Me 410 Loss off Zeebrugge 24.8.43

[Andy Saunders]

After claiming a four engined aircraft destroyed, Hauptmann Wilhelm SCHMITTER of V/KG 2 was himself shot down into the sea but baled out and was rescued on 24.8.43 off Zeebrugge. Does anyone have the circumstances of this incident; who was his victor, what did he shoot down, what was the W Nr of his aircraft and who was his Bordfunker? Schmitter was killed over England 8/9.11.43 and is missing with Uffz Hainzinger.

[Chris Goss]

Me 410 A-1, 420214, U5+CF. Believed to have been shot down by Sqn Ldr P W Arbon/Fg Off A E Ashcroft 29 Sqn 0337 hrs. However, there were also claims by Flt Lt G Goodman, 85 Sqn, Capt J Rad 85 Sqn, Wg Cdr Mack 29 Sqn. V/KG 2 lost 3 that night-his BF was Ofw Heinz Graeber who was wounded

[Brian Bines]

Schmitter and his Bf Ofw. Heinz Graber shot down a Lancaster of 97 Sqd. over Norfolk at 0300hrs(see Intruders Over Britain ) while flying Me410 U5+CF w.n. 420214. They were subsequently shot down off Knokke which ties with the claim of S/L Arbon and F/O Ashcroft of 29 Sqn. who claimed a Me 210 10 miles north of Knokke at 0333hrs.. The Bf broke his legs baling out but both men were picked up by a Marine Unit from Zeebrugge.

Sources - Intruders over Britain, NVM, & combat report

[Andy Saunders]

Thank you both! Am currently dealing with the local authority who want to have a memorial placed at the crash site of Schmitter and Hainzinger near Eastbourne. The crash site is in a local park and both men are still missing. I have a huge file on that actual incident but thought it would be interesting to build up a background picture to Schmitter for the L/A. Thanks again.

[BC]

Andy:

The Lancaster shot down was EE105 OF-Q of 97 (PFF) Sqn from Bourne, flown by Sgt C S Chatten and crew. They diverted to Marham and were in the circuit there when a burst of fire from below and ahead hit them in the fuselage and starboard wing. Chatten was wounded in the legs and chest and the crew baled out, the aircraft crashing at Shouldham, Norfolk at 0319 hours (interestingly the shoot-down times for the Me 410s are all around 0330 hours).

Two crewmen landed at Ashwicken and one at Wormegay. The MUG, F/Sgt J R Kraemer RAAF, crashed with the aircraft and was killed.

I recall reading about the Nov 1943 Me 410 site, the WAAG dig on it, and the concerns when plans were afoot to build on it - has the site now disappeared under housing ?

Regs,

BC

[Andy Saunders]

For the last ten years or so, after extensive development and road building, I thought the site had vanished under the lakes of a newly constructed country park or a newly constructed school. Now, I find that the site has been preserved - the water filled crater still being in existence. Casual visitors would just think it was a pond without realising its rather sad history.