What became of Fw Herbert Koch, NJG 3?
I am trying to establish the facts behind the shoot down of Lancaster I ED312 (OL-F) from 83 sqn. on the night between 20/21 April 1943. It was enroute to Stettin when attacked by, what was reported by the crew to be, a Ju88. Flying a damaged and burning aircraft the pilot, P/O C.P. McDonald succeeded in ditching just of the coast near Klagshamn south of Malmö in Sweden.
From "Nachtjagd Claims Database" it can be seen that Fw Herbert Koch, NJG 3, on this date claimed a Halifax (must be quite easy to mix up with a Lancaster when seen from 6 o’clock at night) shot down at Klagshamn.
As no other aircraft crashed anywhere near that location on the night in question there is a very high probability that Koch is responsible for destroying ED312.
Does anybody know from where Fw Herbert Koch took off (I think Fliegerhorst Grove - now KarupAB, Jutland, Denmark)? Did he survive the war, and if so what became of him later on? Any info. will be very welcome.
Jørgen
|