A combat report from 431 Sqdn. O.R.B. for the night of March 5th 1945 states that Lancaster SE-D was attacked by an enemy aircraft identified as being HS 219. This fighter made TWO unsuccessful attacks on the Lancaster and after a corkscrew was executed he broke away and was not seen again.Can anyone help with the identification of this fighter as this is the first and only time I have ever seen it recorded. Maybe there is another site I could check?, if you know of one please let me know. Thanks for your help. Bill.
Bill, Try this site, my initial look for this date mentioned does not appear to exist in his databank online. In fact I don't see any charts for 1945. It will be difficult to trace unless you have some times and location and providing the Luftwaffe pilot logged this encounter and if the pilots log book exists. Perhaps email the web master on the site, another source is Marcel Hogenhuis a luftwaffe researcher, again you will have google his name I know he is on a few websites out there. http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm
Bill you might try World War II forums. They have a lot of members from around the world who do research etc. for both sides. I have recently joined and have had some great success with previously unanswered questions. If you have a problem, let me know and I will broach the question for you. Another really good site is 12oclockhigh.com which is more geared to the Luftwaffe side. It was through this site that I actually found out who shot my fathers aircraft down on Aug12/13/44 and who probably shot up his aircraft in December 43.
Hi Bill Consider the possibility of a misprint in the ORB. Putnams German Aircraft of the 2nd World War by Smith and Kay does not list an HS219 but there was a nightfighter by Heinkel designated HE 219 given the name UHU and appearing later in the war Regards Dick
Hi Alan, Thanks for your reply but why I didn't think of this before I really don't know and I should have learned by now ----- YOU WOULD THINK. I took Dick's suggestion first only because it seemed logical now that someone mentioned it and he is absolutelty correct it IS A TYPO. and should read He219. The e looks so much like an s on the original document but after looking at it under a magnifying glass you can just barely make it out correctly. Anyway thanks for your help it's much appreciated.
Hi Leslie, Thanks for your reply to my enquiry. Please see my reply to Alan. I have noted the 12o'clockhigh.com site that you offered just in case it might prove useful in the future. Thanks again.
Hi Dick, As per my reply to Alan you were quite right in your interpretation, a good point to consider in the future "not to take things as they first appear". Thanks again.
A bit of info about the HE-219, Stab I/Nachtjagdeschwasder 1 (NJ1) was the only unit (Gruppe) using the HE219. The attached image is of a HE219 from that unit in June of 1944.
Hi Erich, The time frame on the Combat report states 2156 hours at 16,000 feet, heading 249 degrees, 50.35N Lat. - 12.50E Long. The debrieifing notes put the Lancaster over the target (Chemnitz) at 2152.3 hours so the combat occurred approximately 3 1/2 minutes after that. Another Lancaster crew reported combat with an unidentified aircraft shortly before this one, could possibly have been the same aircraft. The Combat Report from the first one definitely states that the enemy aircraft was an He219.
William the Ju 88G-6 was from NJG 5. only I./NJG 1 had the He 219 and they were not on the Chemnitz raid. III. and IV./NJG 1 were in the north flying Bf 110G-4's. it is the case of simple mis-identification
