in the 2nd TAF. I think Martin and maybe others have the Classic pubs volumes 1 and 2 right now. am wondering what the 409th nfs was equipped with in December of 44 and also the reprot of the evening of December 27/28 1944 if possible... ? Stevin O. and myself have been emailing each other about the eves events and the large losses incurred by the German night fighter force on night ground attack. It appears from the indications that one particular 409th nfs Mossie crew was quite successful on the night with 2 kills and another Ju 88G damaged............any info gents ? thank you Erich ~
I could not find much on 409 squadron except that it shot down 10 V-1's at night with Mosquitos. Read about 50% down the page. http://www.airforce.forces.ca/hist/ww_2_e.asp Hope you are feeling better.
Here are the aircraft flown by the Nighthawks; Defiant NFI (July 1941 - September 1941) Beaufighter II (August 1941 - June 1942) Beaufighter VIF (June 1942 - August 1944) Mosquito XIII (April 1944 - June 1945) The most prominent tally for one night that I found was Triple Victory 23/24 April 1945, Mosquito XIII HK429 KP-D from Rheine with F/O E. Hermanson and F/L D. Hamm (navigator) patrol; credited with 2 Ju.87's and 1 Fw.190 destroyed.
Gents many thanks, it pays to sit around the house, do nothing with a blanket over your head drinking hot tea and observing the forums on occasion. Still feel like s***, but it will pass in time. well it appears the crew of Britten and Fownes shot down two Ju 88G-6's, the other craft being damaged was on another date. Destruction of two Junkers near Kaldenkirchen, one of the was a Ju 88G-6 werk. nummer 620591 from 3./NJG 2. Pilot Unteroffizier Artur Schlichter and BF Obergefreiter Manfred Keßler (Bailed out) ? wounded and the third crewmemember was unhurt, (bailed out) ?, no name for him at present. the other Ju 88G-6 I cannot find anything at present. Accounts as follows: For 27/28 December, first claim is: "Time 2235. E/A was found at about 4,000 feet, altitude, being identified from 1,000 feet range when at 2,000 feet altitude. Fire opened from 700 feet, producing strikes on the fuselage and tail unit and causing fire to break out in the fuselage, and as the e/a dived away more strikes were seen. The e/a/ then hit the ground and exploded." Sources are RCAF Historian Hugh Halliday, with aircraft registration from "Mosquito". Squadron letter from "de Havilland Mosquito." Time and location from AIR 50/140-9. For the second of the two claims on 27/28 December: "Time 2325. Target was identified from 300 feet directly below, the aerials being clearly visible. It was flying at about 2,500 feet and taking mild evasive action. Mosquito pulled up to dead astern, 200 feet range, and fired a 1/2-second burst which caused debris to fly off. The e/a then dived straight into the ground near Kaldenkirchen. Only 120 rounds, 60 each of SAPI and HEI, were fired by the Mosquito in shooting down two aircraft." Sources are again Hugh Halliday, with aircraft registration from "Mosquito". Squadron letter from "de Havilland Mosquito," which spells location as Kaltenkirchen. Time and location from AIR 50/140-9.
Oh - I wasn't paying attention and nearly missed this one. Martin W Bowman's Mosquito Air-to-Air Victory list cites Britten & Fownes' aircraft as Mosquito XIII MM466 'G'.
...only the very briefest of mentions on pp368/369 of Vol. 2. The claim is listed as :- '22:35 / 409 Sqn / Mosquito XIII MM466 G / F/O R I E Britten/F/L L E Fownes / Ju88 - Maeseyek Ju88 - Kaldenkirchen ' There's another one listed a little earlier : ' 22:00 / 410 Sqn / Mosquito XXX MM788 / F/O w G Dinsdale/F/O J E Dunn / Ju88 - Helchteren'
thanks Martin, sad that it is so brief. Stevin has been a tremendous help with his research, gents will keep you informed as I have a chp living in the province and is going to try and hunt the two crewmen down for me ..... thanks all, hopeful more coming soon
I can't find Helchteren. My on-line map directs me to Slochteren in the far North East in Holland. Way out of the way of Also this might be just a claim as no German planes came down in this area on this night....AFAIK.....
