Great thread. I am following it with much interest, as I see are many others.

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PEOPLE SLEEP PEACEABLY IN THEIR BEDS AT NIGHT ONLY BECAUSE ROUGH MEN STAND READY TO DO VIOLENCE ON THEIR BEHALF. GEORGE ORWELL

Hello,

Erich, or anyone else familiar with German Nachtjäger files, can you explain the entries "Viermot" under "A/C type" at this site documenting Heinz Rökker's flying career.

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/rokker.html

E.W. Campbell

"Viermot" would be "Four Engine".....An unidentified (type-wise) four engined bomber.

Stevin

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

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www.basher82.nl

Stevin is absolutely right...the term 'viermot' was used particularly at night due to difficulty of differentiating between a Lancaster or Halifax, or indeed a Stirling.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

yes very true when an unidentified machine RAF was shot down or damaged it was recoreded by the staffel or Greuppe and Geschwader recorder as a Viermot or 4-mot. 4-mot or viermot was used in the pilots flugbuch and was written in either way.

Viermot was also used for Day time bombers especially US heavies more as a grouping when attacked Viermots or Schwere pulks, Dicke Autos, etc ......

In line with this:

As a location of a claim is stated "FuF ida".....This is a radarstation I assume. Does anybody know where ths was?

I look into a crash near Weert on 23/24 Sept 1944. The plane was definately shot down by a night fighter, but TW's claimlist doesn't mention a claim for this night in that Gradnetz location. The only location I haven't ID'd is "FuF ida"....

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

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www.basher82.nl

looking at the maps if I can find them, radar, radio installation or light beacon

Stevin :

Two Luftwaffe facilities based at this location in which "Otto" was based 50 miles almost due east. "IDA" was north of Niedermendig and S.E. of Bonn-Hangelar.

At the location were Schweres Leuchtfeuer and Schweres Funkfeuer.

Will look for the quadrant that is was located in soon.

E ~

Good Evening,

Dad's friend and neighbour, Dieter, has finished translating the letter to Leutnant Straßner. We appreciate the help with this task. The letter is pasted below.
Erich, or anyone else with knowledge of German, may be able to help with the fine-tuning of this translation. The term "Radio Operator" for instance.
When completed Dad will be sending this message to Oberleutnant Heinz Rökker, hopefully he will be able to forward the message to Leutnant Straßner

Erich, I believe Dad is sending you a PM re. this letter.
E.W. Campbell

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Herr Strassner:

Koennte es sein das weir uns schon einmal getroffen haben? Es ist moeglich. Der folgene
Bericht fuehrt zu der Stunde Mitternacht am 28.July 1944.
Lancaster A2 C vom RAF Squadron 514war auf einem suedoestlichen Kurs suedlich von
Chateaudun richtung Orleans.
Wir waren in einer Wolkenlage die nur 150Meter dick war und verdunstete.Der Radio
operator gab bekannt das ein Flugzueg auf uns von hinten zu kahm.Es wurde langsamer
zu unserer Geswindigheit und dann behielte die Position. Ein oder Zwei weitere
Flugzeuge erschienen dann und nahmen die beiden seitwerts position auf. Unsere
"Gunners" waren zu diesem Punkt noch nicht in der Lage die Flugzeuge auf dem
Bildschirm zu sehen.
Ploetlich kamen wir aus den Wolken ins klare bei Mondschein.Der hintere "Gunner"
schrie "Fighter Port Go" Waerend zur selben zeit Schuesse auf unserem Flugzeug
bemerkbar waren. Die zwei rechten Motoren von unserem Fluzeug figen feuer weil die
Brennstoff Tanks getroffen waren.Unser Fenster sowie mein DR Compass waren
verloen. Ich habe gesehen es sah aus wie ein JU 88. Ein zweiter Angriff zerstoerte
unseren inneren Motor.
Ich hatte unsere Crew darauf aufmerksam gemacht, zieht Fallschirm an und kurz danach
"Verlasst Fugzeug und springt".Wir hatten einen zweiten Piloten den Abend der schwer
verletzt war in dem Angriff der am folgenden Tag starb.Unser "Navigator" hatte Bein
verletzungen und konnte nicht laufen und wurde Kriegsgefangener.Der rest von uns
kamen von der gefangenshaft davon und mit Hilfe der Wiederstands Arbeiter waren wir
in der lage zurueck nach England zu kommen.
Wir flogen ein "Mark 2 Lancaster" mit Bristol Hercules Radial Motoren.Aus diesem
Grunde wurden wir oftmals als Halifax Bomber identifiziert.Beide Flugzeuge hatten
Aehnliche Silhouetten besonders von hinten.
Einige von uns fanden ein "sicheres Haus" in der Nache von einem Flugplatz.Ju88
Flieger sahen wir starten hier ueber unsere Koepfe. Die Raeder drehten sich noch.An der
Spitze waren Antennen gebaut. Die Startbahn war gerade oestlich von uns.
Wir waren eine erfahrene Gruppe auf unsere 25 ten mission. Wir hatten zahlreiche
Angriff von verschiedenen Fugzeug Typen ueberlebt. Ich moechte hierbei aber sagen
dass das Flugzeug das uns zerstoehrt hat in guten,trainerten und coordinierten Haenden
war fuer den Angriff auf uns. Mein Compliment fuer Sie.
Ich hoffe dieser Bericht ist interessant fuer Sie.

Flugleutnant E.A. Campbell RCAF (Ret.)

Erich: I see Wayne has already posted the translation. If you wish to add anything further to be sent to Heinz Roekker send it to me and I will include it. My log book shows for July 15/44 two attacks. One a Me410 and one a Me210. Our T/O time was 21:45 and duration 6:15. Target was Charlons-sur-Marne. Not much to go on but but does anyone have further information on these attacks?
Thanks to all the helping hands.
Cheers E.A. Campbell

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you both have done well Wayne/Alex and thank dieter for me and I apoligize that I was not able to translate for you.

radio operator could be simply Bordfünker and he will understand although German translation is radar operator. Funk could easily be tranalted device or radio.

for the event on the night of 15 July 44 it may well have been a Me 410 from KG(J) 51 or 54 although both units flying very dark grey 410's were on Fernenachtjagd - free hunts as intruders over England.

Bf 110G-4's and Ju 88G-1's were active from NJG 4 and 5 and also Bf 109G-6's from I./JG 301.

3 claims made by I./NJG 5, 2 claims made by Stfw. Kollak of III./NJG 4 at 01.54 hjrs and 2.05hrs

Hauptmann Söthe claimed 2 Lancs and Leutnant Fensch claimed a lancaster, both pilots from II./NJG 4 and in your time frame Alex from what I can discern

Erich

BTW Thanks Erich for that location. It is nowhere near Weert, which is Gardnetz "05 Ost S MM".

The search continues!

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

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www.basher82.nl

Brief update to lancaster 514 sqdn. I have finally dispatched the letter to Heinz Roekker (in German) concerning July 28/44. Let us hope both Heinz and Herr Strassner are in good health and able to make contact (friendly) with us. More night fighters. May 19/44 near Lemans. Take off 22:50 duration 4hrs 50 mins. Two attacks by Me 109 and one by FW 190.
May 22/44- Absolute nightmare. Take off 22:55 duration 4hrs 25 mins.Fighters were Me109 and FW190. Logged 12 fighter attacks!
Most were by 109's. A Luftwaffe Major Gerhard Doehler told me he had attacked a Lancaster over Dortmund that night at 01:15 May 23 in a FW190. I hope this does not tax your search equipment too far. Hope for the future, Cheers EA Campbell

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sorry Alex but nothing from any sngle engine unit for the 19 of May 44.

for the 22nd a huge operation, Fw 190A-6 flown by Hauptmann Frid. Müller of 1./NJGr 10 claimed 2 Lancasters for his 21-22nd victories.

JG 301 did nothing.

JG 300 few over Dortmund and Braunschweig as well as part of II./JG 302 flying Bf 109G-6's.

4 claims by Bf 109G-6 pilots of I./JG 300
6 claims for II./JG 300 and their Fw 190A-7's and A-8's.
III./JG 300 Bf 109G-6's claimed 4 RAF heavies. the III. gruppe was actually vectored in the wrong direction at first.

II./JG 302 I have nothing but only text on the next day's mission against B-17's of the US 15th AF along with Bf 110G-2's of II./ZG 1 out of Wels Austria.

v/r Erich ~

Thank you Erich. I'm aware of your busy schedule and
possibly stressful times. Greatly appreciated. EAC

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A prompt but brief reply from Heinz Roekker arrived today. It reads-

Dear Mr. Campbell,

Mein Staffeloffizier Johannes Strassner ist am 3. September 1998 verstorben.

(Signed here by H.Roekker)
A bit disappointing but to be expected.
Cheers EAC

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Alex this was the only reply that Heinz gave you ? that's strange. Well at least we know what has happened to Herr Straßner . . .

Erich

For those of you who have been following this attempt to find, and communicate with, the pilot who attacked Lancaster A2-C July 28, 1944 you will know that Heinz Rokker has informed us that Lt. Strassner died in 1998. As my dad said " A bit disappointing but to be expected." Still, very exciting to have been able to identify Lt. Strassner as the pilot and a great demonstration of the power of the Internet. Thanks to all of you who contributed to this quest.
We may be able to find out more. Perhaps Lt. Strassner's log book still exists and there are some details there that may be of interest, or another crew member is still alive. Did the JU88 carry a crew of 3? Heinz Rokker provided Dad with some faster methods of communicating, other then regular mail.

I have recorded some conversations with my father about that period from July 28, 1944 while he was an evader in France. During the summer of 1944 dad joined a large group of allied flyers, all down behind enemy lines, in Freteval Forest, not far from Le Mans France. The French underground supported these flyers and it is a fascinating, and not well known, story. I have started recording some of Dad's recollections from that period and have them posted here:
http://hila-store.webcentre.ca/ww2/

These are audio, mp3, files. We will add more as they become available.

E. Wayne Campbell

E.Wayne :

Leutnant Straßners Bordfunker was Feldwebel Hans Hahn, Bordmechanik was Gefreiter Pareidt

Hans Hahn has passed away. Pareidt . . ? no idea

wonder if the two of you could send me a private with the additional info that Heinz sent in regard to the July 44 downing ?

thanks E

Erich,

That was the complete message, very short.
The only additional information was a fax and phone number - you may already have these. Dad is planning to continue the communication with Heinz Rokker. We will certainly keep you informed.

All the best, E.Wayne Campbell

Erich,

I assume Bordmechanik was the equivelant of a Flight Engineer what role did the Bordfunker have?

E. Wayne

thank you

as I stated earlier, Heinz is a great guy and will do his best to help out . . .

yes Bordmechanik is flight engineer taking care of other duties within the cockpit and using the single mg 131 rearward armament if need be.

Bordfunker is radar operator

E

Hello Mr Campbell, I live near Orleans and Chateaudun. I have traced most crashes from the Stuttgart Operations and can confirm several things. Strassner shot down JI-C2 near St Cloud en Dunois at 00.01. I am certain of this because I organised a commemoration for the crash near Orleans at 00.14 (claimed by H. Rokker ) I have a copy the fighting report, and eye witnesses to confirm that the 00.14 claim on July 29th (some sources say 28th but we now know it was just after midnight). a summary of the story of this crash can be read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/s...4342826.shtml.
I would love to share my info with you

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