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ssg keay

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  • in reply to: Lancaster ops route query 1943 #1147684
    ssg keay
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    I noticed some things that make no sense in reference to von Bonin’s three victories that night. If his first kill was at Wascheid, near Pruem, at 0220 hours, which is in the Eifel region of Northrhein Westphalia, then I don’t think he could have made it to his second kill at 0240 S.E. of Darmstadt, which I still have not figured out which aircraft that was supposed to have been. Now if he did indead score the 0240 kill S.E. of Darmstadt, then the 0243 shoot-down of JB221 could have happened as stated. I then also believe that the crew of JB221 saw von Bonin shoot down the other aircraft (Halifax) and might have changed course because of that. In order for von Bonin to have scored twice in three minutes, the two bombers must have been in close proximity of each other and von Bonin’s radar operator (or ground station operator) must have had an immediate vector for JB221 after shooting down the Halifax.
    Also of interest is that a well known website, which we are not allowed to mention, or refer to in here has von Bonin shooting down 76 Sqdn. Halifax LK687, 15km N.W. of Wuerzburg (no time mentioned). So either he scored four times that night, or the Pruem one was not von Bonin, or something else is incorrect. To many missing pieces in this puzzle, arggg. Danny

    in reply to: Lancaster ops route query 1943 #1148727
    ssg keay
    Participant

    JB221 was shot down at 0242 hours local time by Eckhardt-Wilhelm von Bonin, Commander of II./NJG1. JB221 was one of three bombers von bonin shot down that night.
    I assume JB221 was either enroute from leg 4 to 5, or 5 to 6. According to eyewitness statements she came from the north, so I am leaning more from 4 to 5. Most likely the crew either cut that leg short and turned south early, or they knew they were being stalked.
    It seems she was hit at around 4000 meters altitude and then went down rapidly, as the eyewitness stated he saw the tracer rounds, then an explosion in the sky and then the aircraft impacted soon thereafter.
    Hopefully insite into von Bonin’s combat log (which should happen soon) should clear this up for good. Danny

Viewing 2 posts - 16 through 17 (of 17 total)