3 June 1942 Ju88 shot down off Southwold, Suffolk

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Greetings,
Would it be possible that anyone may have information on the shooting down of a Ju88 off Southwold,Suffolk coast at 0248 hours on 3 June 1942 by a 75 Squadron Wellington,please?
I have a request for information for the g/niece of Sgt R E SHARP who first spotted the e/a from the astrodome and then Sgt Hirst shot the machine down.
I would like to know the identity of that Ju88 and/or its crew
Cheers, Digger

[edNorth]

Hi,
Try this one 'Herne Bay' due AA fire, but date 2 June likely does not match, unless plane be thought downed that day, and 0235 what (UTC, BST etc. ?)

5714 Ju 88 A-4 3Z+FN II/KG 77 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location 02.06.1942 (F Lt. Heinz Franke, B Uffz. Ernst Femel, BF Uffz. Udo Kempin and BS Ofw. Eugen Besler mis/ rep killed in h/01.07.42)

these two are unknown fates... 3 June, Luftlotte 3 was France, Holland, Belgium etc.

1591 Ju 88 D-1 F6+CL 3.(F)/122 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location 03.06.1942 (F Oblt. Friedrich Raschke, B Fw. Karl Bachmann, Uffz. Josef Steigerwald and BS Gefr. Karl Schwarz missing)

3656 Ju 88 A-4 3Z+KP II/KG 77 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location 03.06.1942 (F Ofw. Ernst Ebert, B Uffz. Adolf Schad, BF Uffz. Wilhelm Hoppe and BS Uffz. Paul Hoffmann missing)

for 4 June, I find no particular 'suspect' ... BTW this period has not been matched yet to found crash sites in or around England, Scotland or Wales (in my files). Possibly some info might be found in 'After the Battle' books or similar. Mason perhaps?

Ed

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Thanks Ed.
I will look further but I do have the 'Combat Report' and it gives 30 miles off Southwold, coast. (Suffolk)
A real puzzle, this one.

I will send you the DRAFT of what I have if you wish. Please contact me at awarculus@xtra.co.nz

Many thanks for your reply.
Cheers,
Digger

[Brian Bines]

Hi, GQM list has crew of Ltn Franke missing to killed on 2-6-42, he is reported on UK records as falling to AA at 0235hrs (3-5-42) at West Blean Kent during raid on Canterbury. Also reported lost on the 2-6-42 was 3Z+CP 140193 of II/KG77 with crew Ff Obfw.Josef Held, B Uffz. Hans Idem, Bf Uffz Erich Schulz and Bs Ogef Adam Heimarl all missing. On the 3-6-42 GQM shows Ju88 3Z+IM 3693 of II/KG77 as reported missing with its crew of Ff Oblt.Ludwig Schrodl. B Fw. Fritz Pichler, Bf Fw Andreas Schonwetter and Bs Uffz Herbert Schulz (body washed ashore Margate on 21-6-42), research by others credits this to F/L Robinson and F/L Crowther of 28 Sqd. 20 miles ENE off Foreness Point. In addition at 0238hrs on the 3-6-42 a Havoc crew of 85 Sqd. claimed a Do217 also 20 miles NE of Foreness, a Do217 did return to Gilze Rijen with 30% combat damage. I believe all the KG77 reported lost on either the 2nd or 3rd. were part of the raid by 58 aircraft on Canterbury on the night of 2/3-6-42,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Hello Brian,
Many thanks for your reply, this getting more and more interesting. Especially as you mention a Havoc. In their combat report the Wellington crew mentioned that...... the Ju88 switched on his headlamp and attacked.

I have given my contact address above to Ed so if either of you want the 'Combat Report', you are most welcome.

I remember that during the summer months we were on double summertime in those days.

A puzzle to me is the Luftwaffe unit of one of the tw 'missing' Ju88's that Ed mentioned, and that was 3(F)/122 from my 'Lufwaffe War Diaries' by Cajus Bekker (Pub 1964) were Recce Squadrons in 1939.I wonder if serial 1591 Ju88D-1 3(F)/122 was an intruder by 1942?

Cheers from downunder,
Digger

[Chris Goss]

Arthur
No still recce-intruders didn't return until autumn 1943
Chris

[edNorth]

Hi,

Brian, 3Z+CP was 140162 (not 140193), but yes, I missed out on that pssibility. Thanks.

140162 Ju 88 A-4 3Z+CP II/KG 77 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location 02.06.1942 (F Ofw. Josef Held, B Uffz. Hans Idem, BF Uffz. Erich Schulz and BS Obgefr. Adam Heimerl missing)

1591 D-1 was plain Recce one, probably dusk, daybreak or daylight. I do not remember any night recce done over Britain in that period.

BTW, I am not into individual combats or such. Lots of researchers better placed for that than I am. (Mostly doing production, logbooks and other Ju 88 history in general, also research into the lesser known aspects). Only a higly likely claim or confirmed gets into my list.

-Ed

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Thanks everyone for the input. Nice to hear from you again Chris.
I found this while browsing - comments?

Going to or returning from Scotland when shot down?
3-4 Jun 1942 – 3(F)./122 lost a Ju 88 on a sortie to the Scottish Coast.
Date
Unit
Aircraft Type
Code
Wkr.No.
Notes
3 Jun 1942
3(F)./122
Ju 88D-1
F6+CL
1591
Aircraft lost - Oblt. F-W. Raschke[3] Fw. Karl Bachmann (B), Uffz. Josef Steigerwald (Bf) and gefr Karl Schwarz (Bs).

Aircraft and names tie up with one of the two Ju88'sa missing, as Ed mentioned on this site.
http://www.luftwaffedata.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Aufkl._Gr._122_Jun_1942&printable= yes

Cheers Digger

[Brian Bines]

Digger, interesting that the Wellington crew reported the attacking Ju88 switched on its lights. The Havoc pilot says in his combat report he had to pull off from his first attack as he was initially blinded by the flash from his own guns. Anyway if you want a copy of his report PM me an e-mail address,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Arthur 'Digger' Arculus]

Thanks Brian I would appreciate that. My e mail address is (awarculus@xtra.co,nz).

All of this is quite complicated, in the main I must never MAKE it fit. I can only surmise which a/c the Wellington shot down. Like you I was taken by the fact they turned a searchlight on to the Wellington.

It would be handy to get a confirmation from 75 Squadron of the combat.

Cheers,
Digger