Date: 17th September 1940
Time: 11.45 p.m.
Unit: 3 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 54
Type: Junkers Ju 88A-1
Werke.Nr. 2152
Code: B3 + OL
Location: Over Maidstone, St. Andrews Close and Tonbridge Road, Kent.
Pilot: Leutnant Rudolf Ganslmayr Killed (Born 08.01.1919 in Muenchen.)
Observer: Obergefreiter Willi Fachinger Killed (Born 30.04.1914 in Fachingen.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Ernst Bauer Killed (Born 17.05.1917 in Olpe.)
Gunner: Unteroffizier Karl Schloessler Killed (Born 19.11.1911 in Hersfeld.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was sortied to bomb London Docks but intercepted and shot down by Sergeants G. Laurence and W. T. Chard in a Defiant night fighter of No.141 Squadron. Junkers broke up over Maidstone with wreckage falling in several places.
Extract from Combat Report:
I was ordered on patrol line, Maidstone, to Tonbridge at 15.000 ft, but before reaching my position I was sectored by the Controller over Bexley.
I came across an enemy aircraft which, although not illuminated by searchlights, shone in the brilliant moonlight about 150 yards away. He was coming on converging courses at the same height as myself. I quickly turned and gave chase, and managed to keep him in sight until I overtook him to about 50/60 yards away. My gunner gave him a short burst, which caused him to make a complete turn right over my own aircraft, and at the same time he dropped, or rather jettisoned, two large bombs. He then proceeded SE and sped off. I again turned and gave chase, and after pulling the plug, I overtook him in about three minutes and took up my position under the starboard mainplane. My gunner again proceeded to let him have another short burst, which again caused him to turn over my aircraft, but during this evasive manoeuvre my gunner let him have another short burst from underneath and as the enemy aircraft started to dive he let go one last burst into his cockpit, which sent him crashing to earth. In all, only 35 rounds were used from each gun.
Burial detail:
Maidstone Cemetery. Block CCI. Ganzlmayr Grave 281, Fachinger Grave 282, Bauer Grave 283 and Schloessler 280.
