Ju 88 A-4 WNr 1612, lost on 15 or 16 January 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to the Blitz then and now, the Ju 88 A-4 WNr 1612 of 1./KüGr 506 was shot down by AA fire at 1650 hrs onb 16 January 1942 off Tyneside and its four crew killed.

Problem is that no German activity is reported in my sources for 16 January in this area, but is on the 15. And a website gives the date of 15 for this loss, as does the Volksbund for the crew member (Lt zur See Dietar Andresen) that was washed ashore and buried in England.

So, can anyone with access with the primary source confirm which date (15 or 16) this bomber was lost ?

Thanks in advance

[edNorth]

Here is from GQM listings. Seems it was the 15th, agrees with your info.

1612 Ju 88 A-4 S4+EH I/KuFlGr 506 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) mis (100%) unk location 15.01.1942 (B Lt.z.S. Dieter Andresen mis/rep killed washed-a-shore in losses w/01.06.42 but F Uffz. Friedrich Pott, BF Uffz. Josef Scholze and BS Fw. Franz Gruschka missing)

Thats same day as today, just 70 years earlier.

Ed

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Ed for your reply

About the 70 years, I'm trying each day to study some losses on their "anniversary date" and add them to the database of the site www.crashplace.de.

For 15 January I added yesterday a Hudson crash in 1940 and wanted to add this Ju 88. I will do it this morning, now that I have the date confirmed.

Best regards

[bill norman]

Laurent,
The Luftwaffe Loss Returns do show this aircraft as being lost on 15 Jan. 1942. Andresens's body was recovered from Prior's Haven, Tynemouth, on 27 January 1942 and was buried in Hylton Cemetery, Sunderland, where it still lies. It seems that his aircraft was shot down by AA fire. If that is the case, there is some evidence to suggest that the AA unit was 'C' Troop, 278 LAA Bty, 68 LAA Regt, Royal Artillery.

Bill Norman (website; www.billnorm,an.co.uk)

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Bill for the additional details.