A color photo Junkers Ju 88G 4./NJG3 01

A color photo Junkers Ju 88G 4./NJG3 02

Aircrew Luftwaffe ace pilot NJG3  Herbert Koch airclaims 0A

Junkers Ju 88G6 1./NJG3 D5AH  Herbert Koch WNr 621796 Grove 1945 01

Junkers Ju 88G6 1./NJG3 D5AH  Herbert Koch WNr 621796 Grove 1945 02

Junkers Ju 88G6 1./NJG3 D5AH  Herbert Koch WNr 621796 Grove 1945 0A

Profile 0A: Revi 85

Junkers Ju 88G II./NJG3 with SN 2 radar Grove 1944 01

Junkers Ju 88G 4./NJG3 (B4FA) WNr 621197 Gutersloh 1945 01

Photo 01: A post-war view of a Junkers Ju 88G-6, WNr. 621197 which landed at Gütersloh on 8 May 1945. Although the aircraft is still marked with the operational code B4+FA of NJ-Staffel Norwegen, this unit had been redesignated 4./NJG3 in March 1945.

Junkers Ju 88G IV./NJG3 (D5UW) Germany 1945 01

Junkers Ju 88G6 4./NJG3 (B4DA)  Kurt Gross Kjevik 1944 01

Junkers Ju 88G6 4./NJG3 (B4DA)  Kurt Gross Kjevik 1944 02

Photo's 01-02: A Junkers Ju 88 G-1 of the Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen coded B4+DA. The origins of NJ-Staffel Norwegen can be traced back to November 1943 when a Nachtjagdkommando was attached to 13.(Z)/JG5. In July 1944, this Kommando became Nachtjagdstaffel Finland, but did not become operational until August. In these photographs, taken in October 1944, the aircraft is shown at Kjevik shortly before a flight to Gardermoen where it remained until the end of the war. Unfortunately, details of the badge on the forward fuselage are not known. This aircraft would later be lost when flown by  Kurt Gross KIA ; shot down over Lista Norway, the day of his one known victory. Remaining crew (all KIA): Uffz Reinhard Johnsen, R/O and Fw Otto Müller, Gunner (Source: SIG Norway). One known victory, a Lancaster of RAF No. 463 Sq. on 25 April, 1945. The bomber crashed at the Satenäs airfield, Sweden. Jager Blatt article.

Junkers Ju 88G6 4./NJG3 B4SA Werner Huschens n Sebastian Falk WNr 623363 Sweden 8th May 1945

Photo 01: A post-war view of a abandoned Junkers Ju 88 G-6 4.NJG3 (B4+SA) previously flown by  Staffelkaptain Hptm. Werner Huschens and Ofw Sebastian Falk WNr-623363 Norway 8th May 1945

Junkers Ju 88G 9./NJG3 (D5KT) WNr 714607 Fritzlar 1945 01

Junkers Ju 88G 9./NJG3 (D5KT) WNr 714607 Fritzlar 1945 02

Photo's 01-02: A similar finish (as to 4R+FB) was applied to this Junkers Ju 88G-1, WNr. 714607, photographed at Fritzlar at the end of the war. The operational markings were D5+KT in black indicating an aircraft of 9./NJG3. The meandering sprayed lines on this machine are only one color, however, and may have been in 81, 83 or 75.

Junkers Ju 88R 10./NJG3 (D5EV) RAF Museum 01

Junkers Ju 88R 10./NJG3 (D5EV) RAF Museum 02

Junkers Ju 88R 10./NJG3 (D5EY)  Heinrich Schmitt 360043 01

Junkers Ju 88R 10./NJG3 (D5EY)  Heinrich Schmitt 360043 02

Photo's 01-03: On 9 May 1943, a Junkers Ju 88-R-1 of 10./NJG3 flown by Oblt. Heinrich Schmitt was ordered to intercept a British civil courier aircraft flying from Scotland to Sweden. The German crew, however, decided to defect and after signalling their base that they had engine failure, lost height to avoid German radar and headed for Scotland. As the Ju 88 approached the coast north of Aberdeen, it was detected by British radar and two Spitfires were scrambled to intercept it. The aircraft, W.Nr.360043 and coded D5+EY, was then escorted to Aberdeen and landed at Dyce airfIeld at 16.00 hrs where Oblt. Schmitt and the two members of his crew - Ofw. Paul Rosenberger and Ofw. Erich Kantwill were taken prisoner. The arrival of this aircraft, complete with working Lichtenstein radar equipment, was a valuable gift to British Intelligence and the machine was soon flown to Farnborough where the radar and the aircraft were thoroughly examined and evaluated. The photograph (Photo 01) was taken when the 'Matratzen' aerials for the FuG 202 Lichtenstein Be radar were still in place, but these were later removed (Photo 02) and RAF markings applied. Note, however, that only the German national insignia were overpainted and the fuselage code replaced by a yellow 'P' in a circle. Otherwise, the original Luftwaffe 70/71/65 camouflage and the Englandblitz emblem were retained.

Junkers Ju 88R1 IV./NJG3 (D5+EV) fitted with FuG 202 AI radar landing at Dyce Scotland 1943 IWM HU108212

Photo IWM HU 108219 Junkers Ju 88R-1 D5+EV of IV/NJG 3 fitted with FuG 202 AI radar. The crew of this aircraft defected from Norway to Britain in May 1943, landing at Dyce in Scotland, and delivering their aircraft and its hitherto secret radar into the hands of the RAF. The photo shows the aircraft post-war, after a period of restoration. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205266368

Junkers Ju 88R1 10./NJG3 (D5EH) WNr 360043 with FuG202 May 9th 1943 Museum 01

Junkers Ju 88R1 11./NJG3 (D5EV) WNr 3600430 Germany 0A

Junkers Ju 88G 11./NJG3 (D5AV) WNr 621234 Grove 1945 01

Photo 01: A Junkers Ju 88G-6 of 11./NJG3 taxiing at Grove in early 1945. The unit code '05' has been applied in smaller characters than the remaining letters, while the individual aircraft letter 'A' indicates that this was probably the aircraft flown by the Staffelkapitän.

Junkers Ju 88G 11./NJG3 (D5AV) WNr 621234 Grove 1945 0A

Profile 00: Junkers Ju 88G-6 of 11./NJG3, Grove, early 1945. In addition to the standard 76 undersurfaces and grey 75 patches on the uppersurface of the wings and the mottled 75/76 on the fuselage, tail surfaces and engine cowlings, the underside of the cowlings on this machine were yellow. The 'OS' of the operational markings on the fuselage sides were black, but the remaining letters were in dark grey and an unreadable Werknummer was carried at the top of the fin in black.

Junkers Ju 88G 11./NJG3 (D5KV) Denmark 1945 01

Photo 01: A Junkers Ju 88G-6 with the tactical code D5+KV of 11./NJG3 at Skrystrup in Denmark in 1945, possibly with the undersides of the engine cowlings in yellow. The propeller blades and rudder have been removed to comply with the terms of the surrender.

Junkers Ju 88G V./NJG3 (D5AE)  Berthold Ney 1944 45 02

Photo 01: This Junkers Ju 88G-6 was flown by Major Berthold Ney, the Kommandeur of IV/NJG3, who led this Gruppe from November 1944 to 4 March 1945. During this time, the Nachtjagdunits began to adopt the same system of staff markings as employed since before the war by the single engined fighter units. The aircraft shown here therefore carries a Kommandeur's double chevron on the fuselage as well as the operational code D5+AE. This aircraft was equipped with FuG nOd and FuG 350 'Naxos' and, clearly visible protruding from the upper fuselage over the Balkenkreuz, are the twin barrels of the MG 151/20 'Schrage Musik' installation. These were usually mounted at an angle of 70 degrees so that they fired forwards and upwards, allowing the pilot to position his aircraft beneath his target and open fire in a zero-deflection burst. Before becoming Kommandeur of IV/NJG3 in November 1944, Major Ney had led III./NJG2 since January of that year but details of his victories and awards are believed to be incomplete. Thus although surviving records indicate eight victories, he may have had as many as 19 and possibly received the German Cross in Gold.

Junkers Ju 88G V./NJG3 (D5AE)  Major Berthold Ney 1944 45 0A

Profile 00: Junkers Ju 88G-Gb flown by  Major Berthold Ney, Kommandeur of IV./NJG3, early 1945. The undersurfaces on this aircraft were overall 76, and an unusual feature of the uppersurfaces was that, although the uppersurface of the fuselage and tailplane showed where the fuselage grey 75 had been overs prayed with 76 to leave 75 patches, the uppersurface of the wings are believed to have remained overall 75. In addition to the normal operational markings on the fuselage side, the aircraft was marked with the double chevron of a Kommandeur. All national insignia were in the late-war simplified style, with the outline type crosses on the uppersurfaces of the wing in white.

Junkers Ju 88 G-1 Stab IV./NJG3 (D5+BF) Fritzlar 1945

Photo's 01-02: A similar finish (as to 4R+FB) was applied to this Junkers Ju 88G-1, WNr. 714607, photographed at Fritzlar at the end of the war. The operational markings were D5+KT in black indicating an aircraft of 9./NJG3.The meandering sprayed lines on this machine are only one color, however, and may have been in 81, 83 or 75.

Junkers Ju 88R 10./NJG3 (D5+EY)  Heinrich Schmitt W.Nr 360043 01

Junkers Ju 88G IV./NJG3 (D5+UV) Germany 1945 01

Photo 01: Photographed somewhere in Germany in 1945 was this burned-out Ju 88G-6 of IV./NJG3. The machine carried the operational code D5+UV or +UW and the Hakenkreuz on the tail does not seem to have a white outline. Most interesting, however, is the extent of the repainting on the fuselage. Although the fuselage mottles are very dark and appear as if they may have been applied by brush, they have in fact been created by spray painting, after which a dark patch has been applied adjacent to the Balkenkreuz and upon which is the Geschwader code 'D5' in black.

IL-2 Sturmovik 'Cliff's of Dover' - COD game skins
 

  

 Kurt Gross

Units: 4/NJG-3, NJS Norwegen (3/45)

Awards: EK 1 & 2, Night Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Ju 88G-6 'B4+DA' (lost)

Remarks: KIA 25 April, 1945; shot down over Lista Norway, the day of his one known victory. Remaining crew (all KIA): Uffz Reinhard Johnsen, R/O and Fw Otto Müller, Gunner (Source: SIG Norway). One known victory, a Lancaster of RAF No. 463 Sq. on 25 April, 1945. The bomber crashed at the Satenäs airfield, Sweden. Jager Blatt article.

 Herbert Koch

Units: 11/NJG-3 (1/44), 12/NJG-3 (4/44), Stfkpt 1/NJG-3 (Tirstrup De. 11/44)

Awards: DK-G(5/45), EP, EK 1 & 2, Night Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Bf 110G-4 D5+ICH' (11/44), Ju 88G-6 WNr 621796 'D5+AH' (Grove 4/45)

Remarks: One known victory, his 4th, a B-17 on 4 January, 1944. His 7th, a B-17 at Hoya-Loningen on 11 January, 1944. A '4 mot' at Faborg on 23 April, 1944. A '4 mot' at Venlo on 22 June, 1944. A Halifax W of Skagen on 25 April, 1945. Magnus Report. Deceased 17 March, 2000. Jager Blatt Obit. Koch was participating in aerial combat training on 23 November, 1944 with Fw Georg Helbig mysteriously crashed, killing his entire crew. Koch saw the black smoke on the deck, but found no survivors. His crew this date: Fw Werner Gärtner, Radar Oper and Uffz Karl Edelmann, R/O (Source: Air War over Denmark). Also on this crew, Fw Seufert (Rosseels).

 Asisbiz database list of 27 aerial victories for ace Herbert Koch

Date Pilot Name Unit Enemy A/C Type Height Time Location
Wednesday, April 21, 1943 Herbert Koch 11./NJG3 Halifax 500m 00:50 Klagshamm (SW Malmo)
Thursday, November 18, 1943 Herbert Koch 11.NJG3 B-24 Liberator   - -
Saturday, December 04, 1943 Herbert Koch 11./NJG3 Lancaster 6000m 03:25 Brandenburg-Burg-Odelzberg
Thursday, January 06, 1944 Herbert Koch 11.NJG3 Lancaster   03:44 -
Thursday, January 06, 1944 Herbert Koch 11.NJG3 Lancaster   03:47 -
Tuesday, January 11, 1944 Herbert Koch 11./NJG3 B-17 Fortress   14:15 Hoya-Loningen (assessed)
Saturday, January 22, 1944 Herbert Koch 11.NJG3 Lancaster   - -
Wednesday, March 15, 1944 Herbert Koch 11./NJG3 Lancaster   23:21 SW Freiburg
Wednesday, March 15, 1944 Herbert Koch 11./NJG3 Lancaster   22:35 SE Selestat
Sunday, April 23, 1944 Herbert Koch 12./NJG3 4-mot. Flzg. 4000m 23:25 15 Ost N/QA-9 (Faborg) 2318-
Thursday, June 22, 1944 Herbert Koch 12./NJG3 4-mot. Flzg. 5500m 01:32 Venlo
Sunday, August 13, 1944 Herbert Koch 1./NJG3 4-mot. Flgz. 3500m 00:40 Vechta
Sunday, August 13, 1944 Herbert Koch 1./NJG3 B-17 Fortress   01:59 Osnabruck
Wednesday, August 16, 1944 Herbert Koch 1./NJG3 4-mot. Flzg. 4400m 23:52 KA-QU
Thursday, August 17, 1944 Herbert Koch 1./NJG3 4-mot. Flgz. 3300m 00:38 TS-TR (St Peter-ording)
Saturday, August 26, 1944 Herbert Koch 12./NJG3 4-mot. Flgz.   23:21 50km NNW Kiel
Thursday, February 08, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Lancaster   21:04 NE Coppenhagen
Wednesday, February 14, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Lancaster   21:45 50km E. Odense
Wednesday, February 14, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Lancaster   21:04 40km NE Moen
Wednesday, February 14, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Lancaster   21:31 75km N. Bornholm
Wednesday, April 11, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Halifax   03:53 NE Anholt
Wednesday, April 25, 1945 Herbert Koch Stab I./NJG3 Lancaster   01:21 W. Skagen

 Berthold Ney

Units: KG-77, 2(F)/122 ('39), 3/NJG-2, Stfkpt 2/NJG-2, Stfkpt 6/NJG-2, Kdr III/NJG-2 (1/44), Kdr IV/NJG-3 (11/44)

Awards: DK-G, EP, EK 1 & 2, Wound Badge, Night Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Ju 88C-6 WNr 750436 (lost 4/21/44) & G-6 in NJG-2; Ju 88G WNr 620745 'D5+AE' (lost 3/4/45) in NJG-3

Remarks: WIFA 3/4/March, 1945; broke his neck on bailing out at Knesebeck, near Wesendorf Germany (Boiten). His C-6, Wk# 750436 crashed at Beltrum Holland on 20/21 April, 1944 after being shot up by enemy AC. He was not injured, a Hptm at the time (DeSwart). 11 Night victories. One known victory, a Lancaster 30 km SW of Metz on 25 February, 1944. A 2nd, a '4 mot' at Stuttgart on 15 March, 1944. A '4 mot' at Werneuchen on 24 March, 1944. A '4 mot' at Apeldorn on 17 June, 1944. A '4 mot' SW of Karlsrühe on 29 July, 1944. Magnus, 19 victories. Deceased 1996.

 Asisbiz database list of 19 aerial victories for ace Berthold Ney

Date Pilot Name Unit Enemy A/C Type Location Height Time
14-Jan-44 Berthold Ney Stab III.NJG2 Lancaster     21.19
30-Jan-44 Berthold Ney Stab III.NJG2 Lancaster     20.35
25-Feb-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 Lancaster 30km SW Metz 5100m 21.15
15-Mar-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 4-mot. Flzg. Stuttgart 6500m 23.28
22-Mar-44 Berthold Ney 7./NJG1 Lancaster Raum Minden-Osnabruck 6000m 21.37
24-Mar-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 4-mot. Flzg. Werneuchen 5800m 22.01
31-Mar-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 4-mot. Flzg. Gegend vor Becken 5400m 00.39
17-Jun-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 4-mot. Flzg. 15 Ost S/HM (Apeldoorn) 3800m 01.45
29-Jul-44 Berthold Ney Stab III./NJG2 4-mot. Flzg. SW Karslruhe 4500m 01.45

 Heinrich Schmitt

Units: 10./NJG-3

Awards: Night Fighter Operational Clasp

Known Aircraft: Ju 88C/R-1 WNr 360043 'D5+EV'

Remarks: Schmitt, a veteran of Spain and the Battle of Britain, and his crew, Radar Oper Ofw Paul Rosenberger and Mech Ofw Erich Kantwill planned their defection from Denmark carefully. On 9 May, 1943, with their AC loaded with radar equip, landed at RAF Station, Dyce at Aberdeen Scotland. Another source says he was in 11 Staffel.

  Fritzlar Germany Map

 

  Grove, Denmark Map

 

    Bibliography: +

  • 'Junkers Ju 88 - Star Of The Luftwaffe' by Manfred Griehl Published:Arms & Armour Press, Sept 1990 ISBN: 1 85409 043 7
  • History and technical development of each variant. 'Junkers Ju 88' by Ron Mackay Published:The Crowood Press, Oct 2001 ISBN: 1 86126 431 3
  • Comprehensive history of Ju 88.
  • 'Junkers Ju 88 Over All Fronts' by Joachim Stein Published:Schiffer Publishing, 1991 ISBN: 0 88740 3123
  • Pictorial history of the Ju 88.
  • 'Junkers Ju 88 In Action Vol 2: Aircraft in Action No.113' by Brian Filley Published:Squadron/Signal Publications, July 1991 ISBN: 0 89747 258 6
    Traces the development of the fighter versions. Very well illustrated.
  • 'The Junkers Ju 88 Night Fighters: Profile No.148' by Alfred Price Published:Profile Publications Ltd, 1967 ISBN: n/a
    Concise well illustrated history of the Ju 88C/G variants.
  • 'German Night Fighter Aces Of World WAr-2: Osprey Aircraft Of The Aces - 20 by Jerry Scutts
    Published:Osprey Publishing, 1998 ISBN: 1 85532 696 5
    Covers the development, tactics and leading aces of the Luftwaffe night fighter force. Some factual errors.
  • 'Nachtjagd-The Night Fighter Versus Bomber War Over The Third Reich 1939-1945' by Theo Boiten
    Published:The Crowood Press, June 1997 ISBN: 1 86126 086 5
    * Traces the parallel development of RAF night bombing and Luftwaffe night fighting during WW2. Very well written.

    Magazine References: +

  • Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
  • Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
  • FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
  • Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
  • Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
  • Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
  • Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
  • Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

    Web References: +

  • Wikipedia.org - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_88

 

This webpage was updated 17th March 2024

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