Two New Zealand Navy airmen, Lieutenants John Cramp, DSC and J.H.B. Maggs, were serving with No. 151 Squadron at Predannack in Cornwall (the present-day RNAS Culdrose). On 15 August 1944 they were assigned to fly a Ranger sortie across France and land in Algeria. In view of the distance involved they staged through RAF Ford in West Susse. Their Mosquito FB Mk. VI was given the call sign "SNEEZY 49": Airborne from 0445 hours.[British Double Summer Time?] “Ranger” patrol at nought feet on course Dijon – Lyons – Valence – Orange. The target was enemy aircraft en route from Dijon to Lyons and Valence. Ot 0640 hours when NW of Tavaux (SE of Dijon) sighted on small communications type low-wing monoplane going North at nought foot. The Mosquito approached head-on and at first thought the E/A to be a Me 109, but it was soon apparent that its speed, estimated at 100 mph, was much too slow for an a/c of that type. The fighter made a large orbit and gave chase. It is suspected that the E/A saw the fighter when it was almost within range, for it commenced to take violent evasive action with corkscrew turns. The low speed of the target made an attack very difficult. Eventually a medium burst was given with cannon only at 150/200 yards range using 90º deflection. A few strikes were seen behind the cockpit. The E/A peeled off and disappeared behind the tree-tops. Two minutes later the E/A was seen again. Another attack was attempted from behind but the E/A out-turned the fighter and the pilot was unable to get his sights on the target. Shortly afterwards, still dead astern, range was closed sufficiently to attack but the guns could not be deflected sufficiently for an efficient burst to be given. The E/A continued to weave in and out of the tree-tops. Another quick burst was given but no results were seen. The E/A had German markings and greenish camouflage and was identified, after landing, a a Me 108 which is claimed as damaged. The patrol was resumed at nought feet and at 0647 hours when 15 miles East of Chalon [-sur-Saône] a three-engined high wing monoplane with twin fins was seen heading East at 1500 ft. The A/C appeared to have a flying-boat hull with Dornier type sponsons attached to the fuselage. The E/A fired a cluster of four red Verey cartridges as the Mosquito came in behind at nought foot. The fighter pulled up sharply when approximately 400 yards away. German markings could be seen on the fuselage. Fire was opened at 100 yards with cannon only. A 3-second burst was given as range was closed to 50 yards. First strikes were seen along the fuselage and then on the starboard engine. Debris flew off the E/A and spread around the Mosquito. The starboard engine burst into flames. The fighter broke off the attack and, making a quick orbit, saw the E/A go down in a steady dive with starboard engine flaming. It gradually turned to port, apparently making for a large field (which may have been an emergency landing field, although no buildings or aircraft were visible). Both Members of the Mosquito crew saw a vivid red flash as the E/A hit the ground and exploded at 0648 hrs. This Do 24 is claimed as destroyed. The patrol continued at nought foot until 0712 hrs. when SE of Lyons a Ju 52 was seen going North at 4000 ft. The Mosquito came in behind and started a steady climb. While positioning for an attack the pilot realised he was over the centre of Lyons, and, having been warned not to fly over Lyons because of Flak, he broke away quickly. Another Ju 52 was seen at 7000 ft. over the outskirts of the town going NE. The pilot considered he had not enough petrol to allow him to clear Lyons and then follow the Ju 52 North, so he continued his patrol to St. Rambert. … Then on to St. Rambert, flying between the town and the A/D, where nothing could be seen. Nothing was seen on the A/D’s at Valence, Montélimar or Orange. The last A/D was inspected carefully from close range in accordance with special instructions … the remainder of the trip to Maison Blanche was uneventful. Landed 1015 hours. There was no return fire from either E/A. Rounds fired: 270 Stoppages: 1 gun (damaged link) 1 Do 24 destroyed and 1 Me 108 damaged by Lt. Cramp (Pilot) and Lt. Maggs (Nav). French researcher Gilles Moreau has established that the flying boat came down near Chapelle-Voland, around 60 km SE of Dijon, and that it was Do 24 T-3 W.Nr. 3386 (original factory marking CI+GV). It had taken off from Berre about two-and-a-half hours before it was shot down and appears to have been en route to Friedrichshafen. Pilot Ofw. Christian Sölbrandt and two others of his crew died of their injuries, the other three survived although two of them were injured. Of the 10 passengers from 3. Seenotstaffel’s technical personnel, nine died in the crash and one is missing (although he is thought to have been taken to a hospital in Strasbourg where he later succumbed).
At 18.00 hrs. on the 14th, a Fw. Beritz had reported to Fliegerdiv. 2 that Bf 108 T4+GH had landed at Tavaux because Lyon and Dijon were unusable owing to bomb craters and would continue its flight next morning. It was therefore of the right type and in the right place and time ot have been the machine damaged by Cramp and Maggs. Sources: National Archives AIR50/63: Combat Reports No. 151 Squadron Andrew Thomas: Mosquito Aces of World War 2 (Osprey 2005) ISBN 9781841768786 http://www.histavia21.net/HISTAV2/JURACRASH-1944.htm http://www.151squadron.org.uk/ http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=144128 http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/4696.pdf |
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