NJG 2 Claim for a Wellington on 6th July 1942

[Andy Mitchell]

Below is a question asked on behalf of a member of the Axis History Forum.

"A Wellington from 37 Sqn (DV 508 "G") is understood to have taken off from Abu Sweur at 0100 to attack targets of opportunity in El Daba area but failed to return. Other crews in the same sortie reported an aircraft being attacked by night fighter 14m SE of El Daba; Plt Off G.D.B. Raffil and his five crew were KiA.

There are two German Claims for DV508:
1. Hptm Paul Senrau from 3./NJG 2 (Wellington N. Africa 0155)
2. Hptm Heinz Harmstorf from 2./NJG 2 (Wellington N. Africa 0246)

Are there any combat reports for either of these pilots to get a better idea who may have been the pilot responsible?"

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Chris Goss]

I have Semrau's 0155hrs kill being HF920/38 Sqn and Harmsdorf's 0246hrs kill as Raffill (I have him as Sgt). Semrau is also said to have got a second Wellington that night no time. As to Combat Reports, never seen any

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris many thanks for the information

For HF920 I have found the following from the RAF Commands serial number search, which returned the following:-

CWGC Casualty Search Name Search | Number Search | Serial Search

Leonard Henry DAY (43478) died on 1942-07-06 - Wellington HF920
Albert Charles EZRA (1289125) died on 1942-07-06 - Wellington HF920
Dennis Willis ILOTT (108151) died on 1942-07-06 - Wellington HF920
Henry Christopher NICHOL-SMITH (109537) died on 1942-07-07 - Wellington HF920
William Edwards PRING (646044) died on 1942-07-06 - Wellington HF920

National Archives AIR81 Description Search

AIR81/15728 - Pilot Officer H C Nicol-Smith: killed; Squadron leader L H Day, Pilot Officer D W Ilott, Sergeant W E Pring, Sergeant A C Ezra: missing believed killed; Wellington HF920, 38 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Tobruk harbour, Libya, 6 July 1942. at C17477931

and for DV 508 the following:

CWGC Casualty Search Name Search | Number Search | Serial Search

George CUTTER (860457) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508
Solomon MYERS (1132160) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508
George Douglas Brian RAFFILL (129953) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508
Kenneth Jermyn SMITH (1258964) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508
Percy Ewart STUMBLES (109033) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508
George TOMKINS (1359708) died on 1942-07-05 - Wellington IC DV508

I'll pass your information on to the enquirer.

[Chris Goss]

Pleasure Andy. It would appear that Raffill was commissioned after his death as F540 says he was a Sgt

[AndreasB]

We have him as a Sergeant in Breaking Rommel. The below is the info we have in the book, thanks to Michele's and Marco's research. This has been provided to the chap who raised the question, I am currently following up with Marco on whether there is more detail in Königliche Zwote.



All the best

Andreas

[Andy Mitchell]

Andreas,

Many thanks for clarifying the operations that night, much appreciated.

[AndreasB]

Anytime Andy.

It's really the work of Michele and Marco.

All the best

Andreas

[Chris Goss]

What I wrote in my Ju 88C book:


Between 4 and 6 July, Hptm Paul Semrau Staffelkapitän of 3./NJG 2 claimed three Wellingtons, Lt Georg Wiedow of Stab I./NJG 2 two and one each for Fw Werner Heyne of 1./NJG 2 and Hptm Heinz Harmstorf of 2./NJG 2. However, Lt Erwin Wolfbauer of 3./NJG 2 was killed on 5 July 1942 when he crashed near El Daba after combat with a Wellington (possibly from 37 Sqn and flown by Sgt Bob Withers) and then the following night Lt Georg Wiedow was believed to have crashed attacking a Wellington of 108 Sqn flown by Flt Sgt John Metcalfe who reported the following:
"Aircraft L after bombing went to coast to pinpoint and immediately aircraft was attacked from starboard quarter by Ju 88 firing cannon and violent evasive action was taken and after a pause, it was hoped the attack was broken off. During this attack the Rear Gunner got in two bursts. A second attack was made by the enemy aircraft almost immediately and the Wellington was hit in several places. The Captain in an endeavour to shake off the Ju 88 dived with violent evasive action but was followed with continuous fire from the attacking aircraft, several shells bursting inside the fuselage. The Wellington was pulled out of the dive at 70ft and although the controls had been jammed the aircraft answered and climbed. At that moment there was a violent flash outside the Wellington which momentarily died down and was followed by a second flash. It is believed that the Ju 88 intent on keeping up the attack did not pull out in time and crashed. After this there was no further attack. During the course of this engagement, the Wellington suffered the following damage: rear turret shot about, hydraulics rendered unserviceable (with the exception of the emergency landing gear), rudder control jammed, starboard main wheel punctured by machine gun bullets and sundry other damage. The aircraft was flown back as far as Abu Suier before being put down; it was landed there on its wheels but owing to the burst tyre, the aircraft swung sharply shortly after landing sheering off both port and starboard undercarriages. During the combat, the Wireless Operator (Sgt G A Arnold) was mortally wounded

[Andy Mitchell]

Thank you Chris,

Every bit adds to the story.

[Andy Mitchell]

Good Morning,

My contact has asked if anyone has a picture of Harmstorf would they be willing to share it?

Many thanks