ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 50527
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| Date: | Saturday 29 April 1944 |
| Time: | 15:15 LT |
| Type: |  Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX |
| Owner/operator: | 132 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | MJ170 |
| MSN: | FF- |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Krimweg, Hoenderloo, Gelderland -
 Netherlands
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Ford, West Sussex |
The Spitfire was on a Ranger operation to Deelen airfield, when suddenly a Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 appeared in the skies over Deelen airfield, flown by the highly experienced night fighter pilot Major Hans-Joachim Jabs of the Stab/NJG 1.
The following is taken from Wikipedia:
On 29 April 1944 Jabs paid a visit to fellow night fighter pilot Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer and his Gruppe at St. Trond, Belgium. In mid-afternoon through cloudy and foggy skies Jabs made the short trip back to his home base at Deelen. As Jabs approached Deelen he could see a small group of single engine fighters low over the airfield, which he took to be German. The aircraft, in fact, were from No. 132 Squadron RAF, led by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Page, who had taken a flight of Spitfires on a low level mission looking for enemy aircraft. The approaching twin engine fighter was just what Page was looking for. As Jabs continued his approach he saw the aircraft turn toward him. Realizing his mistake, he flew toward his attackers and through some cloud. Emerging on the other side he found himself approaching head on the Spitfire of New Zealander John Caulton. As the two aircraft rapidly closed both began firing, but Jabs' twin 30 mm cannon took effect first, ripping open the Spitfire's drop tank and putting hits on the engine and wing. Flying past, the undamaged Spitfires regrouped and turned to attack again. Jabs attempted to reach the cover of his airfield. As the Spitfires approached from behind, Jabs surprised them by turning into them again. Both sides were firing as they closed. For a brief moment one of the Spitfires was caught by the heavy forward guns of the Bf 110. It was engulfed in fire and crashed to earth. Jabs' aircraft had also taken several hits, and was losing power in one of the engines. He made an abrupt hard landing, and with the aircraft still rolling he and the crew scrambled for cover while the airfield's Flak batteries attempted to drive off the attackers. Despite the fire from the field's defenses, the Spitfires strafed the Bf 110, setting it ablaze.
Ranger - usually a deep penetration flight to a specified area, to engage targets of opportunity
The pilot, P/O. R.B. Pullin, did not survive the encounter and is buried at Apeldoorn, grave 4 300.
Sources:
https://verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/rs.php?aircraft=&sglo=T3636&date=&location=&pn=&unit=&name=&cemetry=&airforce=&target=&area=&airfield=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Joachim_Jabs
http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/code_names.htm
Google Maps
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 part two for time
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Dec-2008 11:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 27-Apr-2019 13:07 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 27-Apr-2019 13:10 | TigerTimon | Updated [Narrative] |
| 28-Apr-2019 09:37 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
| 06-Apr-2020 17:34 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Source] |
| 19-Jun-2022 07:10 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
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