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#OTD eighty years ago a lone Ju88 (7A+AM) from 4(F)/121 took off from Carpiquet on a weather recce mission... a little thread
Four crew on board:
Lt Böttscher (pilot)
Fw Vater (observer)
Uffz Müller (radio op)
Uffz Rabe (gunner)
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Four crew on board:
Lt Böttscher (pilot)
Fw Vater (observer)
Uffz Müller (radio op)
Uffz Rabe (gunner)
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This is 32-year old Theodor Vater. This and (most of) the following images are from his niece and her husband. The latter, Dr Pluder(+), spent some happy times fruit picking/packing in Leverington after the war...small world. Anyway, I digress...as usual...
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Theodor was into the whole flying thing before the war, starting with gliders /3
Before moving on to aircraft with engines. /4
Called up in 1939, Theodor moved through France in the wake of the invasion, ending up in Normandy.
It could have been worse, he and his chums spent a bit of time up on the coast in Cabourg.... /5
It could have been worse, he and his chums spent a bit of time up on the coast in Cabourg.... /5
Their home was the very pleasant Chateau de Verson, just outside Caen, which gives a nice opportunity for a little #ThenAndNow /6
The fifteen crews of 4(F)/121 spent hardly any time on the airfield at Carpiquet, being shuttled to and from for each mission, remaining "aloof from other units stationed at Caen".
So... back to today 80 years ago... this sole 'plane took off, completed its mission /7
So... back to today 80 years ago... this sole 'plane took off, completed its mission /7
..sent back a radio message but was then intercepted by Spitfires of A Flight, 234 Sqn. Two men pilots shared the shooting down of the Ju88, F/O Terence Kane (Red 2) /8
.. and Sgt Alan Harker (Red 1).
Having spotted the Ju88, Harker attacked out of the sun with two long bursts at 100 to 150 yards. Pieces of cockpit glazing flew from the Ju88 and it turned on its side entering a gentle dive. Harker's ammunition exhausted, Kane took over /9
Having spotted the Ju88, Harker attacked out of the sun with two long bursts at 100 to 150 yards. Pieces of cockpit glazing flew from the Ju88 and it turned on its side entering a gentle dive. Harker's ammunition exhausted, Kane took over /9
..firing two one-second bursts at 200 then 100 yards. Its starboard engine on fire, the Ju88 continued diving before crashing into the sea. No survivors were seen by the RAF pilots.
However, all four crew -all wounded except for Rabe- managed to get out and into a dinghy /10
However, all four crew -all wounded except for Rabe- managed to get out and into a dinghy /10
and released some yellow dye, which Vater recalled stayed on them for ages..
They were picked up by a British trawler and taken prisoner on its return.
Theodor Vater's new home became the PoW camp at Glenn Mill, Oldham. In the material sent by his niece were some sketches /11
They were picked up by a British trawler and taken prisoner on its return.
Theodor Vater's new home became the PoW camp at Glenn Mill, Oldham. In the material sent by his niece were some sketches /11
They're not signed but presumably done by Theodor, using card packaging or whatever else was to hand. Quite the talent, it seems /12
Some more... /13
Vater was later transferred to Canada before returning to Germany after the war.
In an odd twist of fate, F/O Terence Kane was shot down himself the next day over the English Channel and was in turn picked up by the Germans, spending the rest of the war as a PoW. /14
In an odd twist of fate, F/O Terence Kane was shot down himself the next day over the English Channel and was in turn picked up by the Germans, spending the rest of the war as a PoW. /14
Couple of links.... /15 http://aircrashsites.co.uk/038/
