Help Please Peter Spoden: Maj Heinz-Wolf Schnaufer; Claim 7/8 May 1945

[JulianMHall]

Hi All,

I am hoping Peter Spoden is active on this forum as claimed in a post elsewhere. Peter co-authored a book on Maj Schnaufer apparently based on his diary.

In brief I am involved in efforts to positively identify a Lancaster crash in Hagen 7/8 May 1945 and Schnaufer has a claim for a Lancaster that night in the area. I would be very grateful if there was any additional information on the claim in Schnaufer's diary, or anywhere else.

Kind regards,

Julian

[Nick Beale]

Do you have the right date? I'd be very surprised if any Lancaster was shot down on 7/8 May 1945 since German forces on the British front had surrendered and a ceasefire had been in effect since 08.00 on 5 May.

[Larry]

The last Bomber Command raid on Germany was on Kiel Canal on 2nd/3rd May 1945.

Plus its too early for a Cook's Tour of the damage

[Kaczmarek]

I think it could be 7/8 March 1945. Major Schaufer shot down 3 Lancasters on the evening of 7 March 1945. But the mentioned Pl.Qu. are not in the area of Hagen.

Kaczmarek