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Post Info TOPIC: The Raid on Watten
Coffey


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The Raid on Watten
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On the night of July 5th/6th 1944 my Dad and his crew were part of the attacking force on the the V1 rocket installation at Watten. They were with the 405 PFF Squadron, flying a Lanc MK III . Shortly after leaving the target, approx. 0030 hours, they were attacked by a JU88, and WAG Ted Rutherglen was injured by shattered Perspex. The midupper ( Ken Hart) and rear gunner (Bob McWhirter) returned fire and the nightfighter broke off the attack. They limped home, but their Lanc M Mother was a write off.

   Does anyone know if it is possible to find a Luftwaffe report on this encounter? I have heard that the book  "Nachtjaeger War Diaries" is amazing , but the price of a copy is astronomical. Is there an online resource anyone can recommend?

Ideally , it would be amazing to find out the Luftwaffe pilot's name, and to read his combat report.

Many thanks in advance for any help, Clint.



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MikeH


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Hi Clint,

there is no Luftwaffe victory claim in the Nachtjagd War Diaries for a Lancaster of 405 Squadron 5/6 July 44.

 

It's possible the archives at Freiburg may hold luftwaffe combat reports.

https://www.bundesarchiv.de/bundesarchiv/dienstorte/freiburg/index.html.en

 

Mike



-- Edited by MikeH on Friday 22nd of January 2016 01:54:37 AM

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John W


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Hi Clint,

 

I have sent a request to Theo Boiten direct to see if he has anything. What was the number of your Dad's aircraft?

 

Regards,

 

John.



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Coffey


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Mike and John, thanks very much for digging into this.

  Dad and his crew were flying a Lancaster III, coded LQ-M ( PB412 , although not positive on this).



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John W


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Hi Clint,

I got a reply from Theo this morning, he can't find a match for this claim by a night fighter. If you could supply a bit more detail like the time and place of the attack, even if it was before they bombed or after would help him narrow it down.

 

Regards,

John.

 



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Coffey


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Hi, thanks in advance for your help!

   The Coffey crew bombed at 0028 hours, and Bob McWhirter , the rear gunner, told me the attack came shortly after leaving the target. He spotted the JU88 trying to " sneak up on them". The initial attack shattered the canopy and partially destroyed their hydraulics and electrical systems....both gunners left without electric gunsights, and Bob recalls spraying his machine gun fire " like a garden hose" to try and drive the fighter off....it must have worked as the attack was broken off. Ken Hart , the mid upper gunner, told his brother after the war that the JU88 had followed them for awhile after the attack. Gun problems of his own perhaps? Waiting to see if his initial attack would have some further effect...?  I'm afraid that is all the details I have at this time. 

   Cheers, Clint. 



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John W


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Hi Clint,

Thanks mate I'll pass on what you have to Theo and get back to you.

Regards,

 

John.



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John W


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Hi Clint,

Theo can find no match for this attack,nor probable or possible. Sorry mate looks like it will stay a mystery.

 

Regards,

 

John.



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Coffey


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I much appreciate your efforts, John - it was worth a try ! Please thank Theo for me as well . Many mysteries in my Dad's logbook, some I have been able to shed some light on, many are lost in the "fog of war"....but it is lots of fun looking ! 

Cheers, Clint. 



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John W


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Hi Clint,

 

Do you have a crew photo of your Dad & his crew? If could you contact me on harleyDOT158ATbigpondDOTcom replace the DOT & AT with the usual.

 

Regards,

 

John.



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Adriano Silva Baumgartner

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CLINT,

 

Those are the night-claims, as recorded on Tony Wood's list (here:https://web.archive.org/web/20130928070316/http://lesbutler.co.uk/claims/tonywood.htm)

Night: 5-6. July 1944

 

JaFü II. Jagdkorps/Lfl. 3:

 

 

 

 

06.07.44 Fw. Koch 1./JG 301 4-mot. Flzg. 05 Ost N/MD-8: 3.900 m. [Calais] 00.38 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr. -

06.07.44 Uffz. Schneider 3./NJG 3 4-mot. Flzg. 05 Ost N/ND at 2.700 m. [Blanc Nez] 00.32 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.107

06.07.44 Hptm. Werner Husemann Stab I./NJG 3 4-mot. Flzg. MD-ME: 3.000 m. [Dover Straits] 00.35 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.25

06.07.44 Oblt. Riedlberger 1./NJG 4 Lancaster 05 Ost N/ME-1 at 1.800 m. [Goodwins] 00.41 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.31

06.07.44 Uffz. Schlomberg 3./NJG 3 4-mot. Flzg. 05 Ost N/LE at 2.000 m. [N.E. Channel] 00.43 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.108

06.07.44 Fw. H. Müller 2./JG 301 Halifax 05 Ost N/NC-6 at 1.800 m. [off Gris Nez] 00.44 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: ASM

06.07.44 Fw. Koch 1./JG 301 4-mot. Flzg. Dünkirchen at 4.000 m. 00.45 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.10

06.07.44 Fw. Lohmann 7./NJG 1 4-mot. Flzg. 05 Ost N/DL-8: 80 m. [Waddenzee] 01.21 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.59

06.07.44 Ofw. Strohheim 2./NJG 1 Fortress II Raum Rotterdam at 8.000 m. 01.42 Film C. 2027/II Anerk: Nr.107

06.07.44 Uffz. Illner 6./KG 51 2-mot. Flzg.

Coffey


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Thanks Adriano for the link to this site. Very interesting.



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