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Zerstörer
The Junkers Ju 88A was the Luftwaffe’s most effective medium bomber during much of World War 2, and its high speed and surprising agility made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a Zerstörer (destroyer) fighter. Initially designed to be used as a long-range bomber escort, the solid-nosed Ju 88C fighter boasted powerful cannon that made the aircraft ideally suited to the nightfighter role as its crews proved in the skies over Britain.
As told by Chris Goss in his book Junkers Ju 88C Day and Nightfighters, in May 1941, an improvement in the weather and an increase in the intensity of RAF Bomber Command’s attacks allowed I./NJG 2 (Nachtjagdgeschwader 2, a Luftwaffe night fighter and night intruder wing) to claim 13 victories. As it transpired, however, four of these aircraft had merely been damaged and five cannot be linked to any RAF losses. However, no Ju 88s had been lost in combat that month. Recently promoted Oberfeldwebel Hans Hahn was particularly successful, claiming what he thought was a Fulmar near RAF Coltishall, in Norfolk, on 4 May and a Blenheim the following night. The Fulmar was in fact a Spitfire of No 222 Sqn flown by Plt Off Bernard Klee.
Luftwaffe Ju 88 outmaneuvering 2 RAF Spitfires
The unit’s unofficial diary noted;
‘That night seven 50kg bombs were dropped in a field in front of the Officers’ Mess by a Ju 88; no damage resulted. Later, two Spitfires flown by Plt Off Klee and Sgt Burgess took off to patrol base. Soon the Controller warned both pilots who were patrolling independently that an e/a [enemy aircraft] was orbiting with them, and we on the ground could plainly see the e/a manoeuvring to get on their tails. The Junkers was continually weaving, making steep turns and otherwise evading our aircraft.
‘Sgt Burgess managed to get e/a in his sights and was about to open fire when e/a fired two star cartridges (two reds), which dazzled him and caused him to loose e/a. He next saw two bursts of tracer flash past his aircraft without doing any damage. At 0330hrs observers on the ground saw a Spitfire (now known to be Plt Off Klee) fly straight across the aerodrome from north to south followed by e/a, who fired a burst of cannon shells at the Spitfire which crashed in flames to the south-east of the aerodrome and was burnt out.’
A truly remarkable aircraft
Plt Off Klee was killed, and the diary entry concluded by saying;
‘The exhausts from the Spitfires showed up very plainly, whereas the e/a’s exhaust was not visible. The speed and manoeuvrability of the e/a was truly remarkable.’
That night, I./NJG 2 reported attacking RAF airfields at Feltwell, Watton (Norfolk), Bridlington, Leconfield (both East Riding of Yorkshire) and Grantham. The 40-minute engagement by Hahn and his crew of Unteroffiziere Ernst-Wilhelm Meissler and Helmut Scheidt with the Fulmar (Klee’s Spitfire) was also noted.
Junkers Ju 88C Day and Nightfighters is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo credit: War Thunder and Unknown
