Bob Braham vs August Geiger

Never been round Hunsdon, which is a bit criminal, coming from just up the road from Harlow and with all the history of the place, however after being chased off Sawbridgeworth as a kid with some of my mates, I decided that cycling to Stansted was a lot easier, a lot more safer (and a hell of a lot more interesting).

One thing I would (and a lot of others no doubt) like to know is what was the code on the Beaufighter that Braham was flying. Nobody Knows!!! its not in any of the records for Coltishall or 141 Sqn. The only place it could most likely be found is with Brahams Log book, which will be with his Family in Canada, or possibly in one of the Canadian museums. Most of his Serrate missions were flown in this aircraft.

Branse Burbridge aged 92 at the Hunsdon airfield Memorial day 2005.
A terrific gentleman and an honour to meet him.

BigVern,
I had posted that Shores and Williams has Braham’s RO/Nav on this night as Flt.Lt. H Jacobs.
Additionally, only 1 of his 29 victories is noted as being a day victory, a Ju88 on 26th Oct 1942. :confused:

I had a hunch it was Jacko Jacobs, but I was not sure. His other RO/NAv on 141 Sqn was usually F/O Sticks Gregory. Geiger was his last Night Kill in the Beaufighter and was his 20th in total. The other 9 kills were in Mosquitoes while he was on the 2 Group night intruder staff at Bentley Priory. (As usual for 2TAF, the staff officers flew ops regularly. Braham flew 15 total before he was shot down on the 25th June 1944 over Denmark and made a POW. These were 1 day and 2 night bombing and strafing attacks and 12 lone daylight Ranger operations. Most, if not all, of the aircraft that Braham shot down in the Mossie were daylight kills, these included an HE177, a JU 88, two double kill sorties in March 1944 over Denmark and two FW190’s). According to Braham in his book, Brance Burbridge was the top British night killer with 21 night kills.

Braham was accompanied in the aircraft by his Navigator/Serrate/AI Mk 4 operator (no idea of the person in the aircraft at the time as Braham usually flew with one of two Navigators while on 141 Squadron.) and a Major McGovern, (the CO of a USAAF P-38 Lightning Squadron that was located at Wittering and was a good friend of Braham) who had gone along for a ride.

BigVern,
I had posted that Shores and Williams has Braham’s RO/Nav on this night as Flt.Lt. H Jacobs.
Additionally, only 1 of his 29 victories is noted as being a day victory, a Ju88 on 26th Oct 1942. :confused:

Is there more information about ‘Bob’ Breham? As I can remeber he is the most decorated Commen Wealht Pilot! And also one of the higest scoring one.

29 Kills if memory serves (20 at nignt) 2nd top scoring British nignt fighter pilot. Gongs – DSO, DFC, AFC, CD, Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de Guerre.

I have a rather tatty copy of the US paperback version of Braham’s autobiography. I’ve had it since I was ten (38 years) so it’s beginning to get very fragile (as paperbacks often do).

There was also a potted biography of Braham in the 1970s part work “Wings”, which I also have.

Braham died in 1974.

Is there more information about ‘Bob’ Breham? As I can remeber he is the most decorated Commen Wealht Pilot! And also one of the higest scoring one.

Wing Commander J R D (Bob) Braham was flying a Beaufighter VIf X8147 of 141 Squadron based at Wittering, The squadron’s aircraft had however started the sortie from Coltishall, as part of a large scale Serrate / Intruder mission in support of an attack by Bomber Command attack on Bochum in the Ruhr. The force consisting of 7 Beaufighters of 141 Sqn and 6 Mosquitoes (3 from 25 Sqn and 3 from 410 Sqn). Braham and a Flt Lt Forshaw were the first two pilots to depart in Beaufighters at 1930 hours local (Forshaw at 1930, Braham at 1922). The rest of the force failed to take off as the mission was cancelled soon after due to bad weather, Braham and Forshaw did not receive the recall order and proceeded their patrol areas. Forshaw made no contacts and landed back at Coltishall at 2215 hours local. Braham shot down Geigers Me-110 over the Zuider Zee (time unknown from my source, however I have seen it in the Squadron ORB), he then acquired a Ju88, which he engaged, however the cannons on the Beaufighter jammed and the aircraft escaped. Braham was accompanied in the aircraft by his Navigator/Serrate/AI Mk 4 operator (no idea of the person in the aircraft at the time as Braham usually flew with one of two Navigators while on 141 Squadron.) and a Major McGovern, (the CO of a USAAF P-38 Lightning Squadron that was located at Wittering and was a good friend of Braham) who had gone along for a ride. Braham landed at Coltishall at 2215 after having a close shave with Army light flak as the aircraft crossed the Norfolk coast between Hemsbey and Winterton on the return leg. It was Braham last operational flight with the Squadron as Commanding Officer as he was posted to a staff course shortly after. Geiger was also his 20th night victory, taking his night score above that of the then top scoring British night fighter pilot with John ‘Cats Eyes, Cunningham at the time.

Source of information RAF Coltishall ORB for September 1943 and Braham’s autobiography ‘Scramble’ (Published as Night Fighter in the US) which was written in 1961.

Update D*** You. (Sorry boys and girls, curse is at the forum database, not you), Firebird, your last post on this seems to be missing.

Thanks! This afternoon I photographed the wreckage of Geigers 110, including the tailfin of his 110 with a lot of killmarks (almost all with a RAF roundel).It arrived at the ARG museum in Heemskerk some weeks ago. Got me interested in the subject.

BW Roger

Wing Commander J R D (Bob) Braham was flying a Beaufighter VIf X8147 of 141 Squadron based at Wittering, The squadron’s aircraft had however started the sortie from Coltishall, as part of a large scale Serrate / Intruder mission in support of an attack by Bomber Command attack on Bochum in the Ruhr. The force consisting of 7 Beaufighters of 141 Sqn and 6 Mosquitoes (3 from 25 Sqn and 3 from 410 Sqn). Braham and a Flt Lt Forshaw were the first two pilots to depart in Beaufighters at 1930 hours local (Forshaw at 1930, Braham at 1922). The rest of the force failed to take off as the mission was cancelled soon after due to bad weather, Braham and Forshaw did not receive the recall order and proceeded their patrol areas. Forshaw made no contacts and landed back at Coltishall at 2215 hours local. Braham shot down Geigers Me-110 over the Zuider Zee (time unknown from my source, however I have seen it in the Squadron ORB), he then acquired a Ju88, which he engaged, however the cannons on the Beaufighter jammed and the aircraft escaped. Braham was accompanied in the aircraft by his Navigator/Serrate/AI Mk 4 operator (no idea of the person in the aircraft at the time as Braham usually flew with one of two Navigators while on 141 Squadron.) and a Major McGovern, (the CO of a USAAF P-38 Lightning Squadron that was located at Wittering and was a good friend of Braham) who had gone along for a ride. Braham landed at Coltishall at 2215 after having a close shave with Army light flak as the aircraft crossed the Norfolk coast between Hemsbey and Winterton on the return leg. It was Braham last operational flight with the Squadron as Commanding Officer as he was posted to a staff course shortly after. Geiger was also his 20th night victory, taking his night score above that of the then top scoring British night fighter pilot with John ‘Cats Eyes, Cunningham at the time.

Source of information RAF Coltishall ORB for September 1943 and Braham’s autobiography ‘Scramble’ (Published as Night Fighter in the US) which was written in 1961.

Thanks! This afternoon I photographed the wreckage of Geigers 110, including the tailfin of his 110 with a lot of killmarks (almost all with a RAF roundel).It arrived at the ARG museum in Heemskerk some weeks ago. Got me interested in the subject.

BW Roger

According to the Osprey book on German Nightfighter Aces by Jerry Scutts, on the night of 29/30 September 1943, Wg Cdr ‘Bob’ Braham shot down 53 victory Experte Hptm. Gieger of NJG1, and was Braham’s 20th victory, and the last one scored with the Beaufighter.
[This is also confirmed in Braham’s entry in the Shores & Williams ‘Aces High’ book.]
Gieger, baled out of his Bf.110G over the Zuider Zee, but was drowned when his parachute dragged him under.
The previous month Braham had also accounted for 2 other NJG.1 Experten on the same night, Heinz Vinke (54 victories) and Georg Kraft (14 victories). Vinke was later posted MIA in Feb 1944.