Strana 21
Kraft. The actual shooting times are exactly the
same and so are the location data. Fortunately,
the four-member crew was rescued from
a burning machine on parachutes, which
saved the embarrassing session of the court
martial. Lieutenant Colonel Sepp Kraft is
depressed. But I can‘t hide some mischief, and
I‘m just noticing by the way: well, so you were
wrong about the ox with the horse! Once again,
whoever laughs last laughs the best! ”
The Red Army Air Force used the B-25
Mitchell during this period to supply partisan
units. Crews III./NJG 6 were alerted to the
presence of Do 217 N in the common operating
area. A similar concept of the B-25 and Do 217
types - two engines, a double rudder - created
a precondition for confusion in the darkness of
night. The pilots had a B-25 model, on which
they could study its silhouette from different
angles. They realized that extra care would be
needed to identify the adversary.
Some pilots admitted the possibility of
confusion more, others less. Oblt. Kraft
was one of them: “Mitchell from Do 217 must
recognize an infant!“
Fortunately for all involved, this incident
had no consequences. Shot down Do 217 N,
belonging to II./NJG 101, was the only loss of
the Luftwaffe in this deployment against the
RAF.
According to Wilhelm Johnen‘s memory,
members of III./NJG 6 made 16 winning claims.
The number of officially confirmed shots was
realistic and corresponded to the total losses
of the Royal Air Force.
Two Dornier Do-217N night fighters were lost
that night by 6./NJG 101, stationed in Parndorf,
in the area of western Bohemia (the villages
of Konratice and Horní Planá), but not due
to combat deployment but due to adverse
weather and technical problems.
Crew Uffz. Kornen Günter and Obgf. Müller
Georg died near the village of Konratice,
district České Budějovice.
The second crew pilot Uffz. Hans Werner
Schmidt, Bordfunker Uffz. Heinz Jansen and
on-board mechanic Obgf. Wilhelm Knufer went
to the ground after their machine was struck
by lightning. The pilot and the Bordfunker
escaped with injuries, but the fire broke out.
The mechanic died in the wreckage after he
failed to jump out and use the parachute silk.
The plane had to explode in the air as the
debris is located in a large perimeter from the
presumed epicenter of the impact in the Český
Krumlov district.
Conclusion
The attack on the Shell refinery in Budapest
was far from the last. Several more times,
American and British bombers reached the
capital of Hungary, but also other targets,
whether in Hungary or the whole occupied
Europe, in order to attack not only the oil-
processing industry, which was the basis
A visual aid for German fighters, depicting the weaknesses and defense of the Vickers Wellington bomber.
HISTORY
INFO Eduard
21
October 2024