25 December 1943

Heinkel He 177 A-3 (WNr. 535672 - code F8+?)
Pont Scorff, " La Fontaine de Kériaquele"
(contributors : Frédéric Hénoff, Benoit Paquet)

Heinkel He 177
Photo © Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-676-7969A-25 / Schroeder / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Heinkel He 177 - 6./KG 40 - Bordeaux Mérignac (France) - 1943
© Jean-Marie Guillou

Crew (6./KG 40)

- Ofw.* Johann BEHR, 6./KG 40, born on 07/07/1916 in Köln
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 910. Pornichet cemetery

- Ogfr.* Josef FÖRSTER, 1./Luftsperr Abt. 109 (v), born on 09/09/1909 in Schiorke 
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 907. Pornichet cemetery

- Fw.* Werner GÖTZE, 6./KG 40, born on 20/07/1918 in Hamburg-Altona
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 909. Pornichet cemetery

- Ofw.** Kurt WYBORNY, 6./KG 40, born on 23.05.1914 in Stargard
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 911. Pornichet cemetery

THE STORY
25 December 1943 -

From Predannack RAF base, five Typhoons from No. 183 Squadron took off at 2:00 pm and four more at 2:20 pm.

The first formation consisted of the following pilots :
S/Ldr. W. DRING
F/L R. HARTLEY
F/O C. N. WALLEY
F/O R. N. FOSTER
Sgt R. G. PHILLIPS

And the second one :
F/L A. G. McADAM AFC
F/L S. J. LOWELL
F/S J. A. HOLLINGWORTH
Sgt S. W. SMITH

The mission was a fighter sweep over the Kerlin-Bastard airfield area in Lorient. During the fight with the Heinkel He-177, only the first formation was involved ; the second, which had strayed slightly, was rejoined afterward, and then S/Ldr Dring ordered everyone to return to base, where they all landed at 4:05 pm.

Squadron Leader Dring (Blue 1) :
" We received orders to conduct a sweep over Kerlin-Bastard airfield. Upon reaching the target at approximately 5,000 feet, I spotted an enemy aircraft taxiing on the runway and preparing for takeoff. I circled the airfield and saw that the enemy aircraft had taken off. I ordered my section to form a single file formation and, performing a half roll, I dove on the aircraft, which was then at an altitude of 500 feet, closing in at a speed of 380-400 mph. At a range of approximately 400 yards, I fired a short burst, followed by another at 300 yards and a final burst at approximately 200-150 yards. I gave a 30° deflection to the left and estimated the enemy aircraft was flying at about 140 mph. I noted impacts on the front of the enemy aircraft and on the left engines, the outer engine having caught fire. Return fire was coming from the dorsal turret, forward of the tail. After my attack, I turned to the left to avoid hitting the enemy aircraft and, glancing over my shoulder, saw that my Numbers 2 and 3 had gone into attack and that the enemy aircraft was losing altitude in a 45° dive. I saw no one bail out and later saw it burning on the ground, the smoke rising to about 400-500 feet. "

The Heinkel He 177 WNr. 535672 filmed by the machine gun camera of Squadron Leader Dring. ​​​​​​
Source : Imperial War Museum - Combat Film No 4131. S/Ldr Dring of 183 Squadron on 25/12/1943 at 1630, flying Hawker Typhoon. Target: enemy aircraft. ​

Flight Lieutenant Hartley (Blue 2) :
" I was Blue Leader's number two. When we arrived over the target, I heard the order to fly in single file. We were at 5,000 feet and I saw Blue Leader begin his attack on the enemy aircraft from behind. I followed him and, as he started to pull away, I managed to close in and fire a burst at between 450 and 250 yards, with a deflection of about 5° from the rear. I saw one of the right engines catch fire, then I turned to the right, passing almost directly over the enemy aircraft. I banked and followed Blue Leader to reach the rest of the formation. During my attack, I came under return fire from the dorsal turret. "

Flying Officer Walley (Blue 3) :
" When reaching the target, I saw an enemy aircraft taxiing on the runway and taking off. The section was ordered to form a single file, and I followed Blue 1 and 2 in a dive to about 500 feet. When I made contact, I saw that the fuselage was already in flames. I opened fire at about 300 yards, firing a short burst at a 10° angle to the left. I observed impacts on the center wing sections and the fuselage. I then turned to the left and reached the formation. Shortly afterward, I saw the enemy aircraft burning on the ground. Additional note to the report: There was no flak during the dive, but immediately afterward, there was moderate light flak fire from artillery positions around the airfield. "

The Heinkel He 177 had taken off from Lorient to reach Bordeaux-Mérignac. It should be noted that one of the crew members (Ogfr.* Josef FÖRSTER) belonged to a captive balloon detachment (Abteilung), not the 6. Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 40. The entire crew was initially buried in the German military section, the " Heldenfriedhof " of the Kerantrech cemetery in Lorient.

The Heinkel He 177 WNr. 535672 filmed by the machine gun camera of Flying Officer Walley. ​​​​​​
Source : Imperial War Museum - Combat Film No 4130. F/O. Waley of 183 Squadron on 25/12/1943 at 1630, flying Hawker Typhoon. Target: enemy aircraft.

IN MEMORIAM
The plaques on the graves of the crew in the Pornichet cemetery as well as their death certificates :

Ofw.* Johann BEHR
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 910

Johann BEHR's death certificate (n°G-A 035/0104).
Source document Fold3 "Germany, Military Killed in Action 1939-1948" - origin Bundearchiv

Ogfr.* Josef FÖRSTER 
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 907

Josef FÖRSTER's death certificate (n°G-A 051/0978).
Source document Fold3 "Germany, Military Killed in Action 1939-1948" - origin Bundearchiv

Fw.* Werner GÖTZE
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 909

Werner GÖTZE's death certificate (n°G-A 976/1229).
Source document Fold3 "Germany, Military Killed in Action 1939-1948" - origin Bundearchiv

Ofw.** Kurt WYBORNY
Block 9 Reihe 30 Grab 911

Kurt WYBORNY's death certificate (n°G-A 354/0256).
Source document Fold3 "Germany, Military Killed in Action 1939-1948" - origin Bundearchiv

* Ofw. : Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant) - Ogfr. = Obergefreiter (Leading aircraftman) - Fw. = Feldwebel (Flught sergeant)

APPENDICES
• Operational Record Book - Squadron 183 - 25 December 1943 : "A fine present Christmas for the Squadron".
  Source : The National Archives (RAF) - AIR-27-1137-19 et AIR-27-1137-20

Note that a Focke Wulf Fw 200 was written, but it was a Heinkel He 177 that was shot down.
 

 

• Combat Report - Squadron 183 - 25 December 1943 - S/Ldr Dring, F/Lt Hartley and F/O. Walley
  Source : The National Archives (RAF) - AIR-50-75-4, AIR-50-75-5 et AIR-50-75-6.