Loss of a Ju 88 or Bf 110 of 4.(F)/121 on 12 August 1940

[Peter Cook]

I am trying to identify a 4.(F)/121 casualty that occurred on 12 August 1940, with the aircraft being listed by different sources as a Ju 88A-1 or a Bf 110C. Which is correct? Also, did the Bf, Ofw. Henniges, survive or was he killed? This is what the following sources say:

Mason - Battle Over Britain - Pg. 186
4.(F)/121 - Junkers Ju 88A-1 - Combat Mission - Crashed at Barfleur with flak damage. 80% damage. One crew member missing.

Ramsey/Cornwell - BoB Then and Now - Pg. 561
4(F)/121 - Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 - Hit by own flak and set alight during operational reconnaissance sortie. Forced-landed near Barfleur. Crew unhurt, one NCO having baled out. Aircraft 30% damaged.

Balss - Luftwaffe Losses & Claims - Vol. 3 Pg. 228
4.(F)/A.Gr. 121 - OP - Kanal
Take off Caen-Carpiquet - Barfleur - Shot aflame by Flak, Bs bailed out before forced landing
Ju 88 A-1 - 80% damage
Bs Ofw. Henniges MIA, 3 crew safe

Vasco/Cornwell - Zerstörer - Pg. 178
4.(F)/Auf. Gr. 121 - Bf 110 C-5 - 30% damage - Ofw. Henniges, wounded - Set alight by own AA fire. Force-landed after Bordfunker baled out. Near Barfleur.

[Larry deZeng]

No mention of any Bf 110s with this Staffel until 6 April 1941.

4.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 121
13 August 1940: at Paris-Villacoublay with 4 Do l7Ps and 4 Ju 88As under V. Fliegerkorps/Luftflotte 3 for the main phase of the Battle of Britain.

6 April 1941: at Vienna-Seyring with 10 Ju 88As and 3 Bf 110Cs under Luftflotte 4 for the attack on Yugoslavia and Greece this date.

L.

[Andy Mitchell]

Peter,

Hope the following will be of assistance

(1) The Loss Returns for 15.8.40 page 4 record this as a Ju 88A-1. (This is basically the same as the entry in Mason)

(2) The Lagebericht Nr 342 only records the loss of 5 Bf 110s for that day. These are recorded also on the Einzelmeldung Nr 1 of 13.8.40 (01.15hrs) as being 2 from I./ZG 2; 2 from II./ZG 2 and 1 from III./ZG 76.

(3) Several Einzelmeldungen for 12.8.40 record the results of Ju 88 sorties by 4(F)./121. I will look to see if there are any Me 110 sorties recorded for 4.(F)/121 around that date.

(4) Pg 411 of Ulf Balke's "Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939-41" records 4.(F)/121 as having 4 (4) Ju 88 and 4 (3) Do 17P available at Villacoublay as at 13.8.40. On 10.5.40 the same unit shows as having 10(7) Do 17 P and 2 (1) Ju 88 (see page 405 Balke).

[Chris Goss]

This has been asked before by BrianC on 12 OCH and I answered; search Ofw Wilhelm Henniges

[Peter Cook]

Thank you Chris and Andy, I will take a look at the earlier post.

Peter

[Stig Jarlevik]

Interesting topic

Since already Mason in his Battle over Britain stated it was a Ju 88 I wonder why Peter Cornwell changed it into a Bf 110?
Once changed it also got into the book Zerstörer without any further checking.

Cheers
Stig

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Interesting topic

Since already Mason in his Battle over Britain stated it was a Ju 88 I wonder why Peter Cornwell changed it into a Bf 110?

Once changed it also got into the book Zerstörer without any further checking.

Cheers
Stig

Peter C compiled the loss tables for our book, 'Zerstörer'.

The information later passed to me by Peter re losses in the BoB with regard to 12th August 1940 and Henniges is as follows:

4.(F)/121 Junkers Ju88A-1 (0302). Set alight by AA fire and crash-landed near Barfleur following photo-reconnaissance sortie over Portsmouth and Ventnor 1.00 p.m. HB Oberfw Wilhelm Henniges baled out over mid-Channel and missing, rest of crew believed unhurt. Aircraft 7A+PM 80% damaged - write-off.

Hope this now clarifies things.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Excellent John

Hat's off for that!

Cheers
Stig

[robert]

Most up-to-date Peter`s version:

4.(F)/121 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0302). Engine set alight by AA fire during photo-reconnaissance sortie over Portsmouth and Ventnor and crash-landed near Barfleur, France 1.00 p.m. HB Oberfw Wilhelm Henniges baled out south of the Isle of Wight and missing, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft 7A+PM 80% damaged - write-off.

Happy New Year!

Robert