In the early hours of the morning on 19/iv/44, while several aircraft of 488(NZ) Squadron were returning from a successful number of patrols, it was reported that a disabled Mosquito was heading for Bradwell Bay to effect a crash landing. An Emergency Team comprising fire tenders and an ambulance stood by to assist, and the squadron’s Mosquitos who had not yet landed circuited to keep the runway clear. The aircraft performed a belly landing. Much to the surprise of W/Cdr Haine, the crew who scrambled out of the burning aircraft were in fact German! Closer inspection identified the aircraft as a Junkers Ju88 (B3+PL) of 3KG54 which had been damaged by AA fire during a bombing raid on London. The 4 airmen were taken to the guard room, where one who required medical assistance was treated.
W/Cdr Haine tried to claim one Ju88 “captured” to add to the Squadron’s tally, but this was rejected!
The photo below, taken from Broody’s journal (including his original caption) shows the aircraft the following morning.
Recent contact with Melvin Brownless of the Aircrew Remembrance Society allows me to identify the 4 German aircrew who landed at Bradwell Bay this morning as:
Pilot: Unteroffizier. Heinz Brandt. 67412/305
Observer: Unteroffizier. Maximillian Oppel. 67412/306
Radio/Op: Obergefreiter. Walter Kobusch. 67412/307
Gunner: Gefreiter. Heinz Oberwinter. 67412/308
Heinz Brandt (© Croft via Kobusch)
Maximillian Oppel (© Brownless via Rotter)
Walter Kobusch pictured in Gettysburg POW camp, U.S.A. POW No. 103346 (© Croft via Kobusch)
Heinz Oberwinter (© Croft via Kobusch)
You can read more about this aircraft, her crew, her mission and the subsequent intelligence reports on the Aircrew Remembrance Society website. This is an interesting, well researched site, and I recommend you take the time to visit.
Broody's war 
April 19th, 2014 at 2:09 am
Reblogged this on 23 Squadron RAF and commented:
Another Mosquito Squadron
488(NZ) Squadron
April 19th, 2014 at 2:10 am
Great anecdote!