Fw190 astern then to port firing four rounds of 57mm (one per second) results unobserved as heard pleas for help from Beaufighter and then escorted 6 Beaufighters back to Dallachy.

F/143 attacked Bf 109 head on - no results had to violently haul Mosquito to port to avoid being hit by enemy aircraft.

C/143 attacked a Bf 109 no results observed, then turned and attacked a second scoring strikes, but was forced to violently break off owing to another Mosquito sliding in front disturbing the airflow C/143 could not identify culprit.

V/143 pilot attacked a Fw 190 head on, scoring strikes on nose and cockpit. This enemy aircraft flipped over on its back and was last seen by navigator loosing height from 700 feet. But could not confirm hit sea as pilot had to take evasive action as two Bf109s astern

X/143 was the aircraft seen by T/248 following a 109. X/143 could not bring guns to bair, but enemy aircraft was seen to plummet into sea.

14.13 Beaufighter caught fire, then ablaze crash into sea. 58.09N 06.35E

M/143 was not seen to be shot down by Banff Mosquitos but Dallachy Beaufighters at 14.30 then a Fraserburgh Warwick was also last seen by Beaufighter at 14.37 over ditched Mosquito M/143 in position 58.13N 06.30E. Mosquito aircrew believed to be in water. Warwick was closely followed by a Bf 109 rear gunner returning fire. At 14.46 another Beaufighter saw an unidentified aircraft crash into the sea behind rest of formation 20 miles off the Norwegian coast. Another Beaufighter spotted wreckage. It is thought to be in the area the Warwick was last seen.

Weather in combat area 10-20 miles clear visibility: Cloud 7/10 SC 1800 - 2000 feet. Snow visible on mountain peaks.

[keith A]

Sooo

R/235 (Russell) claimed two Bf109 destroyed and G/235 damaged a Fw190.

C/143 damaged a Bf109, V/143 probably destroyed a Fw190 and X/143 (Clause?) destroyed a Bf109.

It seems one or two of the unconfirmed cclaims were upgraded?

[andy bird]

Have copies of Noel Russell's log book pages however, currently locked out of Virgin Media, e-mail were the images are stored.

Will dig out Don's jottings for the 11 January see what he says.

Andy