He 177 A5 loss 5th July 1944

[Brian Bines]

Are details known for the loss of a He 177 shot down while on a transfer flight on the morning of 5th July 1944 by P-38s of 20th FG . From a Flypast article ( June 2024) by Chris Goss the pilot was Hugo Müller of 4/KG 40 and it crashed at Chateauneuf-sur-Charente . The victory was shared by Lt Col Herbert Johnson CO of 20th FG and Lt James Reynolds .

I have details of four operational losses of II/KG 40 for the 4/5th July while the Griehl/Dressel book also shows werk nummer 550255 lost to enemy action on the 5th July ,

Thanks
Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

Brian:

A further He 177A-5 from 4./KG 40 flown by Oblt Hugo Müller was shot down Chateauneuf-sur-Charente by P-38 Lightnings flown by Lt Col Herbert Johnson CO of the 20th FG and 2/Lt James Reynolds of the 55th FS/20th FG. The He 177 had taken off from Cognac 10 minutes earlier where it had been forced to land due to engine trouble just before midnight on the way to attack shipping. A total of 22 aircrew would lose their lives this night with another three captured.

Full loss details in the new book but I have 550255 F8+BM (GP+RX)

[Brian Bines]

Chris

Thanks very much for this information

Regards
Brian Bines

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

Smith/Creek have 550255 as GP+RY, belonging to 6./KG 40 and saying it crashed at
Cognac airfield 5 July 1944
The WNr range vs STKZ is stated as 550231 - 550256 GP+RA to GP+RZ

Any opinion on that?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

Didn't crash on the airfield and apart from definitely being II./KG 40 and flying a 4./KG 40 aircraft, I cannot add more. Keeping accurate records at this time was the last of KG 40's worries!

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Chris

But what about the STKZ? What is your source for that one?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

An error in the records written at the time I have been told

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

An error in the records written at the time I have been told

Hmmm

I think you need to elaborate a bit more on that Chris.
We usually discover primary records to be wrong when they don't conform to other data, such
as aircraft being w/o twice, ORBs which say one thing while AM 78 forms another and so on.

What is it in this case?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

I cannot add any more I am afraid-just one of those things I believe

[Stig Jarlevik]

OK Chris

No worries, I note it down as an anomaly!

Cheers
Stig