JU88 Loss, September 22nd 1943

[Stephen Smith]

Looking for details on a JU88 claimed as destroyed by F/Lt D Smith of No.623 squadron on the above date at around 2136hrs near Hanover.

Any details most welcome.

[Chris Goss]

Nothing 22-23 Sep 43 night fighter-wise bearing in mind that at that time it would still have been light. There was a Ju 88 of 5/NJG 3 lost 35 kms south of Hannover 21-22 sep 43 though

[Stephen Smith]

Thanks Chris,

It was the 22nd /23rd September raid on Hanover, I have Combat Report submitted by F/Lt D Smith and crew, three of the crew witnessed the JU88 with an engine fire and crash and explode on the ground after leaving the target area. ?

Cheers

Steve

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

According to Theo Boiten II./NJG 3 lost two aircraft that night. First was the aircraft of Lt Hans Wallrath who was reported shot down by a Halifax.
This loss is reported by Balss on the night of 21/22 Sept. Since there was no mission by Bomber Command on 21/22 Sept it seems reasonable that this loss did happen as per Boiten's details.

The second loss by NJG 3 as indicated by Boiten are not to be found in any of my second hand sources.

There is no time listed for the loss of Wallrath by Balss, but a victory claim by Helmut Niklas from 6./NJG 3 was made at 22.47H (21.47H UK time), so it is not impossible for Wallrath to have been around the target area at 21.36H (UK time) when the claim was made by the Stirling crew.

Cheers
Stig

[Stephen Smith]

Stig,

Bang-on mate, thanks for that helps out greatly.

Smudger

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

in Namentliche Verlustmeldung NJG 3:

über Gronau, ca. 35km südl. Hannover am 22.09.1943
Feindflug: Ja
Ju 88 C-6, Werk.Nr. 750 357
5./NJG 3

FF. Lt. Hans Wallrath geb. 04.12.1919 in Köln KIA after he had an air victory

Bordfunker: Ogf. Johann Meffert, geb. 25.11.20 in Rahms ü Linz/Rhein KIA

Bordwart: Fw.Johannes Kuhrt, geb. 12.04.1915 bailed out and wounded.

Wallraht claimed in this night a Halifax, 35km south of hanover on 22:35 Uhr german time.

A second loss was Uffz. Scherer, Bordfunker, 2.NJG 3. He bailed out over bremen , no losses of any planes form 2. NJG 3 are reported.

Greetings

[edNorth]

Ju 88 C-6 W.Nr. 750357 KM+HW / D5+GN 5./NJG 3.