Mossie/Bf109 claim over Berlin, 29/1/44

Erich asked on another thread about any 100 Group Mosquito claims for a Bf109 in early 1944.

Obviously, due to the conditions, nightfighter claims as to type of aircraft are notoriously vague. However, single-seater claims by Mosquitoes are fairly rare. So - a quick check of the claims list in Martin W Bowman's bok 'de Havilland Mosquito' ( Crowood, 1997 ) reveals only one such claim in early 1944 : -

'28/29.1 Mosquito II HJ941 'X' 141 Squadron Bf109 Nr Berlin : F/O H E White DFC + F/O M S Allen DFC' ( p.175 ).

This is good news because Michael Allen DFC** has written one of the best RAF nightfighter memoirs, 'Pursuit Through Darkened Skies' ( Airlife, 1999 ).

Mike Allen devotes nearly two pages to this victory ( pp. 163/164 ) as it was a significant one for this crew ; breaking a 'fruitless spell' from September 1943.

Here is the official Combat Report, quoted in full in the book ; -

'On reaching target ( Berlin ) at 03:40 hrs an AI contact was obtained at 20 degrees to starboard and 500 feet below at 18000 feet range. Mosquito was then at 22,000 feet. Mosquito chased the enemy aircraft for two minutes, closing the range to 2000 feet, when a second AI contact was observed 2000 feet astern. Our aircraft orbited hard to port, losing both contacts.

At 03:42, another backward looking contact was obtained 5000 feet astern. Mosquito orbited and obtained another head-on AI contact at 11,000 feet ( height 23,000 feet ). At the same time pilot obtained a visual from this range ( roughly two miles ) of a green light on an enemy aircraft's starboard wing. Mosquito turned in behind enemy aircraft, which appeared blissfully ignorant of our aircraft's presence, and took no evasive action beyond a gradual loss of height to 18,000 feet. Our Pilot closed the range to 600 feet identifying the aircraft as a single engined aircraft ( probably an Me109 ). He then opened fire from astern and below, giving a five second burst. Enemy aircraft burst into flames and exploded and was seen to dive vertically, still burning, through haze. The time was 03:45 and the height 18,000 feet. Claimed as one Me109 destroyed'.

We fired 70 rounds from each cannon and there were no stoppages.'

Whether it's the one Erich is looking for - I don't know. But it's interesting to read a vivid description of a 100 Group intercept. Mike Allen's book is a classic of its kind and I highly recommend it.

 

Excellent Martin very useful info for my data files on JG 301.

found out as I dug further that 605 sqdn Mossie(s) were responsible for the deep Intruder penetration into Bayern on the March 44 date, the same sqdn that lost 1 Intruder Mossie to my cousin and his crew flying of all things a Do 217N-1 over Sylt back in August of 1943, 605 sqdn was quite active over the coastal fields for a couple weeks

 

A Do-217.....just goes to show that in nightfighting, anything can be deadly if it's in the right place at the right time.....

 

what is interesting to me is that Hans even caught the Mossie Intruder with a much slower crate. a big long bathtub