1.(F)/123 against Spitfires on 3 May 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

In the morning of 3 May 1942 a patrol of two Spitfires of 452 Sqn RAAF saw and attacked a Ju 88 off Fleetwood, England. Plt Off Lamerton attacked it and claimed to have damaged it and silenced the rear gunner, but his own Spitfire (AD537, ORB gives false serial of AB198) was set on fire and he bailed out over the sea, being rescued 6 hours later. The other Australian pilot, Sgt Basset, expended all his ammunition and thought he had hit the wings of the Ju 88.

A third Spitfire joined the battle. It was a Spitfire of 315 (Polish) Sqn. Two of them had been ordered to scramble from Woodvale but one had engine trouble. The 315 Sqn ORB reported the fight with the following words:
"After manouevring above the Hun, Blue 1 was able to attack with cannon and m.g., as a result of which black smoke poured from e/a’s port engine. Blue 1 gave chase, firing as opportunity presented itself, his last burst being at 50 yds. range. E/a was losing height rapidly, and was last seen within 2 ft. of the sea. Blue 1 followed to within 6 ft. of sea level, but was forced to break away, owing to exhaustion of ammunition and serious petrol depletion. E/a claimed as destroyed; pilot F/O Stembrowicz. Note: Rear gunner shot pink tracer bullets."

Despite the Polish claim, the Ju 88 was only awarded as damaged, and shared between Lamberton and Stembrowicz.

In Tony Wood's claimlists, there is this day a claim by an Ofw Hünd of 1.(F)/123 for a Spitfire shot down at 5000 m in Barrow Deep area. No time is given, but I guess it is the same action.

I would like to any details of this action from the German side. Especially if 1;(F)/123 reported any damage or casualty this day. I would also like to know the full name of Ofw Hünd.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[Matti Salonen]

No losses of 1.(F)/123, only this one (the only Ju 88 -loss in the Western Front):
1942-05-03, 3.(F)/123, Ju 88D-5, 430005, Fl.Pl. Lannion, Bruchlandung infolge Feindbeschuß. Bruch 40 %.

[Chris Goss]

Ofw Karl Hund (no umlaut) was awarded DKiG with 1/123 20 Oct 42

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi Laurent,

Matti is right, no 1./(F)123 fatalities that day, I have the NVM for 1942 and found that Ofw. Karl Hund was shot down and crashed in Ireland on 23.08.42, all four crew members were interned. Ofw. Hund was the Bordfunker of Lt. Störmer crew. If you would like more details then please drop me a pm with your e-mail address, I seem to have mis-laid it.

Kind regards,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for all these replies.

I just forgot to check one thing. The action reported by 452 and 315 Sqn is over the Irish Sea, and so is probably linked to the damage suffered by the 3.(F)/123 Ju 88.

While the claim by 1.(F)/123 in "Barrow Deep" area is over the North Sea, so clearly not the same.

I have one other action between British Spitfires and Ju 88 this day, in the evening (at 2135 hrs) two Spitfires of 308 Sqn RAF claimed a Ju 88 damaged off Cap de la Hague, France, while one was hit by return fire (Cat B). Again this is too far from Barrow Deep.

It seems to me that we have an unknown gunner of 3.(F)/123 shooting down a Spitfire and no claim know, and a known gunner of 1.(F)/123 claiming a Spitfire but none shot down in the area.

[Swifte]

I am confuse I make note that gunner was 3.F/123 but now seem to be wrong.Was Ofw Hund 1.F/123 or 3.F/123 for sure.
Maybee Mr Schnellmeyer tell us.

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi, Ofw. Hund was definately 1 Staffel (F)123! I have the NVM.

Melvin

[John Beaman]

Laurent, what is a "false serial"? Did you mean "incorrect"?

Must have been one tough Ju-88 to have three Spitfires shooting at it and, apparently, survive!

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Laurent, what is a "false serial"? Did you mean "incorrect"?

Must have been one tough Ju-88 to have three Spitfires shooting at it and, apparently, survive!

What I was meaning is that the serial in the ORB is incorrect: it is listed as AB198, but other sources confirm that AB198 was lost later while Lamerton was flying AD357 this day.

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Must have been one tough Ju-88 to have three Spitfires shooting at it and, apparently, survive!

Yes, it Ju 88 D-5 W.Nr. 0880430005 4U+UL of 3.(F)/123 was not that much damaged, 40% Er, after belly landing in high grass field (probably close to Lannion as there are dummy Ju 88´s in the foto brackground) - the rear canopy´s also crushing the vertical fin on jettisoning - but it was repaired and changed (engines) to Ju 88 D-1, known twice at JFM FRB at Villacoublay for servicing in summer of 1943, before last serving with Wekusta 2 Ob.d.L., and eventual loss as D7+KK 16th December 1943.

Regards
ed