1/2 March 44 Luft bomber losses

[David Pausey]

Hi

An attempt to bomb London by 120 enemy aircraft during the night of 1/2 of March was ineffective, with only 10 raiders penetrating to Greater London.

Altogether 164 bombers of IX.Fliegerkorps took off for an all out attack on London of which 131 claimed to have reached the target and they dropped 80,6 tons of explosives and 114,4 tons incendiaries. However 8 bombers were lost. I have details of six of these losses :-

Three from KG2
One from KG54
One from KG66
One from KG100

Has any one got details of the other two aircraft that were lost ?

Cheers

David

[Brian Bines]

Hi David I picked this old one up and saw there was no reply. If you are still interested I have that a Ju 88 of 9/KG 6 crashed at Bretigny with the loss of the crew.The other is I beleive a Ju 88 of KG 101 who recorded a crewman injured at Couvron on return (they give date as 2-03-44 ) . RAF radio intercepts reported broadcasts advising of poor landing, conditions at Couvron due to the weather,
Hope ths helps,
Better Late than never,
Brian

[FrankieS]

Hello Brian,

since you mention 'RAF radio intercepts', do you or somebody
else happen to have intercepts for a different raid day?
2. December 1943, KG6 attack onto UK

Where exactly could I find these intercepts (f.ex. PRO files ...)

Thank you kindly,
FrankieS

[Brian Bines]

I obtained my copies of the Radio Intercepts from the PRO Online Service for the period Jan. 20th to the end of May 1944. These were found in AIR22/500 and AIR22/501. The only info I have for the KG 6 attack of 2-12-43 is that it was a daylight attack on London through 10/10's cloud using Knickebein, which cost I/KG 6 two Ju 188's. Perhaps someone else can verify this or add details, anyway i hope this helps,
Regards
Brian

[FrankieS]

Yes,
you're correct, Luftwaffe lost 2 a/c that day )including
my uncle's crew).
I have - thanks to very kind british 'colleagues' -
already gathered quite a lot of information
on that mission. But i would love to get even
more details of RAF/Luftwaffe activities that day.
Especially copies of original RAF/Luftwaffe reports,
intercepts, or any other background infos concerning
this raid.


Thank you

[Brian Bines]

I have not got much on this only a 'Ministry of Home Secutity' document which states '' On the following morning , Thursday ( 2nd. December ) two long-range bombers came inland, one over Dover where it was destroyed by AA fire, and the other over Newhaven, where it penetrated to Lewes. Two H.Es were dropped harmlessly on Lewes Racecourse''.
Crew of Fw. J. Scharrz shot down by AA at 10.26 hrs off the South Foreland with 3 POW and 1 missing, crew of Uffz. A. Popp missing.
Regards
Brian

[David Pausey]

Hi Brian

Thanks for your reply I would be very greatfull if you could give me details of the two aircraft and crews lost this day(KG6 & KG101).

Cheers
David

[FrankieS]

Hi Brian, here FrankieS, hope
Brian doesn't mind me to answer.

02.03.1944 9./KG6
crew KIA by crash at take off, Bretigny
Ju 88 damgage 100%

Fw. KAPPEL Bruno *18.09.1916 cemetery:Champigny-St. Andre, block 6 grave #514
Uffz. HAUPT Josef *11.05.1924 cemetery:Champigny-St. Andre, block 7 grave #197
Uffz. MÜRB Eugen *17.06.1920 cemetery:Champigny-St. Andre, block 8 grave #197
Uffz. SCHEMMANN Wilhelm *24.12.1921 cemetery:Champigny-St. Andre, block 8 grave #204

Nice greetings from Germany!
FrankieS

[Brian Bines]

Hi David,and Frankie no problem with the answer for KG 6, The NVM for the other loss shows EinsatzStaffel IV/KG 101 - Bf. Ofw. Rudolf Zimmermann inj. at Couvron/Nordfr. 2.3.44. There is a faint handwritten note which appears to be a w.nummer ??17 followed by - A4 - 45%.
Regards
Brian

[David Pausey]

Many thanks for the information FrankieS and Brian.
Just one more question to FrankieS - do you know the W.Nr number for the Ju88 from KG6?
Regards
David