Ltn Bruno Kahlfuss 2./KG3 shot down 22/23 July 1940

[Brian]

Hi Col

Thanks for the lead. Any chance of scans of the relevant pages?

I don't have this book in my 1000+ collection!

Chris: Another extract from Ashfield's combat report:

"After about six minutes E/A sighted by observer P/O Morris to port and just below. A little H/T was lost placing E/A between the moon and ourselves. By fuselage silhouetted against moon A/C identified as Do17. No challenge given by us. I took station astern and although unable to see rudders characteristic, the light of exhaust flame distribution from E/A confirmed to my mind that A/C was not British."

Seems as though they identified their victim as a Do17!


Cheers
Brian
briancullauthor@fsmail.net

[Col Bruggy]

Brian,

Would love to oblige, but l don't possess a scanner, and do not have ready access to one.

Col.

[Brian]

Thanks Col

No problem - just found a copy on Amazon.

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

No other losses that match-optimistic or Friendly Fire? Always wondered why a I/KG 3 ac was operating that far west when their usual stomping ground was where Peter said it crashed

[Brian]

Hi guys

I again return to this incident, since it is of historic importance and deserves a proper conclusion, methinks!

I note that the suggestion that the victim may have been a Blenheim of 107 Squadron, since it was reported missing, but Uffz Hans Busch of 8./JG51 seems to have accounted for this at 17:05 north of Calais!

Powell-Sheddon of 242 claimed a Do17 damaged at dawn was probably one of three aircraft of II/KG2 engaged and damaged by RAF fighters. Why was the aircraft of 2./KG3 not the victim of the FIU Blenheim as suggested by Peter in his tome?

I hope the experts can now clarify?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

From my records, Busch's claim was 1450 hrs 23 Jul 40 north of Ostende not night of 22 Jul 40. This probably accords with the combat with P/53 Sqn off Ostende which returned slightly damaged. I have no KG 2 ac damaged between 20 and 24 Jul 40 (latter date was when 2 5/KG 2 ac were damaged by 64 Sqn (0900 hrs) and 65 Sqn (1230 hrs). Sorry, still nothing conclusive to challenge Peter's information. In any case, for a body to be washed ashore in Sussex having been shot down off Calais or Ostende is very unlikely

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Brian,

I can add that 2 crew members were admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam after being rescued by a He 59 operating from Schellingwoude, directly North East of Amsterdam.
This indicates that the crew was picked up from the North Sea, the claim made by the FIU Blenheim was over The Channel, far beyond the operating area of ASR aircraft from Schellingwoude.


Regards,
Hans

[Brian]

Hi Hans

Thanks for that.

I have since established that 107 Squadron was flying night sorties to attack French airfields that night, and therefore Plt Off Watson's Blenheim was probably the FIU's victim since it FTR. Plus that the observer's body was washed ashore at Littlehampton.

Thanks to Peter and Chris for their advice.

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Sad but the indications are there albeit we will never be 100%