FEBRUARY February 1944 FW190G-3 Wn /SKG10

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1 3 February 1944 FW190G-3 Wn /SKG10 FEBRUARY 1944 Crashed at Les Essarts, 5 km west of Foucarmont, Neufchatel-en-Bray, France. Pilot found with unopened parachute on 6th February Ff: Lt Friedrich Engel killed. 3 February 1944 FW190G-3 Wn /SKG10 Crashed on return from operations against England at Amiens-Pierre, France. Ff: Uffz Hermann Wurster killed. 3-4 February The first wave took place in the evening of the 3rd and the second in the early hours of the 4th. Aircraft from eleven Gruppen took part, but again had little success in locating London. Of the 190 tons of bombs dropped on England, only 25 tons fell on Greater London. There were 16 fatalities in London and 15 elsewhere. 3-4 February 1944 Do217M-1 Wn U5+CH 8/KG2 Failed to return from operations to England. Ff: Uffz Erich Schewe 57359/534, Bo: Gefr Karl Kliever-Lorenz 57359/546, Bf: Ogefr Helmut Kräuter 57359/523 and Bs: Uffz Franz Bemmerl 57357/189 all lost without trace. MAP ID 1 (page 1298) 3-4 February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn U5+KP 6/KG2 Maplin Sands, 2 miles east of Shoeburyness, Essex hrs. Below: Uffz Franz Flamme Below right: Part of his Ju188 which crashed on Maplin Sands killing all on board. Remains of aircraft seen on 4th February, which had dived steeply into the sand and disintegrated, being only just visible at low water. Took off from Münster / Handorf aerodrome at hrs for operations against England but failed to return. Shot down by AA fire. Ff: Uffz Franz Flamme 57357/ NKG. Bo: Ogefr Werner Zwintschert 58215/ NKG. Bf: Uffz Wolfgang Niemeyer 57357/ NKG. Bs: Ogefr Willi Piller 57357/ NKG. Bs: Ogefr Johann Malecha 58215/ NKG. Only small fragments of flesh were found and an ID disc stamped with 58215/198; this was subsequently proven to be that of Werner Zwintschert

2 3-4 February 1944 Do217M-1 U5+JR 8/KG2 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 Wn B3+OH 1/KG54 Ff: Fw Gottlieb Schnebel, Bo: Uffz Oskar Seiler,Bf: Uffz Hermann Witzel all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju188 Wn E+CL 3/KG6 Ff: Lt Bernhard Ostendorf, Bo: Uffz Kurt Bartsch, Bf: Uffz Heinz Götte, Bs: Fw Walter Kaczerowski and Bs: Ogefr Willi Müller all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju188 Wn E+VH 3/KG6 Ff: Fw Herakleitos Winter, Fw Günther Erhardt, Fw Max Xylander and Uffz Manfred Oltenjahn all lost without trace. Ff: Uffz Heinrich Hannappel 67184/340, Bo: Uffz Paul Dewes 67184/342, Bf: Ogefr Ferdinand Sauer 67184/366 and Bs: Gefr Rudolf Veckenstedt 67184/351, all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88A-4 Wn B3+BK 2/KG54 Ff: Lt Rolf Stockert 67184/275, Bo: Uffz Georg Brehl 67184/261, Bf: Uffz Fritz Beyer 67184/267 and Bs: Uffz Alfred Forstner 67184/218 all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 5/KG6 Crashed in return from a sortie to London at Rötgen / Malmedy, Belgium. Ff: Lt Hans Berstecher 73045/206, Bo: Gefr Erich Bayer 73045/237, Bf: Uffz Heinz Held 73045/228 and Bm: Gefr Wilhelm Kramm 73045/254 all killed. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 7/KG6 Ff: Uffz Ernst Fickentscher 53563/269, Bo: Uffz Herbert Schmidt 53563/266, Bf: Uffz Ottmar Nehmeier 53563/265 and Bs: Gefr Gerhard Wellmann 53563/268, all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 Wn.8850 B3+CP 6/KG54 Ff: Lt Hans-Joachim von Krieg 60030/ Washed ashore at Texel 17/5/44. Bo: Uffz Herbert Holzangel 60024/215, Bf: Uffz Florian Lasthoffer 63626/8 and Bs: Uffz Michael Meister 67412/267 all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn Z6+DK 2/KG66 Ff: Lt Werner Exner 3/fl.Ausb.Regt.31/1400,Bo: Uffz Walder Reimer Fl.H.Komp.Schwerin/883, Bo: Uffz Ernst Schreer 53411/240,Bf: Uffz Joachim Bialas 18.Fu.Ers.Lg.Nachr.Regt.8/2020 and Bm: Uffz Werner Zieske 2/Fl.Ausb.Regt.21/752 all lost without trace. 11 February 1944 FW190G-3 Wn /SKG10 Crashed during operations 6 km south of Rosieres, France. Ff: Fw Karl Seele killed. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 8/KG6 Ff: Uffz Luis Schepock 53564/197,Bo: Fw Ernst Schlichting 53564/196, Bf: Uffz Heinz-Werner Scheepers 53564/195 andbs: Uffz Erich Zatzkowski all lost without trace. 3-4 February 1944 Ju88 Wn B3+EK 2/KG54 The wreck was discovered by the Dutch Air Force salvage team at Oost Flevoland and recovered between August 31st and September 2nd, Ff: Uffz Helmut Friedrich Weihs 67184/327. Bo: Uffz Franz Wenzel Prinke 67184/374, Bf: Uffz Herbert Georg Gustav Garske 67184/333 and Bs: Uffz Alfons Auerbach 67184/67 all killed. 12 February 1944 FW 200C 7/KG40 Shot down off Finisterre by 157 Squadron Mosquitos. Ff: FhjFw Karl Heinz Schairer, Bo: FhjFw Horst, Groschek, Bo: Uffz Werner Desor, Bf 1: Uffz Johann Henning, Bf 2: Flg Hans Zdolsek, Wart: Uffz Franz Österreich, Bs: Uffz Horst Linde, Bs: Ogefr Gerhard Röthig all lost without trace. Below: The crew of Ju88 B3+EK Weihs, Prinke, Garske, Auerbach, flanked by two groundcrewmen. Ogefr Martin Thiele of 4/KG6, lost without trace on 13/14 February February 1944 He177A-3 Wn F8+PN 7/KG40 Shot down 350 miles west of Finisterre by Lt T M L Brander of 881 Sqn, in a Wildcat from HMS Pursuer. Major Walter Rieder and crew missing February The Luftwaffe claimed that 230 crews made the attack, but the RAF s estimate was 150, of which just 15 flew over London. One person was killed in London and twelve more elsewhere in the country February 1944 Ju88 4/KG6 Ff: Uffz Hermann Weiβerth 73176/225,Bo: Fw Siegfried Henze 73176/226, Bf: Ogefr Franz Wagner 73176/220 and Bs: Ogefr Martin Thiele 73176/228 all lost without trace. MAP ID 2 (page 1298) February 1944 Ju88A-4 Wn E+DC 5/KG6 Burgess Farm, Bogshole Lane, Whitstable, Kent hrs. This aircraft was shot down by AA fire, although it was also claimed by a 96 Squadron Mosquito night fighter. The aircraft stalled at low altitude, pancaked and was completely burnt out. The sole survivor, the wireless operator baled out from 1,500 ft although observer also did so but was killed. Markings: DC in black, outlined in blue. Call sign KG+KJ and werke nummer from log book manufactured by Henschel AG, Schonfeld bei Teltow. The camouflage was most unusual as both top and bottom surfaces were the same, namely dark green mottled with a light greenish blue. Engines: Jumo 211. Port MZK 403 KUJ 341, starboard MZM

3 Armament: dorsal two MG 81, ventral twin MG 81. Equipment: no cable cutter fitted. Lotfe 7c and BZA bomb sights fitted. Radio equipment FuGe 10P, FuGe 16, E.Bl.3F and FuGe 101A. ID: & 53504, AW: grey, Fl.H.Kdtr.A211/XI, 11/5/43 & grey, Fl.H.kdtr.A204/XI, 3 February 1944, FP: L 16997B. Ff: Lt Egon Ruhland 73045/ CC 1/407. Bo: Ogefr Karl Keim 73045/ CC 1/408. Bf: Uffz Eberhard Fichtner 53504/133 seriously injured. Bs: Uffz Walter Orlieb 57331/35 +. CC 1/409. The members of the crew were identified by other prisoners of 5/KG6 and confirmed that three of them had joined in March 1943, with the wireless operator joining them in September With a different gunner; Obergefreiter Josef Primas (73045/204, died 4 February 1944) they went to Greece in September, returning to Le Culot in November. MAP ID 4 (page 1298) The crew were on their third war flight, having attacked London on both previous occasions. The unit was deduced by Air Intelligence from the wireless operators Ausweis which had been encountered in 1942 with 7/KG100, which had been formed from the Erprobungs-und Lehrkommando of KG100 and which in early 1943 became a nucleus of I/KG66. Claimed to have been shot down by a 406 Squadron Mosquito and also by AA guns February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn Z6+AK 2/KG66 Crashed returning from operations to London due to elevators being damaged by AA fire near Lille, France hrs. Ff: Fw Hermann Sigg 55511/251, Bo: Uffz Helmut Kleine 55511/238 and Bs: Uffz Hans Meyer 55511/243 all killed. Bf: Ogefr Hartwig Berndt 55511/232 injured. Bo: Gefr Günther Sittig 3/Fl.Ausb.Rgt.82/2831 injured. Died of injuries 15th February February 1944 Ju88 Verbandsführerschule KG 101 At sea - off Clacton, Essex. Failed to return from operations against England. Ff: Uffz Konrad Fisahn +. NKG. Bo: Gefr Kurt Urban +. CC 1/63. Body found at 1 mile SE of Havengore Creek, Essex, 14/2/44. Bf: Uffz Ernst Sölkner +. NKG. Bs: Gefr Adolf Threin +. NKG February 1944 Ju88 6/KG6 Ff: Fw Oswald Reich 73172/257, Bo: Ogefr Hermann Eich 73172/258, Bf: Ogefr Werner Helke 73172/259 and Bs: Gefr Fritz Spierling 73172/260 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 7/KG6 Ff: Fw Walter Hillebrecht 53563/222, Bo: Uffz Gerhard Böttcher 53563/223, Bf: Lt Hans-Joachim Hack Lw.Bau-Komp.10/11 /309 and Bs: Uffz Rudolf Willkomm 53563/225 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 8/KG6 Failed to return from operations against England. Ff: Uffz Ernst Nolden 53564/191, Bo: Ogefr Xaver Bauer 53564/192, Bf: Ogefr Max Hofstetter 53564/193 and Bs: Ogefr Erich Runge 53564/195 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 8/KG6 Ff: StFw Ernst Kothe 55510/23, Bo: Ofw Werner Zabel 55511/62, Bf: Fw Werner Hartung and Bs: Uffz Friedrich Meyer 69643/73 all lost without trace. Ogefr Karl Keim who died aboard Ju88 3E+DC of 5/KG6 at Whitstable in Kent. Two rare Ju290s similar to this one were brought down on 16 February off the Irish coast, all 21 crew members were lost without trace. 16 February 1944 Ju290A-5 Wn V+DK 2/FAGr 5 Shot down by Wildcats of 811 Squadron flying from HMS Biter at hrs, WSW of Ireland, N, W off Northern Ireland hrs. Ff: Hptm Karl-Friedrich Bergen (Staffelkapitän), Ff: Oblt Kurt Baumgartner, Lt: Martin Glöckhofer, Bf: Ofw Heinz Felleckner, Bf: Fw Heinz Schacht, Bm: Uffz Gottfried Beninde, Bs: Ofw Ludwig Ebner, Bs: Uffz Jakob Daniel, Bs: Ogefr Karl Zinke, Bs: Ogefr Josef Neubauer, Wetterdienst: Referendar Werner Cordes all lost without trace. 16 February 1944 Ju290A-5 Wn V+FH 2/FAGf 5 Shot down by a Beaufighter of 235 Squadron south west of Ireland hrs. Ff: Lt Eberhard Elfert, Ff: Ofw Conrad Oberhauser, Bo: Lt Albert Pape, Bf: Ofw Albert Holzmann, Bs: Uffz Rudolf Dressing, Bm: Ofw Otto Zech, Bs: Ofw Wilhelm Hausmann, Bs: Ofw Gustav Schlatthaus, Bs: Fw Erich Barlau, Bs: Ogefr Albert Pfeffer all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88S-1 Wn Z6+HH 1/KG66 MAP ID 3 (page 1298) Havering-atte-Bower, near Romford, Essex hrs. While en-route to London, this aircraft was coned by searchlights and the pilot took evasive action which became so violent that he lost control. There was a loud explosion, the cabin seemed to collapse and the wireless operator baled out with the two remaining crew being killed in the aircraft when it crashed and burnt out. Markings: Call sign RF+MV. The camouflage of the lower surfaces was the normal black, but the upper surfaces were unusual, in that the background was greenish grey, onto which irregularly shaped patches of black had been sprayed. Engines: BMW 801 G-2 14 cylinder air cooled radial. Armament: a dorsal gun only was fitted of one MG 131 of 13 mm. AB containers of incendiaries and 50 kg bombs carried. One UXB 50 kg found. Equipment: FuGe 16, E.Bl.3 F blind approach equipment, FuGe 216 tail warning device, FuGe 25a, IFF and the FuGe 101A radio altimeter. The bomb sight was a Lotfe 7 d1. Special equipment: The GM1 installation consisting of alloy fuel tank and three compressed air bottles which were controlled by the pilot. A 200 gallon plywood jettison tank was found in the wreckage. ID: 3/Fl.A.R.41/1026, 2/FL.A.R. 51/72 & Ln.Komp.(Mot)Flug.H.Ber.Radom/181, AW: grey, FPN L Brussels, 26/7/43, FP: -. Ff: Uffz Herbert Ehling 3.Fl.Ausb.Rgt.41/ CC 1/45. Bo: Fw Josef Weikert 2/Fl.A.Rgt.51/43 +. CC 1/46. Bf: Uffz Helmut Niedack Ln.Kp.(mot)Fl.W.B.radom.181 baled out seriously injured. Uffz Helmut Niedack the sole survivor of Ju88 Z6+HH of 1/KG

4 18-19 February The RAF estimate of enemy aircraft operating over the UK was 120. The bombs caused far more casualties than earlier raids; 179 killed, 65 missing and 484 seriously injured. 20 February 1944 Bf109G-6 Wn A6+XH 1(F)120 Failed to return from a reconnaissance of Scapa Flow, Orkney. Ff: Oblt Helmut Quednau lost without trace. Shot down by 602 Squadron Spitfires 50 miles east of Orkney Islands at hrs. Intercepted at 30,000 ft and dived to 4,000 ft, reaching 420 mph IAS. Four feet of the starboard wing was shot off and aircraft span into the sea where it exploded and left burning wreckage on the water February 1944 Do217M-1 Wn U5+CK 2/KG2 Crashed following operations against London near Antwerp. Ff: Lt Karl Schröder 57357/148, Bo: Uffz Hans Witte 57357/144, Bf: Uffz Heinz Seelig 57357/152, Bs: Uffz Karl-Heinz Mazeholleck 57357/165 and Kriegsberichter: Lt Paul Klose 62694/197 all killed February 1944 Ju88 Wn.5556 B3+AL 3/KG54 Shot down by 410 Sqn Mosquito intruder on return from operations over London 5 km south of Juvincourt, France. Ff: Uffz Heinrich Framing 60026/234 killed. Bo: Ogefr Rudolf Kretschmann 60026/244 killed - chute failed. Bf: Ogefr Wolfgang Fischer 60026/242 killed - fell in Aisne Canal and drowned. Bs: Ogefr Walter Bludau 60026/241 injured February 1944 Ju88 Wn B3+VL 3/KG54 Crashed in flames, on return from operations against London. Shot down by 410 Sqn Mosquito intruder 5 km south of Juvincourt, France. Ff: Uffz Rolf Backofen 67184/304, Bo: Ogefr Günther Dube 67184/301, Bs: Gefr Wilhelm Röhr 67184/303 all killed. Bf: Uffz Ernst Hautaman 67184/302 injured. - baled out February 1944 Ju88 6/KG6 Ff: Fw Werner Vogt 73172/249, Bo: Fw Hubert Majchrzak 73172/251, Bf: Ogefr Helmut Klein 73172/256 and Bs: Uffz Alfred Philip 73172/250 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 9/KG6 Crashed on return from operations at Oudenbosch, north of Rosendaal, Holland. Ff: Oblt Erhard Grundmann 62712/88, Bo: Uffz Gustav Schreer 53565/186, Bf: Uffz Paul Wilde 53565/209 and Bs: Gefr Richard Frischholz 53565/211 all killed February 1944 Ju88S-1 Wn Z6+LN 1/KG66 Crew baled out on return from operations against London due to wireless failure and shortage of fuel 3 km south of Le Culot, France. Ff: Fw Volkher Kottmann 57359/306, Bo: Uffz Helmut Werner I/Flak- Hrs.Abt.29/497 and Bf: Fw Franz Buxan 57359/303 all injured February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn Z6+IK 2/KG66 Crashed on take off for operations near Montdidier, France. Ff: Fw Werner Köhler 73172/141, Bo: Uffz Heinz Kreul 73172/159, Bf: Uffz Karl Rachfat 73172/156, Bm: Uffz Kurt Sawatzki 62740/95 and Bs: Ogefr Karl Heese Ln.K.mot.Leith.Kolberg/629 all killed February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn Z6+FK 2/KG66 Ff: Lt Jens Herdtle 2/Fl.Ausb.Rgt.61/1557, Staffel Technical Officer, Bo: Uffz Johann Förstl 65123/170, Bf: Ofw Helmut Leuthold 57357/214, Bm: Ofw Ernst Fehr 62732/53 and Bs: Uffz Erwin Ahlf Ln-Kp.Lbg/425 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88S-1 Wn Z6+IN E Staffel I/KG66 Ff: Lt Walter Steinebronn 3/Fl.A.Rgt.63/2273, Bo: Uffz Matthias Pohl 2/Fl.Ausb.Rgt.21/1696 and Bf: Uffz Walter Obermüller 6/Ln.Rgt/142 all lost without trace. MAP ID 5 (page 1298) Below: This KG2 Ju188 displays the typical camouflage of the period described in the report here as blue grey upper surfaces sprayed with irregular black lines February British Intelligence estimated that 95 enemy aircraft operated over the UK. Many more crews succeeded finding London this time, where 606 fires were started and 216 people killed February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn U5+LN 5/KG2 Park Farm, Wickham St. Paul, Essex hrs. Started from Münster / Handorf aerodrome at hrs to attack London. Attacked from below by a Mosquito night-fighter of 25 Squadron when on the way to the target and hits were received in the port engine which caught fire. All members of the crew baled out and the aircraft broke up in the air and crashed in flames. This aircraft carried a crew of five, the fifth member being an extra gunner. Markings: L in black outlined in red. Werke nummer on the fin Under surfaces were black, the upper surfaces blue grey sprayed with irregular black lines. Engines: BMW 801 G-2. Armament: one MG 131 in dorsal turret, one MG 131 in rear dorsal position, twin MG 81 in ventral armament and a MG 151/20 was forward firing armament. The aircraft was carrying two AB 1,000 incendiary bomb containers plus ten 50 kg phosphorous incendiary bombs. Large quantities of window were found in the wreckage. ID: 57358, & 58214, AW: blue, Fl.H.Kdtr(A)201/VI, 25/2/43, white, Fl.H.Kdtr.10/XI, 18/8/42 & grey, Fl.H.Kdtr(A)12/XI, 21/8/42, FP: L Ff: Lt Ewald Bohe injured. Bo: Ofw Karl Rittgen EKI 57358/51 +. CC 5/318. Bf: Uffz Gunther Güldner EKI injured. Bm: Uffz Wilhelm Pyttel injured. Bs: Gefr Hugo Schweitzer injured. Karl Rittgen baled out but was hit in the legs by gunfire and bled to death

5 20-21 February 1944 Do217K-1 Wn.4592 U5+AR 7/KG2 Ff: Oblt Wolfgang Brendel 69645/214, Bo: Fw Bruno Preker 57358/326, Bf: Ofw Bruno Schneider 69645/209 and Bs: Uffz Heinz Grudssus 57358/354 all lost without trace February 1944 Do217M-1 Wn.6407 U5+HT 9/KG2 Ff: Uffz Walter Schmidt 57359/535 killed - washed ashore at Texel 2/5/44. Bs: Ogefr Heinz Bodzien 57359/475 killed - washed ashore at Sint Maartenszel 4/5/44. Bo: Uffz Fritz Frese 57359/555 and Bf: Ogefr Siegfried Briesning 57359/495 both lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 Wn B3+EH 1/KG54 During return from operations against London the starboard engine failed and the crew baled out over France. Ff: Uffz Helmut Schmidt 67412/288 killed - chute failed. Bo: Gefr Heinrich Hofmann 67412/289, Bf: Uffz Harry Kastaun 67412/290 and Bs: Ogefr Gerhard Bickendorf 67412/291 all injured February 1944 Ju88A-4 Wn.3661 B3+KK 2/KG54 MAP ID 6 (page 1298) 64 / 66, Dagnall Park Road, Selhurst, Croydon, Surrey hrs. Sixteen aircraft of I/KG54 started from Wittmundhafen at hrs, this aircraft carrying two AB 1,000 incendiary bomb containers to attack London. While over London this aircraft was hit by AA fire at 15,000 ft over the target area in the port engine which caught fire and the pilot gave the order to bale out. The pilot failed to escape and the aircraft crashed with the bomb load still on board. Markings: Call sign NI+QU. Engines: Jumo 211 J port MUJ 1523 and starboard MUJ ID: & 63659, AW: grey, Flugplatz Kommando A12/VII, Ingolstadt, FP: L Ff: Ogefr Johann Krettek 63659/75 +. Brookwood, Surrey. Bo: Ogefr Heinz Graf 63626/227. Bf: Uffz Heinrich Gross 63659/96. Bs: Uffz Franz Serwe 63626/228. A series of views of the devastation caused in Dagnall Park Road by Ju88 B3+KK when if fell to earth and exploded on the night of 20/21 February Left: Uffz Franz Serwe poses in front of B3+LK a sister aircraft to B3+KK in which he was shot down on 20/21 February The totenkopf (death s head) emblem of KG54 is visible on the nose

6 20-21 February 1944 Ju88 B3+GK 2/KG54 MAP ID 19 (page 1298) February 1944 Me410A Wn U5+CE 14/KG2 Failed o return from operations against London. Ff: Uffz Walter Scharf 67184/386, Bo: Uffz Karl Pfefferle /770, Bf: Uffz Kurt Jeide 67184/383 and Bs: Ogefr Karl Hantschel 67184/413 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn Z6+DK 2/KG66 Crashed at Sailly-Loretto, France, hrs. Ff: Uffz Alfred Swillims, Bo: Ofw Josef Vollmer 62712/131, Bf: Uffz Ludwig Neuhaus 55930/95 and TB Uffz Max Kopka 53577/517 all killed February 1944 Ju88A-4 Wn B3+MP 6/KG54 At sea - one mile north of Whitstable, Kent hrs. Started about hrs with seven aircraft of their Staffel to attack London carrying two 500 kg HE and ten 50 kg incendiary bombs. At about 12,000 ft over the Thames Estuary very intense AA fire was encountered. As crew were on their first War Flight and unsure of their position, they dropped the bomb load and headed for home. At that moment the tail was hit by AA fire and the pilot gave the order to bale out, the observer doing so with great speed and came down on the shore near Leysdown, on the Isle of Sheppey. He took shelter in an empty look-out post and gave himself up the next morning. An aircraft was seen to come down in the sea. ID: 67184, AW: white, Flugplatzkommando A9/XI Marx, 4 February 1944, FP: L Ff: Uffz Gerhard Klunker +. NKG. Bo: Gefr Gerhard Grosspietsch. Bf: Gefr Harald Meyer 67184/ CC 1/439. Bs: Uffz Helmut Schäfer 67412/ CC 1/180. MAP ID 7 (page 1298) Right: The hole created by the crash of Me410 U5+CE at Bentley Farm. Below: The rear fuselage of U5+CE was about the only section to remain relatively intact. Bentley Farm, Framfield, Sussex hrs. This was one of four aircraft, which was flying about 23,000 ft on a north-west course when it was attacked by a Mosquito night-fighter of 96 Squadron and set on fire. The aircraft went into a steep dive and exploded on impact with the ground, wreckage was scattered over a wide area and only fragments of papers were found. Markings: C in black, outlined in white. Upper surfaces were two shades of grey; the sides of the fuselage were a mottled grey and undersurfaces black. Engines: DB 603 A-2, werke nummer of one maker kwo. ID: -, AW: grey linen, Fl.H.Kdtr.13/XI, 2 January 1944, FP: L Ff: Uffz Reinhard Eggers 62720/57 +. CC 9/45. Bf: Ogefr Stefan Bednorz 62720/58 +. CC 9/45. The observer, although considerably shaken and frightened by his experience resolutely refused to give much information under interrogation February After one night s respite the Luftwaffe returned to London with 155 crews briefed. 81 tons of bombs fell on London, starting 230 fires and causing 29 deaths February 1944 Ju188E-1 Wn U5+IP 6/KG2 MAP ID 8 (page 1298) White House Farm, Stebbing, Essex hrs. This was one of four aircraft that started from Münster / Handorf aerodrome at hrs carrying ten 50 kg incendiaries internally and two large incendiary bomb containers externally, to attack London. The aircraft was hit in the port engine by AA fire and after a steep dive crashed and burned out. The wireless operator managed to bale out at 500 metres, the rest of the crew were killed in the crash. It is believed the pilot was trying to make a belly landing but came in too steeply. A bomb exploded destroying all but the tail end of the fuselage. Markings: Squadron markings; the U5 was painted in dark grey letters five inches high. The letters IP were in black, outlined in yellow. Painted on the fin was the werke nummer and aircraft letters IP. Engines: BMW 801. An interesting point was the recovery of an elevator counter balance weight made of glass. It was ten inches long and five and three quarter inches wide by three inches deep and weighed approximately fifteen pounds. ID: 57358, AW: grey, FPN Amsterdam, 27/6/43, FP: L Ff: Uffz Reinhard Elster 57358/ CC 1/191. Bo: Gefr Harry Dorino +. CC 1/192. Bf: Fw Adolf Heimann EKII Bs: Uffz Ernst Neu +. CC 1/186. Bs: Fw Bernhard Gronau EKII +. CC 1/185. The wireless operator was not at the briefing for the raid but understood that the aiming point for the target would be marked by flares but there were high winds that may affect the accuracy and that crews were to use their own judgment

7 Me410 U5+CE which came down at Bentley Farm, Framfield. Right: The shattered rear gun position of He177 5J+QL in which Gefr Emil Imm (below) was found seriously injured on 22/23 February The tail section fell almost 2 miles away from the main body of the aircraft with Imm being the only survivor February 1944 Me410A U5+ - Q 16/KG2 Andridge Farm, Radnage, Buckinghamshire hrs. This aircraft was observed approaching from the north at low altitude. The engines were heard to rev up and the aircraft suddenly dived into the ground and caught fire. There was no explosion but the wreckage was scattered over a wide area. Believed to have been hit by AA fire. ID: 62688, AW: -, FP: -. Ff: Lt Felix Müller +. CC 5/422. Bf: Gefr Karl-Heinz Borowski 62688/21 +. CC 5/421. MAP ID 9 (page 1298) KG4 s He177s crews were redesignated as KG100 in late 1943, but many of them were slow to replace their KG4 5J+ codes on their aircraft for the correct 6N+ codes of KG100. The unit was determined by Air Intelligence from a fragment of the wireless operator s briefing sheet. The unit can not be determined as German records only give the Feldpostnummer as which was used for both 16/KG2 and 6/KG February 1944 Ju88 9/KG6 Failed to return from operations over London. Ff: Uffz Friedrich Bieberstein 53565/194, Bo: Fw Heinrich Ernst 53565/195, Bf: Fw Karl Landenberger 53565/159 and Bs: Uffz Heinz Exner 53565/196 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88 Wn B3+EN 5/KG54 Ff: Uffz Horst Hechler, Bo: Uffz Harry Möbius 60029/125, Bf: Uffz Adolf Seitz 67164/81 and Bs: Ogefr Heinz Twittenhoff 60029/122 all lost without trace February 1944 Ju88A-4 Wn B3+JP 6/KG54 Buxey Sandbank, ten miles south Brightlingsea, Essex hrs. Believed shot down by a Mosquito night fighter of 410 Squadron. The wreckage was only exposed for a short while at low tide, only being found on 24th February All four crew dead in wreckage. Markings J black outlined in yellow. Black lower surfaces, the upper surfaces being dark green with grey wavy lines superimposed. Engines: Jumo 211 J, werke nummer on one Equipment: FuGe 10P, FuGe 16, FuB1 2f. A balloon cable cutter was fitted to the leading edge of the wing. Ff: Oblt Alfred Simm 60026/ CC 5/412. Bo: Uffz Ewald Langer +. Washed ashore in Holland 17th June Bf: Uffz Erich Kihle 67184/ Found 9th May 1944 and buried at sea. Bs: Uffz Gerhard Daut 67412/ CC 5/ February 1944 He177A-3 Wn J+QL 3/KG100 Wolsey Farm, Yoxford, Suffolk hrs. After a single burst of cannon or MG fire had been heard from the ground, this aircraft crashed and the wreckage was spread over a wide area. The tail unit, containing the rear gunner, landed some two miles away at Park Farm, Kelsale. Markings: The only letter seen was a white Q on a black shield apparently from the side of the nose. Upper surfaces greyish blue sprayed with black strokes. Lower surfaces black. Engines: DB 605, fitted with four bladed metal propellers. MAP ID 10 (page 1298) MAP ID 11 (page 1298) Armament: one MG 151/20 hand operated in tail turret, one MG 151/20 on swivel mounting, hand operated from lower nose, one MG 131 in remote controlled dorsal turret, one MG 81 in swivel mounting in upper nose. Bomb load consisted of two 1000 kg. HE but more could be found. Equipment: Lotfe 7D bombsight and leading edge of mainplane had balloon cable cutter. ID: 55531, AW: blue, Lechfeld, FP: L Ff: Ofw Wolfgang Ruppe 62727/33 +. CC 1/294. Bo: Uffz Georg Lobenz 55531/83 +. CC 1/292. Bf: Uffz Friedrich Beck 53577/ CC 1/295. Bm: Gefr Georg Markgraf 55531/ CC 1/293. Bs: Uffz Ernst Werner 55531/ CC 1/291. Bs (rückseite): Gefr Emil Imm 55531/115 came down in tail unit, seriously injured with broken legs. Believed to have been shot down by a 25 Squadron Mosquito. The aircraft had probably started from Chateaudun as a bordello ticket dated for the 13th January was found on one of the crew, also indicating that the crew belonged to I/KG100 which was based there at the time. KG100 conversion to the He177. At the beginning of the Russian Campaign I/KG 4, equipped with He111s had been operating in the central sector of the front and in the autumn of 1942 the Gruppe was withdrawn to Lechfeld, where conversion to the He177 commenced. The crews, the majority of whom had a large number of operations to their credit were concentrated into the 3rd Staffel which was the first to commence training. Shortly afterwards the 2nd and later the 1st Staffel were formed with crews drawn from II, III and IV/KG 4. Training commenced on He177s of the O series but early in 1943 these were replaced by the A-1s; the A-3 did not appear at Lechfeld until the end of August of that year. Up to September 1943 the Gruppe was still part of KG 4 and the crews under training were still wearing the General Weaver armband. On 1st October the crews were told that the Gruppe had been renamed I/KG100 and the armbands duly removed